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Matanzas, Cuba, ca. 1957: Afro-Cuban Sacred Music from the Countryside

Various Artists
Matanzas, Cuba, ca. 1957: Afro-Cuban Sacred Music from the Countryside
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Buy CD $14.98
Buy CD $14.98
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Recorded in Matanzas in 1957, these ritual rhythms provide a direct link to the music of 19th-century colonial Cuba and provide a window into the religious life of the first generations of Africans who worked the sugar mills. Collected by Lydia Cabrera and Josefina Tarafa, these recordings preserve extremely rare bembé lukumi ritual drumming used by practitioners of Santería to summon the gods or salute Cuba's African nations. It is remarkably different from the urban style heard today in Havana, although some of the same songs were sung in both city and countryside. With origins in Yoruba religion in West Africa, this music reveals the roots of today's Afro-Cuban ceremonial practices. 32-page booklet with extensive notes and photos. 69 minutes

Grabados en matanzas en 1957, los ritmos rituales presentes en este CD proporcionan un enlace directo con la música colonial cubana del siglo XIX, suministrando así una ventana hacia la vida religiosa de las primeras generaciones de africanos que trabajaron en los molinos de caña. Estas grabaciones, recolectadas por Lidia Cabrera y Josefina Tarafa, preservan el extremadamente raro ritual de tambores del bembé lukumi usado por los devotos de la Santería para convocar a los dioses o para saludar a las naciones africanas de la isla. Esta versión difiere del estilo urbano que se oye hoy en día en La Habana, aunque algunas de las canciones se cantan tanto en la ciudad como en el campo. Con unos orígenes que se remontan a la religión Yoruba del África Occidental, esta música revela las raíces de las prácticas ceremoniales afrocubanas de hoy en día. Cuadernillo de 32 páginas, notas extensas, fotos. 69 minutos.


Track Listing

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101
Toque Oyo Domingo Hernández, Marcelo Carreras, Angel Rolando, and Domingo Hernández, Jr. 2:59
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102
Toque Arará Domingo Hernández, Marcelo Carreras, Angel Rolando, and Domingo Hernández, Jr. 4:02
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103
Toque Mina--Yona (Obatalá) Domingo Hernández, Marcelo Carreras, Angel Rolando, and Domingo Hernández, Jr. 2:22
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104
Mo juba ocha (I pay homage to the orisha) Inés Sotomayor and group 1:53
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105
Ogún Onile Inés Sotomayor and group 1:58
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106
Ibarabo ago mo juba (Song for Eleguá) Marcos Portillo Dominguez and group 3:09
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107
Song for Ogún Marcos Portillo Dominguez 3:20
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108
Oshosi Ayilodá Mala Mala De (Song for Oshosi) Marcos Portillo Dominguez 4:47
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109
Omodara Deí (Song for Orishaoko) Emiliano de Armas and group 3:02
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110
Babluaiyé Marcos Portillo Dominguez 3:20
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111
Shangó Marcos Portillo Dominguez 5:22
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112
Oyá Marcos Portillo Dominguez 4:16
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113
Yemayá Marcos Portillo Dominguez 3:22
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114
Osain Songs Domingo Hernández 1:26
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115
Guirigi tongo un mene mene ó Florinda Pastor, Agustín Diago, and group 1:13
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116
Magó kueki baya arere Florinda Pastor, Agustín Diago, and group 1:25
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117
Okun leo, vamo' pa' la loma Florinda Pastor, Agustín Diago, and group 1:15
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118
Toque Yesá for Inlé Domingo Hernández, Marcelo Carreras, Angel Rolando, and Domingo Hernández, Jr. 1:55
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119
Urú Dadá Alberto Yenkins and group 2:41
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120
Shangó moforibale Alberto Yenkins and group 2:55
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121
Yeyé (Songs for Iroko) Alberto Yenkins and group 2:21
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122
Toque Yesá for Oshún Domingo Hernández, Marcelo Carreras, Angel Rolando, and Domingo Hernández, Jr. 1:40
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123
Moforibale Ogún (I pay homage to Ogún) Inés Sotomayor and group 1:45
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124
Olokun Fernando Hernández with Inés Sotomayor Group 2:01
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125
Toque egbado Domingo Hernández, Marcelo Carreras, Angel Rolando, and Domingo Hernández, Jr. 1:27
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126
Toque de bembé Domingo Hernández, Marcelo Carreras, Angel Rolando, and Domingo Hernández, Jr. 3:31

Album Info

Catalog Number

SFW40490

Year(s) Released

2001

Recording Date(s)

1957

Recording Location(s)

Matanzas, Cuba

Label/Collection

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Genre(s)

Latin; World

Country(s)

Cuba

Culture Group(s)

Afro-Cuban

Instrument(s)

Bembé; Bembé lukumi ensemble; Clapping, hand; Drum; Guataca; Güiro trio; Metal, struck; Shekere; Vocals; Vocals, group

Language(s)

Bozal; Lucumi

Credit(s)

Lydia Cabrera - Recorder
 Josefina Tarafa - Recorder, Photographer
 Oduardo Zapullo - Recorder
 Benito Bolle - Recorder
 Miguel "Willie" Ramos - Translator
 Pete Reiniger - Mastering Engineer
 Sonya Cohen Cramer - Designer
 Morton Marks - Compiler, Liner Notes Editor, Liner Notes
Download Liner Notes