Parranda

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Album cover of the central parranda group La Verde Clarita

It is distinguished as parranda or aguinaldo of parranda a musical form pertaining to the coast zone of the states Aragua and Carabobo, in Venezuela, where the tambora (drum) becomes present as accompanying instrument and melody shows an important Afro-Venezuelan influence.

In this zone the tradition has established a clear difference between the aguinaldo and parranda like musical expressions. The coast Parranda is of greater afrovenezuelan presence and according to works of investigation made by the specialist Carlos García, parrandas can do without furro and other instruments with no relation with the Christmas tradition, besides to touch the year throughout. On the other hand, parranda treats add to about personages and daily situations even though also can talk about to the Jesus, or Christmas.

One of the Venezuelan groupings that have been in charge to present parranda throughout all the national geography is Un Solo Pueblo, that from 1970 have been one of the main protagonists of the diffusion, without precedents of the folk music. With the parranda “El Cucuy que alumbra”, compiled in Cuyagua, the Querales brothers - Jesus, Florentino and Ismael-, founders of the grouping began an indetenible process of masification of this musical expression.

[edit] Central Parranda

Name that receives the sets pertaining to the states Aragua, Cojedes and Carabobo and that is organized in Christmas times to intone aguinaldos, this grups interpretates aguinaldos and parranda in which, generally sing a solo in with a choir take part, improvising subjects to the divine thing or the human. The accompanying instruments are cuatro, guitar, tambora, furro, chapero, chineco, maracas and tres. Like part of the tradition, the members of these sets take a flag and a star, also uses hats and pañolones on shoulders with the colors that identify the group. The sets that emphasize by their trajectory in this region are: Verde Clarita, La flor de Cojedes, Las parrandas Union de Santa Elena and the Turpiales de Aragua.

Lately one has occurred a process of mdernizations of the parranda central that is leading to the multiplication of these sets and to a differentiation between which they stay within the traditional and the new ones. These last ones begin their activities from the months of May and June, with the intention to act with aims of economic benefit, to make music albums and to project through the radio stations. The intention of change of these sets has taken to the use of other instruments like a the keyboard and the battery to them and to extend its subjects to personages or friends and to the social protest. In spite of the transformations of these sets they conserve the use of the improvisation with the traditional instruments: cuatro, tambora and furro.

[edit] Parranda of San Pedro

The Parranda of San Pedro is celebrated in the populations of Guarenas and Guatire, Miranda, Venezuela, each June 29. the celebration consists of a dramatic representation carried out by the following personages: el Abanderado, San Pedro, el Cargador, María Ignacia, los Tucusitos, los Sampedreños Danzantes, La Diabla, el Sampedreñito y los Músicos-Cantores.

One says that this celebration was originated in the XIX century, when the slave Maria Ignacia left singing and dancing by the town with his girl in her body being thankful to him to San Pedro for the treatment of her small daughter. They tell that year after year Maria Ignacia repeated the ritual of thanks to Santo and who after died their husband continued maintaining lives the tradition, reason for which east personage is interpreted by a man. The celebration of the parranda begins the previous day with songs and dances until the midnight. On the following day a mass is made in honor to San Pedro. The image leaves in procession by the town. During the procession the Sampedreños sings songs, to which they responds the choir. To these songs they accompany of the cuatro, maraca and the set of round drum. Some personages of this parranda are made also sound their dents (slippers) against the floor. In the population of Guatire the encounter of the saints takes place: San Pedro and San Juan.