Bolero was honored as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The United NationsEducational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has officially honored bolero art as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

On December 5, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially honored the art of bolero.   is an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, at the request of Cuba and Mexico. This decision was made by UNESCO at the 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in the city of Kasane, northern Botswana. Cuban Ambassador to UNESCO Yahima Esquivel affirmed that bolero is not only an art form but also a blend of cultures and languages, between European culture, African rhythms and Latin American identity. Bolero represents Latin American love songs that have an influence beyond regional borders.

Images from the Bolero Idol 2019 program. Photo: BTC

Bolero is a genre of vocal, instrumental and dance music that originated in Santiago de Cuba in the late 19th century and spread throughout Cuba through troupes of troupe artists. One of the initiators and shapers of Bolero's distinctive style was artist Pepe Sánchez (1856-1918), who composed the first bolero Tristezas (roughly translated as Pains ) around 1883. With its elegant and poetic melodies, Bolero songs originating from Cuba quickly crossed the sea to Mexico. The appeal of the slow, sad and romantic dance music helped Bolero quickly spread and take root in the Caribbean islands, down to South American countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia..., and even Spain. The golden age of bolero in Latin American countries began in the 1930s, lasting continuously for three decades, with famous artists such as Antonio Machin, the duo Los Compadres (Cuba), the group Los Panchos, Los Hermanos Martínez Gil and Trío Tarácuri, Agustín Lara (Mexico), Lucho Gatica (Chile)... During this period, Bolero also influenced the English-speaking world, performed by many American artists such as Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole or Frank Sinatra. A characteristic of bolero is that the music is always accompanied by romantic, smooth lyrics, expressing feelings, concepts and standards of life in general and love in particular. It is impossible to talk about bolero without mentioning the content of the lyrics, with emotional levels expressed through simple, sincere language combined with slow, sad and romantic music. In 2018, bolero became an intangible cultural heritage of Mexico, while Cuba added this art to the national list in 2021. Bolero music in Cuba is usually in 2/4 time, with a speed of about 96-104 beats per minute. The rumba rhythm is bolero-son (slightly faster than the original bolero, with a speed of about 104-128). In addition, the cha cha cha rhythm is Bolero-cha and the mambo rhythm is bolero-mambo. Bolero music in Vietnam is almost completely different, as it is usually written in a minor key, 4/4 time and played at a speed of about 60 bpm (slower than Cuban bolero). This is also the speed of traditional songs and reformed opera of the people in the South. Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/bolero-duoc-vinh-danh-la-di-san-van-hoa-phi-vat-the-cua-nhan-loai-172231206200817522.htm