Paperback

Published: 2nd April 2012

Ships: 7 to 10 business days

RRP $50.00

$28.35

43%
OFF

 Add to Wishlist

Click on the Google Preview image above to read some pages of this book!

BatA­ identifies both the two-headed, hourglass-shaped drum of the Yoruba people and the culture and style of drumming, singing, and dancing associated with it. This book recounts the life story of Carlos Aldama, one of the masters of the batA­ drum, and through that story traces the history of batA­ culture as it traveled from Africa to Cuba and then to the United States. For the enslaved Yoruba, batA­ rhythms helped sustain the religious and cultural practices of a people that had been torn from its roots. Aldama, as guardian of Afro-Cuban music and as a SanterA-a priest, maintains the link with this tradition forged through his mentor Jesus PAcrez (Oba Ilu), who was himself the connection to the preserved oral heritage of the older generation. By sharing his stories, Aldama and his student Umi Vaughan bring to light the techniques and principles of batA­ in all its aspects and document the tensions of maintaining a tradition between generations and worlds, old and new. The book includes rare photographs and access to downloadable audio tracks.

"Carlos Aldama's Life in Bata: Cuba, Diaspora, and the Drum covers incredible history and tradition in its slender 150 pages. Vaughan captures everything the subtitle proclaims, but the heart comes directly from Aldama's own still-feisty voice, whether he's detailing the traditional toques - ritual-musical gatherings at which bata drumming takes place to call down the oricha (deities), to ask the santos (saints) for help, and to confirm new initiates into the community - or telling tales about Havana/Matanzas rivals showing off their skills." - East Bay Express "Vaughan and Aldama examine the evolution of the bati drum ensemble, covering playing techniques, cultural context, and the link between the drumming and religion (Santerka)... Of particular interest are 30 audio tracks of bati drumming (recorded by Aldama, Vaughan, and others), which can be downloaded from an online site... Recommended." Choice, December 2012

ISBN: 9780253223784
ISBN-10: 0253223784
Audience: Professional
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number Of Pages: 208
Published: 2nd April 2012
Dimensions (cm): 22.6 x 15.2  x 1.5
Weight (kg): 0.318