Montuno

Montuno

Montuno has several meanings pertaining to Cuban music and its derivatives. Literally, montuno means 'comes from the mountain', and so Son montuno may refer to the older type of son played in the mountainous rural areas of Oriente. Another possibility is that the word "Montuno" comes from the word "Montura" which is the Spanish word for "Saddle", because the rhythm in Son music is like riding a horse. Or it may mean the final section of a song-based composition; in this sense it is simply part of a piece of music. Here it is usually a faster, brasher, semi-improvised instrumental section, sometimes with a repetitive vocal refrain. Finally, montuno can be used for a piano rhythm accompanying the montuno section, when it describes a repeated syncopated piano vamp, often with chromatic root movement.[1]

A montuno is another accompaniment technique used in latin music. It is usually played by the piano, but can be adapted to the guitar. You can define a montuno as a repeated pattern of notes or chords with syncopated moving inner voices and a differently syncopating bassline

References

  1. ^ Orovio, Helio 2004. Cuban music from A to Z. Tumi, Bath. p141

See also