Merengue is the national music of the Dominican Republic, developed as accompaniment to the folk dance of the same name as far back as the mid-19th century. In its traditional form -- known as merengue tipico -- merengue was a vocal-driven dance music that reflected the blending of Spanish and African cultural influences. The accordion was used as the lead instrument, and the guitar frequently provided accompaniment; the most important percussion instruments were the tambora drum and guiro (scraper), with the marimba often joining that basic combination. Merengue pieces usually consisted of a paseo (introduction), then a theme introduced by one or two vocalists, and then a more uptempo call-and-response section featuring a vocal soloist and chorus.
