Salsa term: Merengue (Style of music)

Rhythm and dance from the Dominican Republic in a 2/4 Beat. It is a simple rhythm. Every beat slap is accentuated evenly in the dance. It arises already in the thirties. The music was significant advanced by the dictator Rafael Trujilo (1891 - 1961) to found a national identity. The original Merengue was was played with »Conga, »Guiro and Accordion (still in the north at Cibao valley: "Merenge Tipico" or "Perico Ripiao"). In the seventies/eighties there came also the horn section, bass and piano. The lyrics are mostly funny lovesongs. The heart of the Dominican Republic beats in the Merengue pulse.

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