Merengue dominicano. surgimiento, evolución y pioneros del género. Análisis comparativo de “guavaberry”, “bomba” y “suavemente”.

Abstract

This document deals, in a general, with the aspects that have marked the evolution of the merengue from its origin in the middle of the 19th century to the present day. Initially, it considers some hypotheses that are woven around the birth of the genre and compares them with different positions of historians, musicians and folklorists on the origin of the genre. The social, cultural and political aspects that influenced the transformation of the classic merengue of Cibao (perico ripiao) are also studied in this work. Investigating the elements that led to this genre, which was played on popular lower-class stages, becoming the national Dominican music. Next, we present the pioneers and main exponents of the genre that have left an important legacy and have made merengue cross borders, making it one of the most listened to Latin music genres in the world. Finally, a comparative analysis is made of three most emblematic songs of merengue, that were produced in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico in the last two decades of the 20th century. In the analysis of "Bomba", "Guavaberry" and "Suavemente" the differences and likeness in the way the genre was interpreted are evident; first by the founders (Dominicans), then by those who adopted it in the 90s (Puerto Ricans). The analysis concludes by showing the main characteristics of the style of each of the groups that produced the songs.