Reviews & Testimonials
Release Details
Artists
Alfredo Calvo, feat. Alberto Puñales, Arnelio Urrutia
Format
DVD, 90 minutes
Description
The Power of the Drum (La Fuerza del Tambor) is a field recording documenting the ritual music of the Lucumi Santeria spiritual tradition as played in Matanzas, Cuba. Nine selections from three different public drumming celebrations illustrate drum rhythms, songs and dancing for the Orisha, including rare footage of the Bembe Macagua drums and an unusual segment of Palo songs accompanied by Aña.
In addition, there are interviews with Alfredo Calvo, ibae, elder of the Egwado branch of the Santeria religion, and two drumming demonstrations: Palo rhythms played on Aña, and three styles of bembe drumming for the Orishas (Majino Arara from Perico, Sabalu Arara from Matanzas, and Macagua Lucumi from Matanzas).
Lyric subtitles are included for all the songs. Interviews are in Spanish with English subtitles.
Track Listing
- Interview: The Power of the Drum
- Rhythm for Yemaya
- Songs for Agayu
- Interview: Presenting Iyawos
- Presentation of Two Yemayas
- Chango oba ni koso (Chango, the King of Dancing)
- Interview: Palo and Aña
- Drumming Presentation: Palo and Aña
- Ahora si, se partió la siguaralla (Palo songs played on Aña)
- Interview: Mixing the Drums Together
- Güiro for Ogun
- Bembe Macagua: History and Drumming Demonstrations
- Bembe Macagua for Ogun
- Bembe Macagua for Oshun
- Teaching the Next Generation
La Fuerza del Tambor Video
The Power of the Drum (La Fuerza del Tambor) is a field recording documenting the ritual music of the Lucumi Santeria spiritual tradition as played in Matanzas, Cuba. Nine selections from three different public drumming celebrations illustrate drum rhythms, songs and dancing for the Orisha, including rare footage of the Bembe Macagua drums and an unusual segment of Palo songs accompanied by Aña.