Clave consists of two measures being diametrically opposed
which gives the pattern a sense of polarity. The repetition of these measures
creates a pulse as the pattern alternates from one polarity to the other. This
pulse provides the skeleton of a song which synchronises the other instruments
and the dancers.
Traditionally, this rhythm was produced exclusively by the
use of claves, however, in modern times other percussion instruments may be
used to produce the clave rhythm. This being said, in Cuba, music continues to
be heavily influenced by the sound of actual claves rather than alternative
percussion instruments.
The two main clave patterns used in Cuban music are known as
son clave and rumba clave. These names are somewhat misleading as both patterns
are used in rumba. The son clave was first used in the rumba genres Yambú and Guaguancó
before it was used as the basis for Son Cubano. Even more confusing is the fact
that guaguancó clave is sometimes used in son music as well so son clave is
neither unique to son music, nor does son music make exclusive use of the son
clave. This has to do with the fact that son is heavily influenced by
Afro-Cuban music traditions, therefore allowing for some overlap. Nonetheless, the
clave pattern most often used in son music is son clave which is what has given
the name to this rhythmic pattern.
Since son clave is also the main clave used in salsa music
it has often been called salsa clave. However, this is technically incorrect and merely reflects a general
level of ignorance, particular in recent years, of the fact that son is the
origin of all types of salsa and the rhythmic pattern used in popular salsa
songs has existed for much longer than salsa itself. In fact, even the name son
clave is a fairly recent definition when confronted with the various archaisms
that described this 5-note rhythm pattern over its long history across the
world. Examples include a manuscript called Kitāb al-Adwār written in Baghdad
in the middle of the Thirteenth Century by Safi al-Din al-Urmawi which refers
to son clave as “al-thaqil al-awwal”. Since this is to date the earliest
written record of clave it is sometimes used as the basis for the theory that
son clave is the oldest form of clave.
In Ghana the son clave is usually called the kpanlogo
bell pattern reflecting its use as a key pattern in kpanlogo music and rock
musicians refer to it as the Bo Diddley beat. Toussaint calls it “The Rhythm that
Conquered the World” which is a fitting name given that today the son clave has
been designated the most popular rhythm on the planet.
