Also available as digital downloadable PDF file.
Reviews & Testimonials
Release Details
Format
Spiral-bound Book, 70 pp.
Also available as digital downloadable PDF file.
Authors
Kristin Olson, Michael Spiro
Description
Bata Rhythms from Matanzas, Cuba contains 70 pages of transcriptions of the Oro Seco designed to accompany El Lenguaje del Tambor’s 5 hours of instructional video presenting the Oro Seco as played in Matanzas, Cuba and as taught by the late Master Bata Drummer Daniel Alfonso.
These transcriptions offer the most detailed and complete documentation of the fundamentals of Matanzas-style bata drumming ever produced.
In this edition, the 19 rhythms were completely re-transcribed by Kristin Olson, a graduate student of Michael Spiro’s and an extraordinary young percussionist. Michael, an internationally acclaimed percussionist and long-time student of Daniel’s as well as of many other well-known bataleros, supervised and reviewed the project from beginning to end.
When the videos were filmed, Daniel requested that the three drummers switch drums occasionally, so as to illustrate a wider range of technique and improvisation within the rhythms. Each of the transcriptions in this volume presents the rhythm as it is played on Disc 1 of the DVD set. In some cases where Daniel’s individual drum part from Disc 2 is significantly different from the rhythm as performed on Disc 1, addenda have been included that show Daniel’s parBata Rhythms from Matanzas, Cuba contains 70 pages of transcriptions of the Oro Seco designed to accompany El Lenguaje del Tambor’s 5 hours of instructional video presenting the Oro Seco as played in Matanzas, Cuba and as taught by the late Master Bata Drummer Daniel Alfonso.
These transcriptions offer the most detailed and complete documentation of the fundamentals of Matanzas-style bata drumming ever produced.
In this edition, the 19 rhythms were completely re-transcribed by Kristin Olson, a graduate student of Michael Spiro’s and an extraordinary young percussionist. Michael, an internationally acclaimed percussionist and long-time student of Daniel’s as well as of many other well-known bataleros, supervised and reviewed the project from beginning to end.
When the DVDs videos were filmed, Daniel requested that the three drummers switch drums occasionally, so as to illustrate a wider range of technique and improvisation within the rhythms. Each of the transcriptions in this volume presents the rhythm as it is played on Disc 1 of the DVD set. In some cases where Daniel’s individual drum part from Disc 2 is significantly different from the rhythm as performed on Disc 1, addenda have been included that show Daniel’s part.
“It is through these DVDs that Kristin learned to play with Daniel’s trademark cleanliness and clarity, and I consider her to be one of his best American students even though she never actually had the opportunity to meet him before he passed. She replicates that attention to detail in her notation and transcriptions, and provides us with a remarkable document to help learn and digest what Daniel demonstrates in these recordings. It is accurate, coherent and impeccably laid out. As one of Daniel’s loyal students, I am thrilled that these transcriptions are a part of this project, as they shed so much light onto his brilliant style and form.”
Michael Spiro, from the Forward to the Third Edition
Table of Contents
BATA RHYTHMS
- Latopa
- Elegua Nitan
- Ogun
- Ochosi
- Inle
- Babaluaye
- Ñongo Variations on Itolole
- Ñongo Variations on Iya
- Osain
- Orisha Oko
- Orula
- Agayu
- Chango
- La Meta de Chango
- Obatala
- Yewa
- Obba
- Obba Addenda
- Oya
- Ochun
- Olokun
- Yemaya
Bata Rhythms Transcriptions
Bata Rhythms from Matanzas, Cuba contains 70 pages of transcriptions of the Oro Seco designed to accompany El Lenguaje del Tambor’s 5 hours of instructional video presenting the Oro Seco as played in Matanzas, Cuba and as taught by the late Master Bata Drummer Daniel Alfonso.