Nueva canción is both a Latin American musical form and a social movement that has been around for nearly 70 years. It emerged in the early 1960s when Latin American and Caribbean—and some extent Spanish—cantautores (singer–songwriters) decided to make music in response to existing social and political struggles. Nueva canción represented, for many in Latin America and the Caribbean, an essential cultural element to bring about change in the region. In Puerto Rico, this form of cultural expression took on a unique character in response to the independence movements of the 20th century that called for liberation from the United States. This lesson highlights nueva canción in the context of festival performances—specifically, 7 dias con el pueblo in the Dominican Republic and Festival de Claridad in Puerto Rico.

Lesson Paths & Learning Objectives

1. Nueva Canción: a New Song for a New World

   • Describe the history and development of nueva canción in Puerto Rico.
   • Identify some important nueva cancióneros and the social topics they wrote about.
   • 30+ minutes

2. Nueva Canción: Musical Characteristics and Performers

   • Identify and describe how performers (cantautores) have used music elements and expressive characteristics in their interpretations of nueva canción in Puerto Rico, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
   • 30+ minutes

3. Fiestas and Nueva Canción: A People's Movement

   • Explain how nueva canción has been used in the context of fiestas/festivals in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean region.
   • Describe the process one might use to write a protest song.
   • 20+ minutes