charanga

American  

[chuh-rahng-guh, chah-rahng-gah] / tʃəˈrɑŋ gə, tʃɑˈrɑŋ gɑ /

noun

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

---

charanga British  

/ ˌtʃæˈræŋɡə /

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of charanga

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. )

Example Sentences

However, he was not too fond of the emerging term, which seemed to cram different styles like mambo, charanga, rumba, guaracha and danzón into one single category.

From Los Angeles Times

“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