Guaracha

The guaracha (Spanish pronunciation: [ɡwaˈɾatʃa]) is a genre of music that originated in Cuba, of rapid tempo and comic or picaresque lyrics.^[1]^[2] The word has been used in this sense at least since the late 18th and early 19th century.^[3] Guarachas were played and sung in musical theatres and in working-class dance salons. They became an integral part of bufo comic theatre in the mid-19th century.^[4] During the later 19th and the early 20th century the guaracha was a favourite musical form in the brothels of Havana.^[5]^[6] The guaracha survives today in the repertoires of some trova musicians, conjuntos and Cuban-style big bands.

^ In some parts of that country it's considered as Música cubana del Areyto a la Nueva Trova. 2nd rev ed, Cubanacan, San Juan P.R.
^ Alternatively, Giro Radamés 2007. Diccionario enciclopédico de la música en Cuba vol 2, p179 says the term is "of Spanish (Andalusian) origin, and the dance was a kind of zapateo" [transl: contrib.] and the Diccionario de la música Labor says "We don't know when it originated; [the word] is supposed to have been used originally for a dance of Spanish origin". However the word may originally have been used, in the context of Cuban music the text here is accurate.
^ Pichardo, Esteban 1836. Diccionario provincial casi razonado de vozes y frases cubanas. La Havana. "Báile de la gentualla casi en desuso". p303, 1985 reprint.
^ Leal, Rine 1982. La selva oscura: de los bufos a la neocolonia (historia del teatro cubano de 1868 a 1902). La Habana.
^ Canizares, Dulcila 2000. San Isidro 1910: Alberto Yarini y su epocha. La Habana.
^ Fernandez Robaina, Tomas 1983. Recuerdos secretos de los mujeres publicas. La Habana.

[1] In some parts of that country it's considered as Música cubana del Areyto a la Nueva Trova. 2nd rev ed, Cubanacan, San Juan P.R.

[2] Alternatively, Giro Radamés 2007. Diccionario enciclopédico de la música en Cuba vol 2, p179 says the term is "of Spanish (Andalusian) origin, and the dance was a kind of zapateo" [transl: contrib.] and the Diccionario de la música Labor says "We don't know when it originated; [the word] is supposed to have been used originally for a dance of Spanish origin". However the word may originally have been used, in the context of Cuban music the text here is accurate.

[3] Pichardo, Esteban 1836. Diccionario provincial casi razonado de vozes y frases cubanas. La Havana. "Báile de la gentualla casi en desuso". p303, 1985 reprint.

[4] Leal, Rine 1982. La selva oscura: de los bufos a la neocolonia (historia del teatro cubano de 1868 a 1902). La Habana.

[5] Canizares, Dulcila 2000. San Isidro 1910: Alberto Yarini y su epocha. La Habana.

[6] Fernandez Robaina, Tomas 1983. Recuerdos secretos de los mujeres publicas. La Habana.

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