An Afro-Cuban canción form with binary structure based on the habanera rhythm that evolved as a substitute for the Spanish tonadilla escénica in 19th-century urban popular theatre. Its often picturesque and satiric coplas are delivered by a solo voice with a chorus repeating a single estribillo text and melody. Instrumental accompaniment shows the strong rhythmic influence of the habanera and features the guitar, tres (small three-string guitar) and güiro (gourd scraper).
WILLIAM GRADANTE