Also available as digital downloadable PDF file.

Reviews & Testimonials

“Bata Rhythms from Matanzas, Cuba” is the new Gold Standard of Oro Seco transcriptions. The book and companion DVD provide clear instruction in the execution of the music—the basic rhythms, their entrances, numerous sections, conversations and variations. Historically speaking, this work will forever stand as a precise documentation of the Matanzas-style Oru Seco at the dawn of the 21st Century. Its significance is on par with the 1950 Havana-style Oro Seco transcriptions of Fernando Ortiz.David Peñalosa

The Lenguaje del Tambor DVD/book package is currently the richest resource available for learning the Matanzas style bata.Amanda Vincent

This book/dvd was something I was looking for for Years ! This is The Most Important information for Afro-Cuban drummers anywhere. This is rare even in Cuba. This is Great for those who are even Composers looking for Amazing Beats. It's a rare treasure.Edium

This marvelous publication and DVD has been created by the Master Bata Drummer from Cuba, Daniel Alfonso Herrera, along with Master Percussionist Michael Spiro and the transcriptions by Kristin Olson. The method provides the student with a lifetime course. I am privileged to have purchased it. Is a treasure and a blessing.Carlos

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

  1. Latopa
  2. Elegua Nitan
  3. Ogun
  4. Ochosi
  5. Inle
  6. Babaluaye
  7. Ñongo Variations on Itolole
  8. Ñongo Variations on Iya
  9. Osain
  10. Orisha Oko
  11. Orula
  12. Agayu
  13. Chango
  14. La Meta de Chango
  15. Obatala
  16. Yewa
  17. Obba
  18. Obba Addenda
  19. Oya
  20. Ochun
  21. Olokun
  22. Yemaya

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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.