Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Sounds of Puerto Rico
The music of Puerto Rico is a sonic reflection of the destination itself, a sound shaped by
a proud and dynamic history of revolution, colonialism, and the cultural crosscurrents that
blow between the island, New York City, Spain and Africa. Even compared with other des-
tinations in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico is something of an island unto its own.
The sound synonymous with Puerto Rico is certainly the hybrid syncopated patter of
salsa, but that which pounds from the open doorways of most of the island's nightspots these
days is just as often reggaetón, a blazing blend of hip-hop, Caribbean syncopations and the
molar-rattling thud of dancehall.
In fact, the dominance of reggaetón has almost run the hallmark genre of salsa out of is-
land nightclubs entirely, and travelers to the island who imagine themselves sashaying to
the beat of a brassy salsa combo every night should be advised: it probably ain't happen-
in'. Aside from some packed spots in San Juan, scattered destinations around the island and
weekly residences at upscale resorts (which don't exactly ooze authenticity), catching tradi-
tional music in Puerto Rico is a surprisingly difficult task, especially considering its role in
the birth of the art form. The island's sonic movements beyond salsa - heavily rhythmic folk
styles such as
bomba y plena, danza,
merengue and cha-cha - are even more obscure, with
performances mostly relegated to museum demonstrations and holiday festivals.
The Puerto Rican Cuatro Project (
www.cuatro-pr.org
) is a nonprofit organization that has adopted the island's national instrument
as a means of keeping its cultural memories alive. Its website is a must for those seeking to learn about Puerto Rican musical tra-
ditions, with priceless information on the island's traditional instruments.
