Traditional and popular music
Dominican music is synonymous with merengue and bachata. The former, merengue, is the country's queen of dances, a pillar of national identity known to all Dominicans, whatever their social class, practiced the world over and classified as a UNESCO intangible heritage since 2016. Although the origins of merengue are poorly understood - opinions differ - it is said to be influenced by Hispano-African influences and to have originated in the Cibao region. From the 1960s onwards, the dance became an integral part of the genre, notably thanks to national icon Johnny Ventura, who also incorporated American influences such as rock and roll. Aside from this cador, it's good to have listened to Wilfrido Vargas, the composer who put the genre on the map outside Dominican borders, and Sergio Vargas, the great name of merengue's golden age. At the end of July, merengue connoisseurs and neophytes alike will want to take part in the Santo Domingo Merengue Festival, an immersion in merengue culture, as well as the Puerto Plata Festival of Merengue and Caribbean Rhythms at the end of September, featuring concerts and dance demonstrations. Otherwise, merengue is regularly danced year-round at El Sartén, a small Latino bar in the capital's colonial zone, or at The Cave, one of Santo Domingo's most popular nightclubs.
The island's other emblematic rhythm is bachata. A blend of bolero, African influences and merengue, cha-cha-cha or tango, bachata was popularized between the 1960s and especially the 1980s by composers such as Luis Dias, then Juan Luis Guerra and Víctor Víctor in the 1990s. It was the latter who modernized and gave a more urban image to this music of rural origin. For bachata dancing, there's hardly a better occasion than the Festival de bachata, held at the end of January in Boca Chica and Santo Domingo, where bands, DJs and, of course, dancers take turns for 10 days. Otherwise, year-round, Parada 77 is a bar in the colonial zone where all social classes gather to dance the bachata, and Cacique bar, La Vega's bachata temple.
Beyond these two flagship genres, Dominicans love to dance to a plethora of others, such as the mangulina, a Creole version of the waltz; the pambiche, a dance derived from the merengue, but slower than the latter; the pri pri, a popular peasant music originating from Villa Mella; and the carabine, native to the south, which is performed in groups and circles, combining European choreography and African rhythms. It is considered an ancestor of merengue. There are also more ceremonial dances, such as the palo (or atabales), which is widespread throughout the territory and performed at religious ceremonies. Related to the palo are the salves, call-and-response songs using the güira, the famous metal scraper, and performed during pilgrimages and festivals dedicated to voodoo saints.
Otherwise, Carnaval offers a fine panorama of traditional music. This very popular festival, which blends Spanish traditions, Christian faith and African rites, takes place in every region of the country, with its frenzied rhythms, heady music and parades.
Current music
Dominicans love rock, and they owe it all to one man: Luis Díaz (1952-2009). This famous guitarist is nicknamed the " Padre del Rock Dominicano ", the "father of Dominican rock", because it was he and his band Transporte Urbano, who initiated the movement in the 1980s. Inspired by British and American rock, this little Dominican cousin has developed a voice of its own over time, supported by a bevy of hyper-popular groups such as Toque Profundo, a big hit in the 1990s, Rita Indiana y los Misterios, who mix merengue and rock, Vicente Garcia, star of the group Calor Urbano and recent successes such as Bocatabu.
Another huge Dominican trend: dembow. In the 1990s, reggaeton, a Puerto Rican rhythm, arrived in the Dominican Republic. Here, the genre quickly found its feet, rapidly gaining popularity and gradually transforming into dembow, a more stripped-down form of reggaeton whose rhythm is similar to that of Jamaican dancehall. The genre is a staple of Dominican youth, with stars such as El Alfa, Lirico en la Casa and Chimbala attracting huge audiences.
The Dominican Republic has a long tradition of musical experimentation. Local artists like to experiment, to dare, to mix local rhythms with foreign sounds. As a result, the Dominican underground scene continues to thrive, generation after generation, driven by groups such as Mula, which mixes merengue, dembow, bachata and electro; La Napa, which brings together poetry, hip-hop and Afro-Caribbean rhythms; Carolina Camacho, who integrates elements of bachata, gagá and reggaetón into her albums; Isaac Hernández, who explores his Afro-Dominican roots via jazz; Diego Raposo, who brings together electronic music and Dominican colors; and La Marimba, who plays jazz, R&B and merengue with accordion, güira and guitar. And let's not forget the exciting Kelman Duran, Dominican-American producer of "ambient reggaetón ".
Among the Dominican stages renowned for their line-ups is Jalao, on Santo Domingo's Parques Centrale, a restaurant, boutique, bar and the capital's newest concert venue. And let's not forget theAnfiteatro de Puerto Plata, an open-air amphitheatre overlooking the sea that hosts numerous shows and concerts by national and international artists throughout the year. Its design and 7,000-person capacity make it one of the largest and most modern venues in the Caribbean.
