Joropo

Joropo is a musical style using polyrhythmic patterns. The singer and the harp or bandola perform the main melody while a cuatro perform the acconpainment. The cuatro and the bandola are four-stringed instruments descendants of the Spanish guitar. Percusion instrument are the maracas. In modern times the bass guitar is included. It is the hallmark of Venezuelan music. The name joropo also means the performance the occasion or possibly its dance.