Murga

Music that accompanies theatrical performances at carnival time in Uruguay, Panama, Argentina, and Brazil. The Argentine murga is more centered on dancing and less on vocals than the Uruguayan one. Uruguayan murga has a counterpart in Cadiz, Spain, from which it is derived, the chirigota, but over time the two have diverged into distinct forms.

A murga performance features a chorus of up to 17 performers, usually men, who have prepared a musical play consisting of a suite of songs and recitative (heightened speech) lasting around 45 minutes. Lyrical content is based on a particular theme, chosen by the group, which serves to provide commentary on events in Uruguay or elsewhere over the preceding year. A traditional murga group is composed of the chorus and three percussionists.