Music of South America

Music of South America
Name	Music of South America
Cultural origins	Indigenous Andean civilizations, Spanish colonial era, Portuguese colonial influences, Afro-descendant communities
Instruments	Charango, Quena, Bombo legüero, Cuatro, Bandoneón, Cavaquinho
Subgenres	Andean music, Tango, Samba, Bossa nova, Cumbia, Vallenato, Nueva canción, Chacarera

Music of South America describes the musical traditions, genres, instruments, and institutions across the continent encompassing countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. It traces continuities from pre-Columbian cultures like the Inca, Mapuche, Guaraní and Arawak through the impact of Spanish and Portuguese colonization, the transatlantic slave trade that brought peoples from West Africa and the Congo Basin, and the 20th–21st century flows connecting continents via cities such as Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Quito, Bogotá, and Santiago.

Overview and Historical Context

South American musical evolution links pre-Columbian polyrhythms and ritual laments with Iberian tonalities and African syncopation, producing regional forms associated with nations like Argentina (Tango), Brazil (Samba, Bossa nova), Colombia (Cumbia, Vallenato), and Peru (Huayno). Important historical moments include the expansion of the Inca Empire and its collapse under the Spanish conquest, the establishment of colonial religious orders such as the Jesuit reductions, the arrival of enslaved Africans tied to ports like Salvador and Recife, and 20th-century cultural movements exemplified by figures like Astor Piazzolla, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Mercedes Sosa, Caetano Veloso, and Carlos Gardel.

Indigenous and Pre-Columbian Traditions

Indigenous musical systems persisted in the Andes, Amazon, and Southern Cone among groups including the Inca, Aymara, Quechua, Mapuche, Guaraní, Yanomami, and Asháninka. Typical instruments and practices reflect ritual uses in sites like Machu Picchu and ceremonies associated with festivals such as the Inti Raymi and agricultural rites tied to the Altiplano. Ethnomusicological research by scholars connected to institutions like the Smithsonian Institution, University of São Paulo, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, and National University of San Marcos documents flutes such as the Quena, panpipes like the Siku, frame drums like the Bombo legüero, and vocal techniques preserved in communities around the Amazon River and the Gran Chaco.

Colonial and Afro-American Influences

The colonial era saw fusion among Iberian string traditions (guitar family), African percussion and call-and-response patterns from groups transported via ports such as Cartagena, Colombia and Rio de Janeiro. Missions like the Jesuit reductions cultivated choral and instrumental genres blending European polyphony with native modalities, influencing composers affiliated with cathedrals in Cusco, La Paz, and Quito. Afro-Latin genres emerged in urban centers through syncretic religions including Candomblé, Santería, and Palo Mayombe, shaping rhythms found in Samba, Maracatu, Candombe, and coastal Colombian styles.

National and Regional Styles

Distinct national idioms crystallized: Tango in Buenos Aires and Montevideo (linked to the Rio de la Plata), Samba and Bossa nova in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Joropo in Venezuela and the Llanos, Cueca in Chile, Huayno and Marinera in Peru, Chacarera and Zamba in Argentina, and Cumbia across Colombia spreading to Mexico and Central America. Regional festivals like Carnival and religious celebrations such as Fiesta de la Candelaria embody these styles, while composers like Alberto Ginastera, Osvaldo Pugliese, Gal Costa, Violeta Parra, and Julio Iglesias (though Spanish-born, influential across the region) shaped repertories.

Instruments and Musical Ensembles

Stringed instruments include the Charango (Andes), Cuatro (Venezuela), Bandoneón (Argentina/Uruguay), and Cavaquinho (Brazil). Wind and percussion instruments include the Quena, Siku, Zampoña, congas introduced from Cuba and local drums such as the Bombo legüero, Surdo, and Tambor de mina. Ensemble types vary from small folk conjuntos in Cusco and Sucre to large urban orchestras like the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de México's South American counterparts, tango ensembles (orchesta típica), samba escolas de samba in Rio de Janeiro, and vallenato accordion trios emblematic of regions around Valledupar.

Popular Music and Contemporary Genres

20th- and 21st-century popularities include Tango nuevo propelled by Astor Piazzolla, Brazilian movements like Tropicália with Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso, Argentine rock en español scenes centered in La Plata and Buenos Aires featuring bands like Soda Stereo, Colombian pop and reggaeton influencers connected to Medellín and Bogotá such as J Balvin and Shakira, and crossover artists like Manu Chao and Natalia Lafourcade. Electronic and experimental labels in cities like Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Santiago, and Lima foster fusion of indigenous timbres with hip hop, reggaeton, electronica, and world music circuits; international platforms include the Montreux Jazz Festival and Glastonbury Festival where South American artists tour.

Cultural Institutions, Festivals, and Media

National conservatories and academies—Conservatorio Nacional de Música (Peru), Conservatório Brasileiro de Música, Instituto Superior de Arte (Cuba)'s influence regionally—support pedagogy and preservation alongside archives like the Archivo Nacional de la Nación (Argentina). Major festivals and events include Carnival, Festival Internacional de la Canción de Viña del Mar, Festa Junina, Secret Solstice style regional gatherings, and folk festivals in Oruro and Sucre. Broadcasting platforms such as Radio Nacional de España’s Latin counterparts, regional television networks, and streaming services promote artists; institutions like the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage recognizes elements such as Carnival of Oruro and contributes to safeguarding practices.

Category:South American music