About the Collection

In 1992, curator Marvette Pérez contacted Puerto Rican collector Teodoro Vidal Santoni after learning that he was interested in donating his extensive collection of Puerto Rican material culture. In 1997, after several visits and conversations over the course of five years, Mr. Vidal agreed to donate his entire collection to the National Museum of American History. This became one of the largest gifts by an individual to the Museum. One of the most important collections of Puerto Rican material culture in the world, it consists of more than 3,200 objects which date from the 17th to the 20th centuries.

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Marímbula

The marímbula, (also marímbola), is an African-derived folk instrument found across the Caribbean. Large enough for its player to sit on, this instrument consists of a large, resonating box with metal strips that are plucked to provide a simple bass accompaniment.
Description
The marímbula, (also marímbola), is an African-derived folk instrument found across the Caribbean. Large enough for its player to sit on, this instrument consists of a large, resonating box with metal strips that are plucked to provide a simple bass accompaniment. Its affordability, ease of construction, and portability (it can be strapped to its player like a marching drum), made it adaptable to many styles of folk music, from the roving aguinaldo of the Christmas season to a street-corner plena.
Description (Spanish)
La marímbula, o marímbola, es un instrumento derivado del folklore africano que puede hallarse en todo el Caribe. Es lo suficientemente grande como para que el intérprete pueda sentarse sobre él. Consiste en una caja de resonancia con flejes de metal que se puntean produciendo un simple acompañamiento de sonidos graves. Dado que se trata de un instrumento accesible, fácil de construir y de transportar (el intérprete puede colgárselo con una faja al igual que un tambor de marcha), se lo adaptó a diferentes estilos de música folclórica, desde el aguinaldo de la época navideña hasta la plena.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.0512
catalog number
1997.0097.0512
accession number
1997.0097

Güiro

A traditional instrument of the Taínos, the unusual güiro is made from the seed pod of the native flamboyán, also know as the flame tree.
Description
A traditional instrument of the Taínos, the unusual güiro is made from the seed pod of the native flamboyán, also know as the flame tree. It is played by scraping the carved ridges with the tines of a special pick or scraper.
Description (Spanish)
Instrumento tradicional de los Taínos, habitantes originales de Puerto Rico. El güiro se hace con el fruto del higüero, Crescentia cujete, que es un árbol nativo de la región. Se ejecuta pasando un puyero o raspador contra las ranuras talladas en el frente.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.1074
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.1074

Güiro

A traditional güiro is made from gourd-like fruit of the higüero tree (Crescentia cujete) that is native to the region. This musical instrument, common throughout the Caribbean, takes on various forms and can be made from modern materials like metal or plastic.
Description
A traditional güiro is made from gourd-like fruit of the higüero tree (Crescentia cujete) that is native to the region. This musical instrument, common throughout the Caribbean, takes on various forms and can be made from modern materials like metal or plastic. A musical instrument of Pre-Columbian origin, it is played by scraping the carved ridges with the tines of a special pick or scraper.
Description (Spanish)
El güiro tradicional se hace con la calabaza del higüero, Crescentia cujete, que es un árbol nativo de la región. Este instrumento musical, común a todo el Caribe, se presenta de distintas formas y materiales, como de metal o plástico. Sus orígenes se remontan a la época precolombina. Se ejecuta raspando las ranuras talladas con las puntas de un puyero o raspador.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.1077
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.1077

Tiple

The tiple, Puerto Rico's smallest string instrument, shows great regional variations in how it is strung and tuned. It and its jumbo version, the bordonúa, were often played to accompany religious songs.
Description
The tiple, Puerto Rico's smallest string instrument, shows great regional variations in how it is strung and tuned. It and its jumbo version, the bordonúa, were often played to accompany religious songs. While the melodic cuatro has been embraced as a popular symbol of puertorriqueñidad (Puerto Ricanness), the tiple nearly disappeared in the 20th century.
Description (Spanish)
El tiple es el instrumento de cuerdas más pequeño de Puerto Rico, observándose un gran número de variaciones regionales respecto al modo en que se encorda y afina. El tiple y su versión gigante, el bordonúa, se tocaban a menudo para acompañar temas religiosos. Mientras que el cuatro melódico fue adoptado como símbolo popular de la puertorriqueñidad, el tiple prácticamente ha desaparecido en el siglo XX.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
late 19th-early 20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.1078
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.1078

Cuatro

The modern cuatro is a five double-string guitar-like instrument used to play música jíbara, Puerto Rican country music.
Description
The modern cuatro is a five double-string guitar-like instrument used to play música jíbara, Puerto Rican country music. In this unusual example, the dried, woody fruit of the higüero tree, a material more commonly used in the fabrication of maracas or güiros, comprises the main body of the instrument. The archaic cuatro had only four strings (sometimes doubled), like the example here. In the early 20th century, Puerto Rican musicians on the northern part of the island revamped the cuatro and added up to six more metal strings to allow for heightened virtuosity.
Description (Spanish)
El cuatro moderno es un instrumento parecido a la guitarra, con cinco cuerdas dobles, que se usa para tocar música jíbara, es decir, música campesina de Puerto Rico. En este ejemplo poco usual, el cuerpo principal del instrumento está hecho con el fruto seco del higüero, material que por lo general se emplea en la fabricación de maracas o güiros. El cuatro arcaico estaba dotado de solo cuatro cuerdas (a veces dobles), como en este caso. A principios del siglo XX, los músicos del norte de Puerto Rico modernizaron el cuatro y le agregaron hasta seis cuerdas más que permiten destacar el virtuosismo el intérprete.
Date made
20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.1082
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.1082

Pandereta

This large, hand-held drum, known in Puerto Rico as a pandereta, is an essential instrument in the musical genre known as plena. The plena was developed by agricultural workers at the end of the 19th century on the southern coast of the island, around the city of Ponce.
Description
This large, hand-held drum, known in Puerto Rico as a pandereta, is an essential instrument in the musical genre known as plena. The plena was developed by agricultural workers at the end of the 19th century on the southern coast of the island, around the city of Ponce. Considered a national musical genre throughout the 20th century, the plena may have originally reflected musical traditions brought to Puerto Rico by immigrants from other Caribbean islands. This example is from the city of Mayagüez.
Description (Spanish)
Este gran tambor de mano, que en Puerto Rico se denomina pandereta, es un instrumento esencial dentro del género musical conocido como plena. La plena surgió entre los trabajadores del campo a fines del siglo XIX en la costa sureña de la isla, alrededor de la ciudad de Ponce. A lo largo del siglo XX se lo consideró un género de música nacional, si bien originalmente pudo haber reflejado tradiciones musicales llevadas a Puerto Rico por inmigrantes de otras islas del Caribe. Este ejemplo proviene de la ciudad de Mayagüez.
Date made
20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.1083
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.1083

Maracas

This pair of maracas is made from the dried, gourd-like fruit of the calabash or higüero tree.
Description
This pair of maracas is made from the dried, gourd-like fruit of the calabash or higüero tree. Their construction and the painted words "Puerto Rico" indicate that they were produced as souvenirs or emblems of national identity rather than as functional musical instruments.
Description (Spanish)
Este par de maracas está hecho del fruto seco, en forma de calabaza, del higüero. Su construcción, así como las palabras pintadas "Puerto Rico", indican que se confeccionaron como recuerdos o emblemas de identidad nacional, más que con el fin de ejecutarse como instrumentos musicales.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.1084
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.1084

Puyero de Güiro

Known as a puyero or raspador, the pick or scraper used to play the güiro makes rhythmic patterns with combinations of downstrokes and upstrokes.Conocida también como púa o raspador, el puyero que se utiliza para tocar el güiro produce patrones rítmicos que se logran combinando g
Description
Known as a puyero or raspador, the pick or scraper used to play the güiro makes rhythmic patterns with combinations of downstrokes and upstrokes.
Description (Spanish)
Conocida también como púa o raspador, el puyero que se utiliza para tocar el güiro produce patrones rítmicos que se logran combinando golpes hacia arriba y hacia abajo.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.1093
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.1093

Güiro Pick

This güiro pick is in the shape of a cuatro, the national string instrument of Puerto Rico.
Description
This güiro pick is in the shape of a cuatro, the national string instrument of Puerto Rico. Both the güiro and cuatro feature prominently in the instrumentation of traditional Puerto Rican genres like the seis and plena.
Description (Spanish)
Este puyero de güiro tiene la forma de un cuatro, el instrumento nacional de cuerdas de Puerto Rico. Tanto el güiro como el cuatro ocupan un lugar prominente en la instrumentación de los géneros tradicionales puertorriqueños, tales como el seis y la plena.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.1094
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.1094

Puyero de Güiro

In Puerto Rico, the güiro provides an essential rhythmic element in genres as distinct as the street-oriented plena, and the salon-oriented danza.
Description
In Puerto Rico, the güiro provides an essential rhythmic element in genres as distinct as the street-oriented plena, and the salon-oriented danza. This unusual güiro pick is in the shape of a human head.
Description (Spanish)
En Puerto Rico, el güiro aporta un elemento rítmico esencial a géneros tan distintos como la plena, de orientación callejera, y la danza, más de salón. El singular puyero de este güiro tiene la forma de una cabeza.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.1097
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.1097

Pandereta

This large, hand-held drum, known in Puerto Rico as a pandereta, is an essential instrument in the musical genre known as plena. The plena was developed by agricultural workers at the end of the 19th century on the southern coast of the island, around the city of Ponce.
Description
This large, hand-held drum, known in Puerto Rico as a pandereta, is an essential instrument in the musical genre known as plena. The plena was developed by agricultural workers at the end of the 19th century on the southern coast of the island, around the city of Ponce. Considered a national musical genre throughout the 20th century, the plena may have originally reflected musical traditions brought to Puerto Rico by immigrants from other Caribbean islands.
Description (Spanish)
Este gran tambor de mano, conocido en Puerto Rico como pandereta, es un instrumento esencial dentro del género musical conocido como plena. La plena surgió entre los trabajadores del campo a fines del siglo XIX en la costa sureña de la isla, alrededor de la ciudad de Ponce. A lo largo del siglo XX se la consideró como género de música nacional, si bien originalmente puede haber reflejado tradiciones musicales llevadas a Puerto Rico por inmigrantes de otras islas del Caribe.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.1095
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.1095

Maracas

This variety of maracas, made of cow leather and sinew, is used in musical genres like guaracha, son, and salsa. They are of different sizes, so that one is pitched higher and the other, lower.
Description
This variety of maracas, made of cow leather and sinew, is used in musical genres like guaracha, son, and salsa. They are of different sizes, so that one is pitched higher and the other, lower. In contrast, the Afro-Puerto Rican musical tradition known as bomba uses a larger, single maraca in its performances.
Description (Spanish)
Esta variedad de maracas, confeccionadas con cuero y tendón de vaca, se utiliza en la interpretación de géneros como la guaracha, el son y la salsa. Tienen distintos tamaños, de modo que una produce sonidos más agudos y la otra más graves. En contraste, para la interpretación de la música de tradición afro-puertorriqueña conocida como bomba se utiliza una sola maraca más grande.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
20th century
maker
Ramos, Ismael
ID Number
1997.0097.1098
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.1098

Barril de Bomba

This is a miniature version of the barril de bomba, the kind of drum used in performances of the Afro-Puerto Rican musical tradition known as bomba.
Description
This is a miniature version of the barril de bomba, the kind of drum used in performances of the Afro-Puerto Rican musical tradition known as bomba. While bomba can be used as the generic name for a number of rhythms, its real meaning is about the encounter and creative relationship between dancers, percussionists, and singers. Bomba is a community affair that still thrives in its traditional centers of Loíza, Santurce, Mayagüez, Ponce, and New York City.
Description (Spanish)
Esta es una versión en miniatura del barril de bomba, la clase de tambor que se utiliza para ejecutar la tradición musical afro-puertorriqueña conocida como bomba. Mientras que el término bomba se emplea como denominación genérica para cierto número de ritmos, su significado real proviene del encuentro y la relación creativa entre los bailarines, percusionistas y cantantes. La bomba es un evento de carácter comunitario aún vigente en los centros tradicionales de Loíza, Santurce, Mayagüez, Ponce y la ciudad de Nueva York.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
early 20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.1100
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.1100

Tiple

The tiple, the smallest string instrument in Puerto Rico, may be the one with the most regional variety. Small guitar or ukulele-like instruments are found throughout Latin America with the name tiple.
Description
The tiple, the smallest string instrument in Puerto Rico, may be the one with the most regional variety. Small guitar or ukulele-like instruments are found throughout Latin America with the name tiple. The Puerto Rican tiple is derived from an instrument of the same name brought by settlers from the Canary Islands.
Description (Spanish)
El tiple es el instrumento de cuerdas más pequeño de Puerto Rico y, podría decirse, el que presenta la mayor cantidad de variaciones regionales. Es posible hallar bajo el nombre de tiple guitarras pequeñas o instrumentos similares al ukulele en toda América Latina. El tiple puertorriqueño se derivó de un instrumento del mismo nombre introducido a Puerto Rico por colonos provenientes de las Islas Canarias.
Date made
early 20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.1081
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.1081

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