Veracruz
Veracruz is the name of a state, a large city and a major port along Mexico's eastern shore. The
state of Veracruz boasts a temperate climate, warm and humid along the
coast and cool in the foothills and mountains. The city of Veracruz is
a major port and a producer and exporter of cacao (an ingredient in chocolate), textiles and
cigars. The people of Veracruz are known as jarochos.
Today, the city is known for its music, including marimba bands,
danzonera and comparsa. An equally rich dance tradition parallels
Veracruz's unique musical styles. The yearly Carnaval festival in
Veracruz, a nine-day party in February or March illustrates the
region’s strong cultural ties to the Caribbean.
Image courtesy of www.mexconnect.com
Veracruz Dance and Music
Jarocho is a term that refers to the people and culture of southern Veracruz, along Mexico's eastern coast. Son jarocho
describes one unqiue style of music and dance from that region, noted for
its emphasis on improvisation and variations in rhythm. Noted son jarocho artist and
scholar Timothy Harding writes that many of the dance styles in
Veracruz have their
origins in the 17th and 18th centuries, with the influence of dances
like the Fandago that migrated from Spain. Spanish influences can
also be noted in the music’s structure, verse forms, and
stringed instruments. Also, because African slaves were used in plantation agriculture until the
early 19th century, the region bears the influence of the music
developed by both slaves and free blacks. Dr. Harding notes that much of the music of the
region has African singing characteristics, such as call and
response, slurring notes in intervals
in the scale, and an "irreverent attitude" developed among a people who were on
the margins of Indian and Spanish society. For more information, visit www.conjuntojardin.com.
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