History of Music in Nicaragua

Nicaragua music is a combination of native and European, especially the Spanish influences. Some of the musical instruments include the marimba and others that are common cross Central America. The pop music comprises Brazilian, Panamanian, Cuban and Mexican musicians, as well as those from the Europe and the United States.

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The Nicaraguans enjoys their indigenous musician’s music but also like music from around the world. They also enjoy the Dominican Republic’s bachata and merengue, the Jamaica’s reggae, Colombia’s Cumbia and Panama’s reggaeton and many others genres including the pop. Among the younger ones heavy metal and rock has become very renowned.

The music of Nicaraguan is a combination of diverse cultures from the native people, European conquerors and slaves. The styles of the music differ through the diverse areas in the country. In the Caribbean coast music with African and local influences are heard and in the Pacific region the music is seen to be combination of the local and Spanish culture and in the region of the North/Central area of Nicaragua the music has more of a European flavor and this is because of the substantial wave of Europeans, mainly the Germans that live in the area.

The Caribbean region of Nicaragua is known for its Palo de Mayo, which is a form of active and sensual dance music that is especially loud and celebrated in the time of Palo de Mayo festival. The Garifuna people lives in Nicaragua and is known for its renowned music which is known as Punta. And also reggaeton, soca and reggae are renowned all over the country.

Trova rhythms became important to authors in the post-war scenario of the 1970s and 80s. Authors used the trova to express the social injustice, their hope for a better tomorrow, ecological conservation and patriotism. In a time, because of the rhythm used in artistic Nicaraguan productions and it therefore also became part of the culture. A renowned one in this group is known as Duo Guardabarranco which was created by the brothers Salvador and Katia Cardenal.

Another renowned muscle genre in Nicaragua is known as Chicheros frequently made up of a trumpet and trombone or other brass instruments with additional artists that play different percussions. This is frequently to be heard in private parties within the country.

The greatest notable Nicaraguan composers were Jose de la Mena from 1874 to 1907, a classical composer born in Leon, inventor of diverse romantic waltzes and sound encouraged by everyday experiences like the Nacatamal, The Turkeys or Ruins by Bible characters like Loves of Abraham or by his aristocratic patrons’ wives and daughters like Beautiful Margaret and Rosalia etc. and Mena’s became popular in America where he influenced other American composers. This reached the Europe and Asia in the late 1800s and became so renowned, mainly in Germany and Italy that encouraged composer Giacomo Puccini for his opera La Boheme. Luis Abraham Delgadillo with several works, stage, instrumental pieces, chamber music, piano music and songs to his recognition and Camilo Zapata who is the inventor of the Nicaraguan Sound. Erwin Kruger, inventor of Barrio de Pescadores (Fisherman’s District). Justo Santos who is the inventor of La Mora Limpia (A Clean Coffe Bean), considered Nicaragua’s renowned anthem.

Other notable national artists, orchestras and songwriters include Carlos Mejia Godoy, Luis Enrique Mejia Godoy, Norma Elena Gadea, Salvador Cardenal, Sergio Tapia, Macolla, Luis Enrique Mejia Lopez (known as Luis Enrique), Hernaldo Zuniga, Dimension Costena, Lia Barrios, Los Mokuanes, Catia Cardenal and also from Somoto Nicaragua include Marcio Brenes Mejia.

The younger generation of Nicaraguan singer-songwriters include prominent such as Latin Grammy Nominee Ramon Armando Mejia (Perrozompop), Moises Gadea, Junior Escobar, Arturo Vaughan, Juan Montenegro, Elsa Basil, Noel Portocarrero, Cecilia Ferrer, Clara Grun, Alejandro, Duo Guardabarranco, Marcio Brenes JR and Juan Solorzano and also the rock ensembles include Crisis, Necrosis, Resistencia, Grupo Armado, Cecilia & the Argonatus and many others.

Some of the hip hop and reggaeton musician include Lingo Nicoya, Torombolo, Mr. Meli, J Smooth, Nica and Nello Style. The Nicaragua’s Caribbean region is a place to notable reggae singers and orchestras such as Kali Boom, Osberto Jerez y los Gregory’s, Philip Montalban, Sabu and others.

Also prominent instrumentalists such as guitarists Tony Melendez, Saulo Perez, Eduardo Araica, Arturo Vaghan, Omar Suazo, Roberto Vaughan, Arnulfo Oviedo and Andres Sanchez and also marimba players include carlos Luis Mejia, drummers include Bikentios, Jorge Lanzas, henry Palacios, Johnny Metralla, Bikentios Chavez, Matute and percussionist Jose Areas who was initiated in the rock & roll hall of fame with the band known as Santana.