Puerto Rican Music in the United States Essay example -- Culture cultu

Puerto Rican medicinal drug in the United States medicinal drug has always been a pervasive symbol of individuality. It is a mode of expression that crosses gender, ethnicity and age. One sine qua non not understand the lyrics to identify with a harmonyal genre designation can be found through rhythm, tone of music, as thoroughly as other techniques in the music, unrelated to words. For example, most operas are in Italian and obviously everyone that attends an opera, does not speak or understand Italian. However, the consultation is moved by the emotion conveyed through tone, facial expressions, and beat of the music. I believe this is relevant to the situation of Puerto Rican forms of music, and its success when Puerto Rican musicians migrated to the United States. Original forms had to be adopted to become popular in the United States, often anticipate a heavier dance beat, but when the songs and musicians did become popular, it was not because a bulk of Americans understo od the lyrics in Spanish. For Americans, it was because the music provided lively background entertainment. However, for the Puerto Ricans, it meant much more. The music symbolized their background and struggles, what it means to be Puerto Rican. In New York, Puerto Rican musical traditions evolved in accordance with societal change. This was necessary in a society, as Glasser describes where Puerto Ricans lived among a constellation of constantly changing ethnic groups within a variable social environment(Glasser, 7). In Puerto Rico there are several(a) groups, with different traditions of politics, economics, and music. When Puerto Ricans migrate to the United States, they unite under an identity as Puerto Ricans but there is still diversity within. Furthermore, I believe it is the Ameri... ... onerous as Americans commercialized the entire profession and employment became near noncurrent for those trained musicians. In the U.S. music serves as a representation of the identit y of the Puerto Rican, just as it does for other cultures. Puerto Ricans became disillusioned at the prospect of rest in Puerto Rico as Rafael Hernndez sang- Piensa remediar la situacin/del hogar, que es toda una ilusin. (Glasser, 165) Music provides a socially acceptable way to express disgust and disenchantment with the status quo and communicate ones identity. Bibliography Glasser, Ruth, My Music is My Flag Puerto Rican Musicians in New York and their Communities, 1917-1940. (Berkeley University of calcium Press, 1996). Oct. 29 Puerto Rican Music Between Rafael Hernandez and Rafael Cortijo. Guest Lecture by Prof. Lise Waxer, Music Dept., Trinity College