Music of Honduras

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Honduras is a Central American country whose musical culture is a mixture of indigenous, European and African elements. Traditional instruments in the country include the marimba and conch shell, which is now sometimes used alongside a guitar or accordion. The Lenca, a native ethnic group, have kept many of their musical traditions alive, including the guancasco dance, while the Garifunas have a vibrant syncretic popular tradition and the Miskitos have their own unique fusion of indigenous, African and European music [1]. There are also musical instruments called the caramba and marimba; Honduran folk music uses rhythms derived from Spanish music.

Popular music in Honduras is generally Mexican or American in origin [2]. The country's ancient capital of Comayagua is an important center for modern Honduran music, and is home to the College for Fine Arts [3].

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[edit] Garifuna music

Main article: Garifuna music

The Garifuna are descended from escaped Nigerian slaves and Island Caribs who were deported from St. Vincent to Central America (especially Honduras and also Belize) in 1802) by the British when they conquered St. Vincent. The Garifunas kept themselves apart from the social system then dominant, leading to a distinctive culture that developed throughout the 20th century.

Forms of Garifuna folk music and dance include chumba and hunguhungu, a circular dance in a three beat rhythm, which is often combined with punta. There are other songs typical to each gender, women having eremwu eu and abaimajani, rhythmic a cappella songs, and laremuna wadauman, men's work songs. Other forms of dance music include matamuerte, gunchei, charikawi and sambai.

[edit] Popular music

Though Mexican and American music has produced most of the most popular music in modern Honduras, the country has produced several well-known musicians, like the singer-songwriter Guillermo Anderson and Honduran Rock groups: Diablos Negros (A.D.N.), Delirium, Khaoticos and Evolucion Neutra.

[edit] Music institutions

There is a Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Honduras (a national orchestra) and the College for Fine Arts, located in Comayauga.

Central American music

Belize - Costa Rica - El Salvador - Garifuna - Guatemala - Honduras - Nicaragua - Panama

Latin American music

Argentina - Bolivia - Brazil - Chile - Colombia - Costa Rica - Cuba - Dominican Republic - Ecuador - El Salvador
Guatemala - Honduras - Mexico - Nicaragua - Panama - Paraguay - Peru - Puerto Rico - United States: Tejano - Uruguay - Venezuela
See also: Andean - Caribbean - Central America - Portugal - Spain

[edit] References