Concept in Definition ABC

The rumba is a gender musical with a popular, festive and joyful character. There is no single version of the rumba, as it has different variants: the African, the Cuban, the flamenco, the Catalan or the Colombian.

The word rumba is also used as a synonym for party or spree and going to rumba is the same as saying go have fun. In the same way, a rowdy person is someone who is fun and cheerful.

Main points of the rumba

- This musical genre has two aspects: the dance and he sing. In all its forms it is a expression musical that comes from the town and has a very spontaneous and street.

- As a dance, it is a dance in which a man and a woman are the protagonists and simulate a sexual approach at the same time that some companions enliven the dance with their songs.

- Musical instruments are very varied and depend on the tradition of each country: the use of a cajon as if it were a drum, pieces of cane for percussion known as guaguas, metal marugas and the güiro are typical of the Cuban rumba and the Spanish guitar, the palmas and the cajón are characteristic elements of the flamenco rumba or the Catalan.

- Regarding the lyrics of the songs, love, social or tragic events of daily life are dealt with, but all with a lighthearted, ironic and fun tone.

The historical origin of the rumba

According to most studies, the remote origin of the rumba is African. It is believed that this musical rhythm spread slowly and reached India and later Europe and America. It is very likely that it was the gypsies who in their first migration from India they introduced the rumba in some countries, especially in the south of Spain.

The Catalan rumba

The first testimonies of Catalan rumba occurred in Barcelona in the 1950s. At that time Barcelona was a city that welcomed many population of Andalusian origin and gypsy race. Therefore, Andalusian flamenco is the music original that later developed in the popular neighborhoods of Barcelona (the rumba was sung and is sung in both Spanish and Catalan).

Since its origins, the Catalan rumba has not stopped evolving, merging with other styles (for example, with rock and blues) or becoming the anthem of the Olympic Games from Barcelona in 1992 (at the closing party of the Games "Los Manolos" were the rumba group that enlivened the event with the song "Amigos para siempre").

Photos: iStock - VasjaKoman / oleg66