charanga

[ chuh-rahng-guh; Spanish chah-rahng-gah ]

noun

1. a type of Cuban dance music performed by violins, flutes, timbales, simple percussion instruments, piano, double bass, and vocalists.

charanga

/ ˌtʃæˈræŋɡə /

noun

1. a type of orchestra used in performing traditional Cuban music

Word History and Origins

Origin of charanga¹

First recorded in 1925–30; from Latin American Spanish (Cuba, Puerto Rico), shortening of charanga francesca “French band, Haitian Creole band,” from Spanish charanga “brass band, informal orchestra” + francesca “French.” Refugees from Haiti fleeing the Haitian Revolution in the early 19th century introduced the music and dance form into Cuba; charango ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of charanga¹

Spanish

Example Sentences

“You can see the traditions they have — the charanga music, the food served with vermouth — and understand them better.”

From New York Times

In 1975, Cuba’s Orquesta Ritmo Oriental released a relentless charanga whose title makes a bold claim: “Yo bailo de todo.”

From New York Times

Annual Cuban American Music Festival Charanga Cubana All Stars, Generación Rumbera and the Arsenio Rodriguez Project are among the acts taking part in this daylong event for ages 21 and older.

From Los Angeles Times

He gave the Cuban charanga sound, which featured flutes and violins, new life.

From New York Times

From his second album, “Johnny Pacheco y su Charanga,” this is a riveting distillation of Pacheco’s early pachanga sound, featuring the full effect of a Cuban charanga-style orchestra, heavy on the flutes and violins.

From New York Times