Glossary · G

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Galleta
Drum similar to the bombo, but flatter (thus the name). It is sometimes used by carnival groups.

Garande
A popular dance in Cuba since the 18th Century.

Gatatumba
Name of a popular dance among black slaves in Cuba in the 17th Century.

Guaguancó
Folkloric Afro-Cuban dance, accompanied only by percussion instrumentation: the tumbadora, the segundo and the quinto.The guaguanco is one of the three parts of the rumba (together with the yambú and the columbia). This fast and clearly erotic dance is danced in partners.

Guajira
EThis form of country song emerged in Oriente, the eastern region of Cuba. Derived from Spanish tradition, the lyric content is sometimes sad or longing, nostalgic or expressing the difficulties of an impoverished life-style. The singer is accompanied by a guitar and a set of small percussion instruments. Later a double bass was added along with other percussion instruments, when the mixture with the son gave way to the son montuno, slower that the son.

Guapacha
Variant of the guaracha rythm.

Guaracha
It is the portside brothels and taverns in Havana that the guaracha emerges in the 18th Century. The guaracha songs have words full of salacious allusions, with humoristic criticism of the governing power or of everyday situations. Since its beginnings, the guaracha has been a popular spokes medium, which reinforces the satirical party spirit so loved by the Cubans.
The guaracha survived in the lower classes before conquering places of higher regard in the mid 20th Century, particularly with the influence of groups playing dance music and composers such as Nico Saquito or Julio Gutiérrez that took possession of the style, causing the genre to become a hybrid, namely the guaracha- son or guaracha-rumba.

Guateque
Popular celebration where the people get together to dance, sing and have fun.

Guirigay
Popular Spanish dance of the 16th Century

Güiro
A serrated Calabash gourd, with ridges carved in the skin, scraped with a stick and used as an instrument. It is played with the left hand. This light percussion instrument is still very much used in electric bands, adding charm to the group and a close role to the maracas. The güiro is usually played by a singer or chorus man: requiring little physical effort, it does not interfere with the singing.

Gurumbe
Ancient instrument in the form of a small bell with a clapper. It also refers to a dance of Guinean origin.