Daniel Alfonso Herrera
El Lenguaje Del Tambor: Batá Rhythms & Techniques From Matanzas, Cuba 2-DVD Set
DVD
(Kabiosile 06672),
Released 2007;
Editor's Pick:
There is no other production available anywhere which details batá drumming with the depth and breadth of El Lenguaje de Tambor. The five (5) total hours of video, both performance and interviews, comprise much more than just a Master Class of playing the batá. This is more like an intense University level course which will take many viewings to even begin to digest. This is truly a historical work which will take its place among the few masterpieces within the study of Afro Cuban drumming and religion.
Daniel Alfonso takes us from the basics of playing all three drums to a complete Oro Seco. Watching the Master's hands as he demonstrates each drum in Disc Two is a very profound experience, knowing that these hands have been playing batá for so many years. After each drum is taught, demonstrating all the sounds and hand placements, Señor Alfonso plays toques for the Orishas, one drum following the other. Truly masterful. The DVDs' production is to be praised. It gives us very clear views of each drum, of each drum head and hand technique. The sound quality of the DVD is also to be praised. The ambience of the room at the Cabildo de Santa Teresa in Matanzas is excellent.
Interviews within the DVD project give light to the stories of the Orishas, to the deep history of the drums in Cuba, and to Cuban religious life with the drums. Señor Alfonso's knowledge of the history of the religious drums leads us from the beginnings of the fundamento batá in Matanzas up until the present day. You will get a true feeling for the pride, the beauty, the profundity of drumming within the religious and secular life in Matanzas.
The soulful interview with Esteban "Chacha" Vega Bacallao, filmed shortly before his untimely demise, is a centerpiece of this wonderful work.
Highly Recommended. (Chuck Silverman, 2007-06-06)
Description:
This comprehensive 2 disc DVD package offers 5 hours of drumming demonstrations, tutorials, and interviews in Spanish and English subtitles.
The film features Master of Afro Cuban Percussion Daniel Alfonso Herrera, the most sought after percussion instructor in Matanzas, Cuba. His clean, disciplined technique and clear, detailed explanations of the intricacies of Matanzas-style bata drumming are available for both the novice and experienced drummer.
Disc 1 is 2 hours long and includes the complete Oro Seco as played at the Cabildo de Santa Teresa in Matanzas. Short introductions provide insights into the Orishas (deities) and overall techniques for each rhythm. The Oro was professionally filmed to ensure that each of the drummers' hands is clearly visible.
The disc concludes with and interview and drumming demonstration about the language of the bata drums and a bonus interview with legendary percussionist Esteban "Chacha" Vega Bacallao, one of Daniel's early teachers.
Disc 2 is 3 hours long and features tutorials on the specific techniques of Okonkolo, Itotele and Iya and the complete Oro Seco broken down drum by drum. Here the filming focuses on Daniel's hands from the front and from the sides to illustrate the proper formation of the hands and the various techniques used in each rhythm.
Menus on each disc allow the student to navigate by rhythm (Disc 1) and by rhythm and drum (Disc 2).
Also available are the written transcriptions, Batá Rhythms From Matanzas, Cuba: Transcriptions Of The Oro Seco, by percussionist Bill Summers and two of Daniel's long time students, which offer the most detailed and complete documentation of the fundamentals of Matanzas-style drumming ever produced.
See also the complete 2 DVD & book package set.
Highly Recommended.
Category: Dvd
=> Folkloric
=> Cuba
Shipping Value: 1
ORDER TL-22451.20 DVD $49.95
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