Gaita (music style)

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The gaita gruoping Maracaibo 15 appearing on the Venezuelan television channel Venevision in 2004

The Gaita is the name of a venezuelan folk music from Maracaibo, Zulia state, it is normally considered a christmas-time music.

According to Joan Corominas, it may come from gaits, the Gothic word for "goat", the skin generally used for the membrane of the furro.

It popularized in the middle 60´s of the XX century in all the country, and it fused with other types of music like salsa and merengue in the 70´s.

There are many famous Gaita groups like: Maracaibo 15, Gran Coquivacoa, Barrio Obrero, Cardenales del Éxito, Guaco (band) (when Guaco started was a gaita group, now is a salsa group), Koquimba, Melody Gaita, Estrellas del Zulia, Saladillo, and many others.

[edit] Instruments

As instruments, the Gaita uses furros, maracas, cuatro, charrasca and tambora drum. The song themes can go from humorous and love songs, to protest songs.

[edit] Types

There are many types of Gaita.

[edit] Of Furro Gaitas

• The Folk Gaita (disappeared)
• The Contemporary Gaita
• The Pop Gaita
• The Romantic Gaita

[edit] Other types, from Zulia and Venezuela

• The Santa Lucía Gaita
• The Tambora Gaita
• The Perijanera Gaita
• The Eastern Gaita

[edit] Gaita Sites:

• (Spanish) Sabor Gaitero
• (Spanish) Nuestra Gaita
• (Spanish) Las 100 gaitas del siglo

[edit] To Listen