Rumba essays

Rumba essays I have always enjoyed music and dance and have been interested in its history. As a result of this class, I have a much greater appreciation for the sound, rhthym, dance, spirit and cultural significance of the Rumba. Now, when I think of Rumba, I hear the beat of the drums and my feet begin to move to the echo of the clave in my head. The musical tradition of Rumba dates back to Bantu tribes in Africa. Words like Tumba, Macumba, and Tambo are African words that have been used to describe dances similar dances to Rumba that imitated barnyard animal movements. Carried to Cuba in the 1800s by African slaves, the musical style of todays Rumba evolved out of the slums of Cuba after slavery was abolished in 1886. The word, rumba derives from the Spanish verb, rumbiar which means to dance. In her book, Rumba, Dance and Social Change in Contemporary Cuba, Yvonne Daniel tells us that Cuban musicologists who have studied music and dance agree that the precise meaning of rumba is difficult to determine....but points to those words of African origin that mean a collective party, unrelated to religious ritual.(17) Other scholars think that the Rumba has its roots in Spain. In any case, the Rumba became very popular in Cuba in the late 19th century. Some authorities feel that Rumba implies a festive occasion as much as a specific dance and music style. Since Rumba originated from the barrios of Cuba, there were no elaborate congo drums or wooden claves. Fearing rebellion and uprisings, the colonists outlawed the use of drums. To get around these regulations, the performers (called rumberos) used empty wooden crates, upside down drawers, and the sides of wardrobes as drums, and two spoons held together or frying pans to keep the beat. These percussion instruments were accompanied by clapping, and singing as well as dancing. Rumba parties (rumbones) were com ...