Costa Rican Love For Coffee, Music and the Arts

Costa Ricans love to dance, sing and party. The foundation of native music in Costa Rica is based on this "marimba, " an African-derived, xylophone-style instrument. Costa Rican folk songs are nostalgic and have a ballad-like melody. The lyrics praise the beauty of the country, their people, the landscape, and often talk about the work it's going to take to grow the crops and to cultivate coffee. This country has a national "passion for coffee, the almond of gold, " so it is not unusual to hear references to the beans in music lyrics, poetry, reading or everyday conversation.

The sound of marimba, combined with the sounds of steel drums, reggae beats and also other instruments of the Caribbean creates a very special and festive sound.

The Costa Rican national folk show up, the "Punto Guanacaste, " composed by Leandro Cabalceta Brau, is a heel-and-toe stomping dance for adults. This folk dance is often performed in theaters and at special occasions.
However , it is a popular creep in rural settings where couples may wear the traditional costumes for the occasion.
The dance portrays dating traditions of the past where the male dancer follows the female partner. The female dancer pretends to get away from your male who periodically shouts "¡Bomba! " The music stops so the male can recite praises and "bombas" to his lady.
These praises tend to be humorous and draw cheers and applauses from the target market. They can also draw spontaneous participation from the audience with general laughter and more cheer. An example of a traditional "bomba" is "... They say that you don't love me because I don't have a mustache. Tomorrow I will put one on made out of buzzard feathers... "
Other popular music genres in Costa Rica comprise: Rock 'n roll (music from the USA from the 1940's and 1950's). Latin alternative rock, Pop (popular music). Calypso (Afro-Caribbean music from Trinidad Tobago). Disco (dance music from the 1970's). Salsa (modern form Cuban playing rhythms). Meringue (music and dance originally from the Dominican Republic). Cumbia (Colombian musical fashion and folk dance). Soca (soul calypso in the form of dance music). Chiqui-Chiqui (a mixture of meringue, cumbia, together with afro-pop tones). Tex-Mex, Mexican music, Tangos, and even Celtic music.

Costa Rica is also a country which includes a passion for theatrical performances and drama.

The "Peña" is an intellectual style or type of performance that's interesting for the way it blends music with spoken word and poetry.
The "Peña" was unveiled by Chilean and Argentinean exiles living in Costa Rica.
The "Peña" promotes the participation of the customers and is a favorite of cafés, where moving songs are shared all around the table.
Coffee, beverages, tears with laughter or emotion and much clapping are always part of the scene.
In the Costa Rican tradition, "Café Minus Leche" is included in menus and ranks high in domestic consumption at cafés, day and night.
Costa Rica's day life, particularly in the larger cities, buzzes with live music ranging from traditional Latin rhythms to normal symphonies at the spectacular National Theater in San José. In the early morning, as the towns come to life, one thing you could be sure will fill the air everywhere is the exquisite smell of fresh bread and recently brewed coffees. Because most towns are small and the cafés are literally everywhere, there is no escaping the fragrance with best Cuban coffee ready for the asking! Of course, who wants to escape the wonderful aroma of coffee?

So , precisely what you waiting for? As they say in Costa Rica, "Pura Vida! " (Pure Life): go ahead and enjoy a delicious glass of Costa Rican Tarrazu or Costa Rican SHB Decaffeinated gourmet coffee!

Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "The Gourmet Coffee Guy. " He is an expert in content who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in the areas of personal and professional interest.