Bomba is one of
Puerto Rico's most famous
musical styles. Although there is some controversy surrounding its origin, most agree that it is a largely
African music. The rhythm and beat are played by a set of hand drums and a maraca.
Dance is an integral part of the music: the dancers move their bodies to every beat of the drum, making bomba a very wild and rich dance. Bomba is described to be a challenge between the drummer and the dancer. The dancer produces a series of gestures to which the primo drummer provides a synchronized beat. Thus, it is the drummer who attempts to follow the dancer and not the other way around. The dancer must be in great physical shape and the challenge usually continues until either the dancer or drummer discontinues. The main instruments used in bomba style music are any number of low pitched hand drums used to create a base rhythm, and a higher pitch drum which accentuates the beat with improvised patterns. Other instruments used are the palitos or cuas, which are sticks that are struck against any, usually wooden, surface. A single large
maraca usually completes the sound of bomba, though a
güiro has commonly been used in orchestral arrangements. Both of these last two instruments have origins in the extinct
Taino culture of the Caribbean Basin.
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