Venezuelan Aguinaldo
In Venezuela, the word aguinaldo means a gift and also refers to a genre of Christmas music. Aguinaldo music is performed throughout the country, not only to commemorate Jesus but for the joy of Christmas. In different regions, it is accompanied by different musical instruments.
Aguinaldo is the most widespread Christmas musical genre. In many Venezuelan towns, musicians sing in front of the cross and the pesebre (nativity scene). Aguinaldo music figures into the celebration of the Pastores de San Joaquín, and is common in the Paradura del niño celebrated in the states of Táchira and Trujillo.
Aguinaldos often have recognizable melodies of old carols, but set them to different rhythms and use novel instruments. It is for that reason that people talk about the evolution of aguinaldo through síncopas (syncopation). Aguinaldos use the typical Christmas ensemble (parranda navideña): the violin, clarinet, bandolín, and even accordion-like instruments. These instruments dominate the prelude and interlude and may duplicate the melody of the song. But the richest aguinaldo music also includes charrasca, chineco, the triangle, drums of one and two patches, panderos, furruco, the cuatro, the cinco, sometimes the guitar, and tiple.
Aguinaldos generally have six verses. Some verses are composed beforehand, while others are improvised according to the circumstances.
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