Hiscox celebrates Latin American music

As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, we invite you to join in the celebration by checking out the Spotify playlist created by the Hiscox Latino Employee Network (HLEN). The playlist features music from different parts of the world and showcases the various styles and instruments that make up Latin music.

Music is an integral part of Hispanic culture. Latin music often features percussion instruments that mark a strong beat. Latin percussion instruments are often African in origin, and different instruments are used in different musical styles. For example, congas, a set of wooden drums with a leather patch that’s often played by hand strokes, are often heard in salsa and merengue music. Bongos and the Dominican drum can be heard in bachata and merengue music, clave (handheld wooden sticks) are featured in salsa music, and cajon (a wooden box of Peruvian origin) is heard in the flamenco genre.

The melody of many of these songs is provided by stringed instruments. In bachata, which originated in the Dominican Republic, you’ll hear the requinto guitar, which is smaller and higher pitched than a typical American acoustic guitar. In other genres, you might hear the Cuban tres; the cuatro, which comes from Venezuela and Puerto Rico; the tiple, often used in Colombia and Chile; or the bajo quinto or sexto, which are common in Tejano and Norteño music. 

Latin music styles are often accompanied by dances of the same name, like merengue and salsa. So check out this Spotify playlist, and start moving to the beat!