Bata Rhythms from Matanzas, Cuba: Transcriptions of the Oro Seco (English and Spanish Edition)

This 116-page book of transcriptions offers the most detailed and complete documentation of the fundamentals of Matanzas-style bata drumming ever produced. It was designed to accompany El Lenguaje del Tambor: Bata Rhythms from Matanzas, Cuba, a 2-disc set of instructional DVDs that presents the Oro Seco as played at the Cabildo de Santa Teresa in Matanzas, Cuba.The 19 rhythms in this book were transcribed by classically-trained musician Neraldo Duran and internationally-acclaimed percussionist Bill Summers, who has studied with both the late Esteban (Chacha) Vega Bacallao (who consecrated him to the sacred drums) and Daniel Alfonso, Master Drummer and the instructor on the DVDs.Michael Spiro, world renowned Afro Cuban percussionist and teacher and long-time student of Chacha's and Daniel's, reviewed the transcriptions and offered suggestions at every stage of their development. Two of Daniel's long-time students, Kevin Repp and Vanessa Lindberg, painstakingly reviewed the transcriptions with Daniel and made final corrections.Each transcription presents, to the greatest extent possible, the rhythm as it is played by Daniel on the DVDs. Explanatory notes identifying the changes in individual rhythms match and amplify the subtitles presented on the discs."No other project to date has included as much information on Afro Cuban bata drumming. Although it focuses on the style played in Matanzas, Cuba, and not the more prevalent Havana style found in the US, its importance cannot be diminished."Bill Summers, from the Introduction"...[The] importance of this DVD cannot be overstated in my opinion, precisely because it introduces us to the 'other' style of bata drumming, the one that is located in the folkloric cradle of the country--the province of Matanzas....I can only hope you appreciate this package as much as I do. I will be studying it daily for many years to come."Michael Spiro, from the Forward