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MUSIC COMPOSITION
by
www.thesalsaguide.com
Introduction
(usually 8 measures; percussion only)
Body
After the percussion intro, comes the standard rhythm section:
horns, timbales, conga plays tumbao, bass plays tumbao, piano plays
montuno, bongo plays martillo (usually repeats 4x). Verses come in
an 8-measure phrase or more.
Bridge
The bridge may return to the verse, or lead to the next section
called montuno or open vamp. In the bridge, the percussionists
may keep playing their same patterns, or may move to a higher
dynamic level (crescendo) with the timbales and bongo players moving
to the bells and conga player moving to the tumba which accents the
3-side of the tumba. The bridge is usually 8 measures and ends with
a conga break. There is no clave direction change yet.
Conga break
Montuno Section
In 8 measures, following the conga break at the end of the
bridge, were lead into the open vamp or the montuno section. The
timbales and bongo players move to the bells (if they havent
already done so in the bridge), and the conguero may accentuate the
3-side of the clave on the tumba. There may be a clave direction
change here. The 8th measure in not finished; it really finishes at
the 1st bar of the 8th measure (where you normally hear the 3 hits
of the clave) and the 1 in the music is now placed on the 2nd bar of
the 8th measure, (where you usually hear the 2 hits in 3/2 clave) so
now it sounds like reverse clave: 2/3.
Coro/Pregon
(call and answer with lead singer and chorus) In a vocal tune, the
montuno section features the lead vocalist improvisations called
pregones (African origin), in a call and answer with the chorus.
Usually the timbales and bongo players play the standard bell
patterns here.
Solos
The montuno section highlights instrumental solos. The timbales
player usually moves to the cymbal. Timbales break, bringing the
dynamic level down for return of coro/pregon. Another option is a
break called ponche or 4 and after which the percussionists move
back to the cascara, martillo and one-drum conga patterns. This will
be a piano solo. After the piano solo, it is common for the soloist
to return to his/her respective pattern to re-introduce the montuno
section, which will either return to the coro/pregon, or may move to
another section called mambo.
The mambo
section /monas In a salsa arrangement, the mambo section
is generally an instrumental section which offer features new
material, and the layering effect of horn lines. It may feature the
bass and piano playing patterns other than what theyre used to.
Monas are improvisational horn lines during the montuno section.
Returning to
Montuno Section/ Changes in clave direction The mambo
section often leads back to the montuno section, and because the
mambo section was in 3/2, another odd-measure phrase or break is
needed to return to the 2/3 montuno. Many arrangements do not
contain odd-measure phrases, and therefore do not require a change
in clave direction.
Endings
Sounds like introduction of 8 measures, and ends on any of the
counts from 1-8.
SUGGESTED LIST OF
SALSA ARTISTS
Here are just some of the most respected Salsa musicians
(by www.thesalsaguide.com
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