A generic term used in Venezuela for both religious and secular Christmas songs, including the Villancico, alabanza, romance, décima, estribillo and canto de adoración. Melodies are usually in 2/4 or 6/8 metre. Syncopated melodies and vocal harmonizations in either parallel 3rds or contrapuntal style are common. Percussion ensembles featuring the pandareta (tambourine), tambora criolla (drum), charrasca (scraper), chineco (rattle) and the furruco (friction drum) are characteristic, as are string instruments such as the guitar, cinco (small five-string guitar), tiple (small 12-string guitar) and, especially, the cuatro (small four-string guitar). Aguinaldo can be used to mean a ‘Christmas gift’. Musical ‘cards’ are often performed by itinerant musicians or ordinary people, moving from house to house as part of the parranda, a tradition where in return for a song a gift may be given.
WILLIAM GRADANTE