Music of Nicaragua

Music of Nicaragua is a mixture of indigenous and European, especially Spanish, influences. Musical instruments include the marimba and others that are common across Central America. Pop music includes Cuban, Brazilian, Mexican and Panamanian performers, as well as those from Europe and the United States.

Nicaraguans enjoys their local artist's music but also enjoy music from around the world. They enjoy the Dominican Republic's bachata and merengue, Jamaica's reggae, Panama's reggaeton and Colombia's Cumbia among other genres including pop. Among the younger crowds heavy metal and rock has become very popular.

Nicaraguan music is a mixture of different cultures from indigenous tribes, European conquerors, and slaves. Styles of music vary throughout the different regions in the country. In the Caribbean coast music with African and indigenous influence are heard, in the Pacific coast the music is considered to be a mixture of the indigenous and Spanish culture and in the North/Central region of Nicaragua the music has more of a European flavor, this is because of the significant wave of Europeans, mostly Germans, that live in the region. European influenced dances like the polka and Mazurka are also danced in this region.

The Caribbean coast of Nicaragua is known for its Palo de Mayo, which is a lively and sensual form of dance music that is especially loud and celebrated during the Palo de Mayo festival. The Garifuna community exists in Nicaragua and is known for its popular music called Punta. Also, Soca, Reggaeton and Reggae is popular throughout the country.

Rhythms like the trova became essential to writers in the post-war scenario of the 70s and 80s. Writers used trova to express social injustice, their hope for a better tomorrow, patriotism, and ecological conservation. This, in time, became a rhythm used in artistic Nicaraguan creations, and it therefore also became part of the culture. Well known in this category is Duo Guardabarranco, formed by the brothers Salvador and Katia Cardenal.

Another popular musical genre in Nicaragua is the Chicheros, often consisting of a trumpet and trombone or other brass instruments, with additional musicians playing various percussions. This is often to be heard in private parties around the country.

The marimba of Nicaragua distinguishes itself from the other forms of marimba in Central America by the way it is played. Nicaragua's marimba is played by a sitting performer holding the instrument on his knees. They are usually accompanied by a bass fiddle, guitar and guitarrilla (a small guitar similar to a mandolin). This music is played at social functions as a sort of background music. The marimba is made with hardwood plates, placed over bamboo or metal tubes of varying lengths. It is played with two or four hammers.

Indigenous theater groups performed with music and dance. Theatrical manifestations include the Elegant Knights of Huaco Bull and the UNESCO proclaimed masterpiece, "El Güegüense", among many others.
Nicaraguans in Music

The most prominent Nicaraguan composers are José de la Cruz Mena (1874-1907), a classical composer born in León, creator of varied romantic waltzes and sounds inspired by everyday experiences like The Nacatamal, The Turkeys, or Ruins; by Bible characters like Loves of Abraham; or by his aristocratic patrons' wives and daughters like Beautiful Margaret, Rosalía, etc. Mena's became famous in America where it influenced other American composers. It reached Europe, and Asia in the late 1800's and became so popular, particularly in Germany, and Italy that inspired composer Giacomo Puccini for his opera La Boheme. Luis Abraham Delgadillo, with several symphonies, stage works, orchestral pieces, chamber music, songs, and piano music to his credit, and Camilo Zapata, creator of the Nicaraguan Sound. Erwin Krüger, creator of Barrio de Pescadores (Fisherman's District). Justo Santos creator of La Mora Limpia (A Clean Coffee Bean), considered Nicaragua's popular anthem.

Other prominent national musicians, groups, and songwriters include Carlos Mejia Godoy, Luis Enrique Mejia Godoy, Luis Enrique Mejía López (known as Luis Enrique), Sergio Tapia, Hernaldo Zúñiga, Macolla, Dimension Costeña, Los Mokuanes, Lía Barrios, Norma Elena Gadea, Catia Cardenal, Salvador Cardenal and from Somoto Nicaragua Marcio Brenes Mejia.

Of the younger generation of Nicaraguan singer-songwriters there are a few notable such as Latin Grammy Nominee Ramon Armando Mejia (Perrozompopo), Arturo Vaughan, Moisés Gadea, Junior Escobar, Elsa Basil, Cecilia Ferrer, Alejandro Carlos Mejia, Clara Grun, Noel Portocarrero, Duo Guardabarranco, Juan Solorzano, and Marcio Brenes JR.. Also, rock bands such as Necrosis, Grupo Armado, Crisis, Monroy y Surmenage, Mano de Vidrio, Contrapeso, Q69K, Kerfodermo, Carga Cerrada and Cecilia & The Argonauts.

Hip Hop and Reggaeton artist include Torombolo, J Smooth, Mr. Meli, Nello Style, Nica and Lingo Nicoya.

Nicaragua's Caribbean coast is home to prominent reggae singers and groups such as Philip Montalban, Carlos de Nicaragua, Kali Boom, Sabu, Sabu Sr. and Osberto Jerez y los Gregory's

Also notable instrumentalists such as guitarists Tony Melendez, Arturo Vaughan, Roberto Vaughan, Eduardo Araica, Omar Suazo, Arnulfo Oviedo, Saulo Pérez, and Andrés Sánchez, marimba player Carlos Luis Mejia, batterists Jorge Lanzas, Bikentios Chávez, and percussionist José Areas who was inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the band Santana.

Honduras Music

The music of Honduras is very varied, Punta is the main "ritmo" de Honduras, to Caribbean music like salsa, merengue, reggae, and reggaeton all widely heard especially in the North, to Mexican rancheras heard in the interior, rural part of the country. The country's ancient capital of Tegucigalpa is an important center for modern Honduran music, and is home to the College for Fine Arts.

The Garifuna came from and escaped Island Caribs who were deported from St. Vincent to Central America (especially Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, and also in Nicaragua in 1802) by the British when they conquered St. Vincent. The Garifunas kept themselves apart from the social system then dominant, leading to a distinctive culture that include chumba and hunguhungu, a circular dance in a three beat rhythm, which is often combined with punta. There are other songs typical to each gender, women having eremwu eu and abaimajani, rhythmic a cappella songs, and laremuna wadauman, men's work songs. Other forms of dance music include matadfgmuerte, gunchei, charikawi and sambai.

Though American music has produced most of the popular music in modern Honduras, the country has produced several well-known musicians such as; Curtis Jackson, Diablos Negros and Victors Cereal Band (A.D.N.), Delirium, Sueño Digviana, Pez Luna, Sol Caracol, Khaoticos,ANIMA, URANIA, Ytterbium, Karpenter's Kids, El Pez, Montuca SoundSystem and Evolucion Neutra. A few famous bands originally from Honduras are The Dung Beetles, The Fruit Loops, and Extreme Latino Rock!

Reggaeton has also been growing in popularity in recent years, and Honduras has emerged as a leading producer of artists. Notable artists include Raggamofin Killas, El Pueblo, Los Bohemios Del Reggaeton and DJ Slyfox.