by OLSONGO » Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:56 pm
As the article that you posted says Joropo goes into the 1700's , and the area before it was divided into the countries that we know today as Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama and parts of Peru and Brazil was called la Gran Colombia , meaning that the Joropo was there in the plains in a vast area that today is divide by a border separating Colombia and Venezuela with its people called " llaneros " so the Joropo was there way before the separation of the land, and due to political differences some llaneros went one way to Colombia and others another way to Venezuela , taking with them the Joropo. In reference to Panama your article fails to say that Panama was a state that belonged to Colombia til 1903 , after that ..the USA insited a revolution in Panama... the main interest being to construct the Panama canal, a big money maker . So anything that originated in Panama before 1903 is Colombian. How can you say that Colombia is a copycat ? as your article says that the Cumbia ORIGINATED NOT COPIED in the Caribbean coast of Colombia , thats a big area and again the folkloric variants and roots in Panama took place when Panama was a state of Colombia. Some of us know that the Spanish brought slaves from Africa to the coasts of Colombia, and they brought their original music with them and on that, they continued to create variations on various rhythms as the Mapale, Currulao, Chande, Porro, Vallenato, etc..and all played with traditional folk instruments with strong African characteristics ( as shown in the pic ) that the slaves brought with them. So where is the coping there ? The Cumbia and the Vallenato are a fusion with some European instruments just as you find this all over from Cuba to Argentina. but the rhythms mentioned are attributed by musicologist as being from Colombia and no where else.That thing about being the copy capital of the world is something you made up, never heard that before in the books or from many of the pro players I have played with in my 52 years of existence. in NY, LA, Seattle, Miami, KC. I have heard that phrase referred more to Puerto Rico copying from Cuban music. So Leddy hate to tell you... some of what you have read and consider true facts are not so and even what you posted proves you wrong.
Peace
Olsongo