An Introduction to America’s Music

CHAPTER 19 | ROCK ENTERS THE 1970s 471

timing section text comments

2:07 organ solo 8 bars begin with held organ tremolo, followed by

melodic improvisations highlighting blue notes and

generally descending in contour.

2:22 The second 8-bar segment begins with polyrhythms,

then continues with more blue notes.

2:37 Organ anticipates the third segment (6 bars) with a

return to polyrhythms, expanding the texture to full

chords.

2:48 vamp 4-bar return to the introduction, then 2-bar version of

the rhythmic chords.

2:59 chorus Oye como va, mi ritmo,

Bueno pa’ gozar, mulata

8-bar chorus as before, followed by a 4-bar version of

the repeated-chord crescendo that preceded the organ

solo.

3:21 guitar solo Guitar begins with 8 bars of an expressive melody

pitched fairly high.

3:36 8 bars: guitar improvises freely in a still higher

register, gradually descending to the lower strings.

3:51 8 bars: 2 bars of distorted double stops in the mid-

register, then 6 bars of high, clear single notes in the

quick triple polyrhythm.

4:06 coda 4 bars: rhythmic chords from the vamp return one last

time to end the record emphatically.

Listen & Refl ect

1. If you listen to “Oye como va” with good speakers or earbuds, you should be able to
   appreciate how each instrument is clearly positioned to the right, left, or center. What is
   the spatial distribution of instruments, and how does the stereo placement affect your
   experience of this rhythmically complex music?


2. Compare the total duration of the obviously composed sections of the song (the sung
   choruses, the instrumental unisons, etc.) to the time spent in guitar and organ solos. How
   does this proportion compare to other popular songs studied so far, and what conclusion
   might one draw from the difference?


3. Contrast and compare this record with either “El cayuco” (see LG 16.4) or Tito Puente’s
   original recording of “Oye como va.” What are the similarities and differences between
   Puente’s style of Latin jazz and Santana’s Latin rock? Which do you prefer, and why?

CD 3.24 Listening Guide 19.1 “Oye como va” CARLOS SANTANA

172028_19_468-494_r3_sd.indd 471 23/01/13 11:04 AM