The Galerón is the genre from the celebration of the velorios de cruz at the east of Venezuela

Venezuela

Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...

, where it is alternated with fulía

Fulía

Fulía is a typical musical style of the Venezuelan coast, it is sung or recited, and is interpreted with: cuatro, guitar, mandolin, maracas and a square drum in the east of Venezuela, and the tambora of velorio or tamborita in the central region...

s. Although the day of the velorios de cruz, are properly on 3 May, the velorios are celebrated throughout all that month.

Of clear Hispanic origin, the Galerón comprises an old Spanish

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

 songs, spread by all the Caribbean. In Cuba

Cuba

The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...

, the punto guajiro, in Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

, bamba, in Colombia

Colombia

Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...

, the torbellino, in Panama

Panama

Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...

, the mejorana, these are musical manifestations pertaining to the same book. They only vary on its rates and compasses.

The Galerón song, begins after a prelude that executes the accompanying instruments: the mandolin

Mandolin

A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...

, the cuatro

Cuatro (instrument)

The cuatro is any of several Latin American instruments of the guitar or lute family. The cuatro is smaller than a guitar. Cuatro means four in Spanish, although current instruments may have more than four strings....

 , and the guitar

Guitar

The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...

. Each singer, sings about different subjects: history, mythology, love and religious beliefs.

Each Galerón lasts a long time and between both, the singers rest, drink and talk with the public. In other regions of Venezuela, like Mérida

Mérida (state)

Mérida State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is Mérida.Mérida State covers a total surface area of 11,300 km² and, in 2007, had an estimated population of 843,800.- Climate and Vegetation :...

, Táchira

Táchira (state)

Táchira State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is San Cristóbal.Táchira State covers a total surface area of 11,100 km² and, in 2007, had an estimated population of 1,177,300....

 and Cojedes

Cojedes (state)

Cojedes State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is San Carlos.Cojedes State covers a total surface area of 14,800 km² and, in 2007, had an estimated population of 300,300.- History :...

, the galerón is present. In the Andes is accompanied with a dance, in the llanos, is also accompanied with dances, and with melody aspects from joropo

Joropo

The Joropo is a musical style resembling the waltz, and an accompanying dance, having African and European influences originated in Venezuela and performed in Colombia and Venezuela. It's a fundamental genre belonging to its typical music or música criolla...

. Between Venezuelan galerón singers, can be mentioned: José Farías Anjá mi Maestro Anjá, Jesús El Pollo Bellorín, Benjamín Jin Jin, Emilio Rodríguez El Cardenal de Oriente, among others.

Source

• Luis Felipe Ramón y Rivera
  Luis Felipe Ramón y Rivera
  Luis Felipe Ramón y Rivera, composer, teacher, musician, folklorist and writer, was born in San Cristóbal, Táchira, August 23, 1913. He lived his first years in the Venezuelan city of San Cristóbal. Between 1919 and 1921 he lived, with his parents and siblings, successively in Cúcuta, San Luis and...
  
  . La Música Folklórica de Venezuela. Monte Ávila, 1976.