Cuban Saturdays

present....

Cuban Saturdays with La Timbala

A new series of workshops for intermediate to advanced players looking at some of the most important and exciting aspects of Cuban folkloric music. Each workshop is suitable for a group of mixed abilities ranging from players who may have recently started in group percussion, not necessarily Cuban styles, to those who have been playing Cuban music for some time but now wish to deepen and extend that knowledge. Basic parts for all instruments will be taught for each style of music covered in the series. More advanced drummers will also have the opportunity to learn lead-drum and improvising parts for each style and to develop their knowledge of what makes the music swing and move. Songs will also be taught for each style alongside explanations of the relationship between each instrument and the songs. The aim of each session is to build a group that by the end of the day can make the music come alive and leave you feeling inspired to do more.

Where?

All Cuban Saturdays are taking place at Band on the Wall, 25 Swan Street, Manchester, M45JZ.

When?

April 16^th – Cajón pa’ los Muertos with Gerardo De Armas

May 14^th – The Music of Carnival in Cuba part 1 with Christian Weaver

June 18^th - The Music of Carnival in Cuba part 2 with Christian Weaver

July 16^th – The Music of Santería - Guiro and Bembé with Christian Weaver

Please see below for more details about each day.

How much and how do I book ?

Each Saturday is £35 or book on all for courses for the discounted rate of £120 (that's just £30 per class!).

Book now by visiting the Band On The Wall box office at 25 Swan St, Manchester; or on line at www.bandonthewall.org; or by phoning Global Grooves on 0161 273 7827

What instruments are used and do I need my own?

If you have your own instrument then please bring this along with you! If you don’t then don’t despair we can provide an instrument for you. Please make sure you let us know prior to each course if you need to use one of our instruments.

Instrument used:

Cajón pa’ los Muertos

Congas, Cajones, Shekeres, Bells

The Music of Carnival in Cuba part 1

Congas, Cajones, Shekeres, Bells, Bombo (Zabumba)

The Music of Carnival in Cuba part 2

Congas, Cajones, Shekeres, Bells Bombo (Zabumba)

The Music of Santería - Guiro and Bembé

Congas, Cajones, Shekeres, Bells

Saturday April 16^th 2011

Cajon pa’ los Muertos

With Gerardo De Armas

This workshop focuses on the music of the Cuban ceremony known as the Cajón Pa Los Muertos, Cajón Espiritual or Cajón pa’ Egun which honours the ancestor spirits of the dominant Congo culture of Cuba. The Cajón ceremony developed in poor areas of Cuba where musical instruments, even drums, were unavailable. It is one of the most popular religious ceremonies in Cuba today. The music involves songs accompanied by cajones (box drums), guataca (cow bell) and occasionally other drums. Gerardo will teach the technique for the instruments and a variety of songs and rhythms from the Havana traditions that he has been involved in since childhood. This is a rare opportunity to gain first hand insights into one of Cuba’s most popular and dynamic ritual musics with an experienced musician who has intimate knowledge of the tradition.

Saturday June 18^th 2011

The Music of Carnival in Cuba part 2

With Christian Weaver

Part two of this series on carnival music introduces a newer tradition in Cuba, the Mozambique, invented by percussionist Pello el Afrokan in the late nineteen fifties. Pello’s new style swept through the island when it was first introduced with many new Mozambique comparsas springing up. The style also spread to Paris where it was a huge success and later to New York where it was adapted and fused with elements of salsa. Like the other, older styles of carnival music the Mozambique involves a large array of percussion instruments and a number of principal improvising parts. All of these will be covered in the workshop as well as some songs. The music can be slow and funky or fast and furious but always infectiously joyous; guaranteed to raise your spirits and make you want to move.

About Jorge Armando De Armas Sarria

Jorge Armando De Armas Sarria; aka “Gerardo” is a Cuban Rumberofrom Havana who was born into a family that has produced notable names in the world of Afrocuban music, such as Amelia Pedroso and Ricardo Santa Cruz. Gerardo has been a working musician all his adult life, singing and playing percussion in groups such as Irosso Oba (with which he recorded two albums; ‘El Rey de Las Profundidades’ and ‘El Solar de La Rumba’); Columbia De Puerto; Danza Cuba, Rumbache, and finally the world famous rumba group Yoruba Andabo with which he travelled widely. Gerardo has lived and breathed rumba and Afrocuban music since birth. He is omo Anya (child of Anya) which allows him to play the sacred batá drums in religious ceremonies to the orishas. He is now living in London where he has formed his first group, Rumbache, and also sings and plays percussion with the London Lukumí Choir. This is his first collaboration with La Timbala.

For information on all other workshops from La Timbala, study course in Cuba, DVDs and CDs and performances, or to join the mailing list visit La Timbala Music and Dance at www.latimbala.com, join our facebook page or phone 07884 495388

Saturday May 14^th 2011

The Music of Carnival in Cuba part 1

With Christian Weaver

Carnival in Cuba stretches back over centuries, during which time it has taken in influences from all the main African and European cultural groups as well as from elsewhere in the Caribbean. The music is fast, loud and fiercely competitive as each group or comparsa competes for the title of best comparsa of the year. Part one of this two part series looks at the two main styles of music from each end of the island, Conga Habanera and Conga Santiaguera. Both styles involve multiple tumbadoras (congas), bells, shekeres and bombos (bass drums) and call and response singing. Each section of the comparsa involves an important improvising instrument such as the contra conga, the quinto and the bombo que quinta, which will be taught to more advanced players. This is high energy music that will inspire and motivate, it is an ideal opportunity to develop technique, stamina, knowledge of basic parts, independence and improvisational skills.

Saturday July 16^th 2011

The Music of Santería - Guiro and Bembé With Christian Weaver

There are many ways to honour the Orishas of Santería with music. Guiro and Bembé are two of the most popular and widespread in Cuba. Guiro features three or four shekerés as the main instrument, usually with one or two drums, one of which is the leading part responsible for working with the dancer. Bembé is played on three or four drums. The music connects us with strong West African traditions that have been maintained and developed throughout Cuba. Today, tumbadoras (congas) have largely replaced the traditional African drums that were a feature of the original forms while shekerés remain as a vital part of much Cuban music. This workshop will teach the basic technique for playing shekeré as well as drum parts and improvisations for a number of styles of Bembé which involve playing with sticks, hand and stick and just hands. Songs for the orishas will also be taught to complete the music

About Christian Weaver

Christian Weaver started his research in Cuba in 1994. He trained in Carnival music (Conga Habanera) with the famous comparsa Los Componedores de Batea eventually becoming the first foreigner to perform with them, in the Havana Carnival 1997. Since then he has continued to perform with Los Componedores in celebrations and events in Havana. He was also a student of Pello el Afrokan for a number of years. He began his involvement with music in Santería and other Afrocuba religious musics at the same time, training and playing first with the Havana based group Iré Otonoguá and later becoming an initiated drummer with the drums of the Cabildo Arará Espíritu Santo of Matanzas. He is also omo alanya in the batá drums, anya bi okan, of Mario Rodriguez Pedroso. He became a Doctor of Ethnomusicology in 2010. His first hand experience of playing religious music, conga and rumba in Cuba combines with his research and his teaching experience to create an approach that gives insight into both the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the music and its social context in Cuba. He founded la Timbala in 1995 to develop links between Cuban and UK based artists and as a vehicle for the investigation of the relationship between music and dance.

This course is provided by LA TIMBALA, for more information please click here and select the workshops page.