El Lenguaje del Tambor
Bata Rhythms and Techniques
from Matanzas, Cuba
2 DVD Set
music book also available, see below

video type: instructional & demonstration
level: intermediate / advanced
time: 5 hours
in Spanish with English subtitles

produced by Kabiosile

This comprehensive 2 disc DVD package offers more than 5 hours of demonstrations, tutorials, and interviews about how to play the Afro Cuban bata drums.

The film features master of Afro Cuban percussion Daniel Alfonso Herrera, the most sought after percussion instructor in Matanzas, Cuba. His clean, disciplined technique and clear, detailed explanations of the intricacies of Matanzas style bata drumming are invaluable for both the novice and experienced drummer.

Disc One (2 hours)
Interview with Daniel Alfonso
~ how he learned to drum
~ cabildos in Cuba
~ the history of AËa in Matanzas

The Complete Oro Seco
as played at the Cabildo de Santa Teresa. Professionally filmed to ensure that each of the drummers° hands is clearly visible.
Introductions and toques (rhythms) for:
~ Elegua
~ Ogun
~ Ochosi
~ Inle
~ Babaluaye
~ Osain
~ Orisha Oko
~ Orula
~ Agayu
~ Chango
~ Obatala
~ Yewa
~ Obba
~ Oya
~ Ochun
~ Olokun & Yemaya, with La Meta de Chango

Drummer Interviews
~ how the drums talk
~ why new priests are presented to the sacred drums
~ ichavoro and ichavori
~ the role of the drummer in the religious celebration
~ what it means to be sworn to the sacred drums
~ learning the language of the drums

Bata Demonstrations
the drummers illustrate the language of the drums with:
~ Aluguanche
~ Pa' la calle
~ Ayakuta
~ Ala dide
~ Comarita
~ Orichan pagua
~ Bonko igualoro
~ Chaku malecun
~ Enitologuo
~ Iba Ochun guainlele

Interview with Esteban "Chachá" Vega Baccallao
~ his start with Los Muñequitos de Matanzas
~ "Little Africa," where he was raised
~ the history of Aña in Matanzas
~ the difference between Matanzas and Havana styles

Disc 2 (3 hours)
Bata drums tutorial and demonstrations
~ Okonkolo technique
~ Itotele technique
~ Iya technique

Interview -The Dynamic of the Drums
Daniel describes the energy a drummer adds to technique

Demonstrations - By Rhythm, By Drum
Daniel plays Okonkolo, Itotele and Iya for each of the 19 rhythms of the Oro Seco. Three camera angles focus on the front, inu, and chacha.

The Close
Daniel describes how a tambor with AËa is closed. The three drummers play the Close Matanzas-style.
~ Ibejis
~ Oya
~ Elegua
~ Orole, Somugaga & Agolona de Yemaya

Bata Rhythms from Matanzas, Cuba: Transcriptions of the Oro Seco, music book

This 116 page book of transcriptions is designed to accompany El Lenguaje del Tambor: Bata Rhythms from Matanzas, Cuba, a 2-disc set of instructional DVDs that presents the Oro Seco as played in Matanzas, Cuba.

These transcriptions of the Oro Seco offers the most detailed and complete documentation of the fundamentals of Matanzas-style bata drumming ever produced.

The transcriptions were developed by internationally acclaimed percussionist and bata aficionado Bill Summers and classically-trained Matanzas musician and babalawo Neraldo Duran. They were edited by world-famous Afro Cuban percussionist and teacher Michael Spiro.

reviews of the DVD

Chris Walker - Flaco.net
"Another landmark production from Kabiosile. This one contains a wealth of well-organized detail, achieving both artistic and instructional excellence. A must for anyone wanting to learn bat˘."

Emery Damon - Brooklyn, New York
"To watch these drummers play, with none of the affectations commonly found in highly skilled musicians, is a privilege. To hear them speak of AËa, and then play afterwards in the language demonstration, nearly brought me to tears. The pure joy of playing was unmasked on Daniel's face, he seemed to me as a child. In my opinion, the word "master" is tossed about rather freely these days but in this case it is clearly an understatement...

Suffice it to say that while I know this will serve as a material reference for years to come, it's serving a much deeper purpose for me now, reminding me why I started playing music in the first place."

Chuck Silverman - chucksilverman.com
"On first viewing of the DVDs and the accompanying book I am humbled by the mastery of the drummers and also the production value. I haven't spent a lot of time in the study of bata, although I thoroughly respect this amazing tradition. This thorough, respectful production will most undoubtedly bring me closer to the Language of the Drum."

Bill Summers, musician, recording artist
“No other project to date has included as much information on Afro Cuban bata drumming. Although it focuses on the style played in Matanzas, Cuba and not on the more prevalent Havana style found in the US, its importance cannot be diminished.”

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