Murga porteña places a considerable emphasis on dance and instrumentals, more so than lyrics (in contrast to Uruguayan murga). It has considerable influence from candombe and other African dances and music. It has also been incorporated by some Argentine artists, such as Bersuit Vergarabat, Los Auténticos Decadentes, Ariel Prat and Los Fabulosos Cadillacs.Īrgentine murga is part of the cultural heritage of Buenos Aires, where it is almost exclusively performed. Examples of artists who have included murga in their arrangements are Jaime Roos, Rubén Rada, No Te Va Gustar, Máximo Diego Pujol Washington Luna, and Alejandro Balbis. The musical style or rhythmic structures of the murga is sometimes incorporated into Uruguayan popular music. The singers tend to be foregrounded with the percussionists at the back or off to the side of the stage. Staging is sparse with minimal use of props. Murguistas dress in elaborate, colourful, jester-like costumes. These get played on the radio during the Carnival period and some of them, such as the Saludo Araca La Cana 1937, are cherished by Uruguayans as cultural icons. The two most important pieces of the performance are the opening song ( saludo) and the exit song ( retirada or despedida). The percussion instruments, derived from the European military band, are bombo (a shallow bass drum worn at the waist and played horizontally), redoblante ( snare drum) and platillos (clash cymbals). Vocal production tends to be nasal and loud with little variation in volume. The singers perform in polyphony using up to five vocal parts. For example, during the dictatorship in Uruguay in the 1970s, groups like Araca La Cana became known for their left-wing tendencies, subversive commentary and oppositional stance.Ī traditional murga group is composed of a chorus and three percussionists and this is the type of murga performed on stages at Carnival. Consequently, murga lends itself well to being used as a form of popular resistance. Lyrical content is based on a particular theme, chosen by the group, which serves to provide commentary on events in Uruguay or elsewhere over the preceding year. Groups also vie against one another in a prestigious official competition. This suite will be performed on community stages known as tablados, set up in Montevideo's various neighbourhoods, throughout the Carnival period. In the period preceding Carnival, which takes place from late January to early March in Uruguay, each group will prepare a musical play consisting of a suite of songs and recitative (heightened speech) lasting around 45 minutes. Uruguayan murga performances feature up to 17 performers, usually men.

Uruguayan murga is typically performed in Montevideo.

Murgaa recorder