Nicaragua Research Paper

Music is an integral part of the culture and history of Nicaragua, and Nicaraguan folk music, like the people of the country itself, is both varied and vibrant. A long history of colonization and occupation has led Nicaragua to be a country filled with both strong indigenous and outside influences, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the country's folk music. The roots of this music are pulled from the many groups of different native indigenous Nicaraguan tribes and are injected with the Europeans influences, of Spain, Germany, and Britain, and African influences. The country itself is generally divided into three regions, the Pacific lowlands, the north and central highlands, and the Atlantic lowlands. While all three regions mix indigenous

It is the most populated, and contains the largest cities in the country. The music of this regions of Nicaragua is a mixture of indigenous and Spanish influences, as the Spanish colonized the region in about 1524. The music generally makes use of flutes, drums guitars, and marimbas. The Marimba is the national instrument of Nicaragua. Most Nicaraguan marimbas are made with hardwood plates which are placed over either bamboo or metal tubes that vary in length to produce different tones, and can be played with either two or four hammers. Unlike most other central American countries the marimba in Nicaragua is played by a sitting performer who holds the instrument on his knees instead of resting it on a stand. It is usually accompanied by a bass fiddle, a guitar and a guitarrilla. The marimba is used to play most of the folk pieces and typical music of the countryside. Many of the folk songs of this pacific region come from the city and area of Masaya which is where some of the best orejeros (musicians who learn to play by ear), marimberos (marimba players) are

This side of Nicaragua developed in relative isolation to the rest of the country and its music developed in this way as well. The folk music of the Atlantic lowlands, like the other two regions, does have strong indigenous influences, but it's European influences are from Britain, and it also has a strong Afro-caribbean influence that the rest of the country does not have as greatly. This side of the country came to be occupied mostly by indigenous tribes such as the Miskito and escaped slaves from the West Indies, was never concurred by Spain, and did large amounts of trade with the English, and all of this is reflected in its music. The songs are usually lively, intense, sensual, and frenzied. This style of music is best exemplified in what is called "Palo de Mayo" which is a festival, dance, and a musical styling. Palo de Mayo music was historically played on bongo drums made of tree trunks, washboard bass, and later calypso and other influences were incorporated into the music. It is said to have a strong creole