|
Music in 1943 at the Casino de la Playa Hotel in
Havana (at age 16) and introduced it at the "Los Angeles Dance
Hall" in Mexico city, while
others state it was at the La Tropicana nightclub in Havana
in 1943. (The first location in the United States was at the
Park Plaza Hotel in New York City about 1949). However it was
Orestes Lopez who composed the first title song called "Mambo"
in 1938. Prado is said to have copied Lopez in 1943.
Mambo really flourished in the 1950's as the
Rumba
was exhausting its enthusiasm. In a few of the old Cuban dance magazines
of the 1950s I have acquired, basically blast the American version
of the Mambo dance as a "novelty dance" with no real connection
to authentic Mambo, calling it closer to the American Jitterbug
than the real authentic Mambo (sheesh!).
According to the 12/1953
issue of the Dance magazine which states:
"What's in a name, is the smooth sophisticated
Cuban style Rumba finding popular acceptance under the name Mambo.
The term Mambo is today (1953) used to designate two forms
of Rumba which are quite dissimilar in appearance. As a foundation
for either the smooth or the hectic style, however, the same or
similar basic rhythm and step variations are taught. The outward
differences come later, depending on the skill attained, the predominance
of smooth or jazzed up band music, conservative or Jitterbug
temperaments and a predilection for closed dancing or for opened
up fancy steps.
The basic Mambo step is derived from the "Cuban
style Rumba". The basic Cuban style Rumba uses a "Diamond
Pattern" instead of the "American Square or Box"
pattern, basically meaning forward and back and side to side (See
Diagram #2). And that the steps are 2,3,4 instead of the 1,2,3
as in the Rumba. Because of the Claves (Musical Instruments)
in use by the bands, a four count seems incomplete, so a two-measure
phrase (eight counts) is used.
They go on to say the "Mambo has been unsuccessfully
tried for years to come into the dance world, but it took a Jazzed
up "Son" (rumba) by the new name of Mambo to make
it happen. It goes on to say this new rhythm has been reported as
being hard to teach (2,3,4) so many studios are opting for
the 1,2,3 hold 4 (QQS) as Americans are used to stepping and counting
the "One" first, although the rhythm of the Mambo is in
the hips, not the feet". (end) Basically Mambo is a faster
single rhythm and Cha Cha is the slower triple rhythm dance.
The Mambo's popularity was helped along by the
mass amount of music created for it in a short period of time. The
song titled "Mambo Italiano" was originally banned from
the radio for it's offensive words, but was later released. Many
songs were written or rewritten for the Mambo from W.C. Handy's
"Saint Louis Blues" to Santa Claus.
The mambo replaced the Rumba
in popularity and gave birth to the Cha-Cha.
Desi
Arnaz is credited with nationalizing Latin American music with
American audiences through his television show "I Love Lucy."
It continued its popularity into the 1960's right along side the
Twist
and Mashed potato.
The word Salsa
today is used to describe the music and the dance, a modern term
for Latin if you will. However the dance
known as Salsa is really just a slowed down MUTATED Mambo. As Tito
Puente has said, "Salsa is what you eat". Mambo is again
gaining much popularity today (2002) with a little more pop or disco
beat, not to mention the likes of Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez,
Lou Bega, etc. helping it along.
The Clave:
Is a five-note, bi-measure pattern which serves as the foundation
for all of the rhythmic styles in salsa music. The clave consists
of a "strong" measure containing three notes (the tresillo),
and a "weak" measure containing two notes, resulting in
patterns beginning with either measure, referrred to as "three-two"
or two-three." There are two types of clave patterns associated
with popular (secular) music: the son clave and the rumba clave.
Another type of clave is the 6/8 clave - originated in several styles
of West African sacred music. (from: Salsa Guidebook for Piano and
Ensemble, Mauleon, R. - 1993) |
Ballrooms