| The many cultures of South and Central America and | | | | performed in a variety of forms throughout the |
| the Caribbean islands blend American Indian, African | | | | continent, such as the copla of Colombia, the Andean |
| and European (particularly Spanish and Portuguese) | | | | countries and Argentina. Other folksongs, such as the |
| traditions. In folk music, the particular combination of | | | | Argentinian and Chilean Tonadas and Tonos, also |
| elements varies from region to region, from the purely | | | | preserve old Spanish literary forms. In contrast to the |
| Indian forms of highland Bolivia and Amazon rain | | | | thriving Anglo-American tune repertory of the USA, |
| forests peoples to the mestizo ('mixed') music of | | | | however, few extant Iberian melodies are current in |
| Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador, the largely Hispanic music of | | | | Latin America except the Hispanic children's repertory, |
| Argentina, and the distinctive style of Brazil, which | | | | which is similar in its Old and New World settings. In the |
| blends African and Portuguese forms. Minorities such | | | | Andean region of Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador, indigenous |
| as the East Indians of Trinidad and Guyana, the | | | | Indian music has absorbed Spanish elements, a |
| Javanese of Surinam and the Japanese of Brazil | | | | process that began under the influence of 16th-century |
| complete this rich musical scenario. | | | | Christian missionaries. Andean tunes are essentially |
| Less Iberian heritage has in general been preserved in | | | | European, but often have much repetition and use |
| Latin America than British in North America; many | | | | tetratonic and pentatonic scales. This blend stands in |
| areas are devoid of Latin influence. But some Hispanic | | | | contrast with the marked lack of acculturation |
| poetic forms dating from the Middle Ages and | | | | between Anglo and Indian style in North America. |
| Renaissance (for example the romance) are | | | | |