A conjunto from the west of Cuba in 1926. The instruments are of Spanish, African and Indian origin
Latin music is a form of popular music played by from Latin America. For practical purposes that includes the Spanish-speaking Caribbean. Much Latin music is accompanied by song (singing) in Spanish.
Latin music is a part of world music, which is the study of popular and traditional music in all countries. Part of the story is also the influence of Latin music in other parts of the world, especially North America.
In discussing Latin music these themes are important:
- Place: the country and sometimes the region of the music's origin.
- The former European colonial power and its heritage
- The culture of aboriginal inhabitants (the Indian tribes)
- The culture of slaves brought from Africa
- Musical style; for instance, church music will be different from art music, and different again from popular music. In this article we shall talk mostly about popular music.
