Time of founding

1879

Key release

Данзон Miguel Failde - Las alturas de Simpson

Other founders

Miguel Failde, Orquesta Faílde

Scheme of nascence

Contradanza + Creole Music + синкопированный ритм + музыкальный размер 2/4 + подвижный темп = Danzón

Description

Danzón was the most popular style of dance music in Cuba during the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. It evolved from Cuban contradanza, also known as Habanera, which was the first internationally successful Cuban musical genre. Originally, danzón was played by "orquestas típicas", ensembles of around 12 musicians, including a large wind section plus one or two violins and kettledrums. During the early 20th century, danzón began to incorporate elements from other popular Cuban styles, especially Son Cubano. By 1920 virtually all of the "orquestas típicas" had been replaced by smaller orchestras called charangas, many of which also played Cuban Rumba, Cuban Charanga and, from the 1950s on, Pachanga. Other genres such as Guaguancó also influenced the ever-evolving instrumentation of danzón ensembles, many of which reduced the number of brass instruments in favour of other sections. During the 1930s a short-lived combination of danzón and son cubano, the danzonete, grew in popularity thanks to artists such as Paulina Álvarez. The success of danzonete prompted many danzón ensembles to include one or two vocalists, even though some bands such as Arcaño y Sus Maravillas eventually went back to the purely instrumental style. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, both Mambo and Chachachá evolved from danzón as it became more syncopated. The origin of mambo can be traced back to the upbeat danzón "Mambo" by Orestes López which he nicknamed "nuevo ritmo" (new rhythm). Chachachá was pioneered by Enrique Jorrín by adding the "cha-cha-cha" rhythmic cell to the typical structure of danzón. The emergence of these subgenres, along with the growing popularity of pachanga, son cubano and cuban rumba, caused the decline of danzón during the 1960s. However, the genre did not become obsolete in Mexico, where Arturo Márquez revived the danzón with influences from Western Classical Music.