Parranda
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| Parranda | |
| Stylistic origins | Afro-Venezuelan, Spanish, and Indigenous traditions. |
|---|---|
| Cultural origins | Mix between popular and religious beliefs |
| Typical instruments | cuatro, guitar, maracas drums |
| Mainstream popularity | Carabobo, Aragua, Cojedes and Miranda states from Venezuela |
Parranda or Parranda de aguinaldo are musical sorts, from the coast zone of the states Aragua and Carabobo, in Venezuela, where the tambora (drum) becomes present as accompanying instrument, with an important Afro-Venezuelan influence.
On this states, the tradition has established a clear difference between the aguinaldo and parranda like musical expressions. The Parranda from the coast, have a strong afrovenezuelan influence, and according to investigations made by specialist Carlos García, parrandas can be executed without furro (Friction drum), and other instruments don't having relation with the Christmas tradition. On the other hand, the parranda lyrics treats about folkloric topics, Jesus, or Christmas.
One of the Venezuelan groups 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 group, began an indetenible process of masification of this musical expression.
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[edit] Central Parranda
Name that receives the musical genre, pertaining to the states Aragua, Cojedes and Carabobo, that is organized at Christmas time, is executed with a solo singer, and a choir, improvising about religious and popular subjects. The accompanying instruments are cuatro, guitar, drum, furro, chapero, chineco, maracas and tres. Like part of the tradition, the members of the parranda central groupings, take a flag and a star, also use hats and pañolones with the colors that identify the group. Between these parranda groups, they emphasize: Verde Clarita, La flor de Cojedes, Las parrandas Union de Santa Elena and the Turpiales de Aragua.
At the present time, has occurred a process of modernizations of the parranda central that is leading to the multiplication of the groups that execute this sort. These new grouping begin their activities from the months of May and June, with the intention of their economic profit, to record new albums and the projection through the radio stations. The intention of change the tradition genre, has taken to the use of instruments like the keyboard, also extend the lyrics of the parranda about popular personages or friends, to the social protest. In spite of the transformations of these groups, they conserve the use of the improvisation with traditional instruments like: cuatro, tambora and furro.
[edit] San Pedro Parranda
The San Pedro Parranda is celebrated at the populations of Guarenas and Guatire, Miranda, Venezuela, each June 29. It consists in 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 and the Músicos-Cantores (musicians and singers).
The popular history says that this celebration was originated in the XIX century, when the slave Maria Ignacia started to sing and dance in the town with her daughter thanking San Pedro (Saint Peter) for the treatment of her daughter. The tradition says that a year after that, Maria Ignacia repeated the ritual, and after she die, her husband continued maintaining the ritual, reason for which the man disguise like a woman. The celebration begins the previous day with songs and dances until the midnight. On the following day a mass is made in honor to the saint. The image of San Pedro, leaves in procession by the town. During this, the Sampedreños sings songs, along with instruments like: cuatro, maraca and a round drum. Some personages of this parranda made sound with their shoes against the floor. In the population of Guatire the encounter of the saints takes place: San Pedro (Saint Peter) and San Juan (Saint John).
[edit] See also
- Parang
- Venezuela
- Venezuelan music
- Parrandas Festivity in northern Villa Clara province, Cuba.
[edit] Source
- Atlas de Tradiciones de Venezuela, Fundación Bigott, 1998.
