A True "MUST HAVE" | Drumming For The Gods (Studies In Latin America & Car)

Invaluable reading for any drummer or practitioner | Drumming For The Gods (Studies In Latin America & Car) | Maria Velez

books:


	• Drumming For The Gods (Studies In Latin America & Car) Maria Velez Temple University Press, 2000 - 210 pages average customer review:based on 4 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

A rare blend of scholarship and freshness

The first thing to be said about Ms.Velez' book is that it is written in a disarmingly straightforward style - a rare if not unique occurrence in contemporary scholarly writings. Without shying away from tackling the complexities of an issue (and there are many in the book) Ms. Velez' style allows the reader to concentrate on the content rather than wrestle with tortuous syntax and intricate constructions. It is perhaps for this reason that the author manages so felicitously to blend her cultivated voice with that of the "informer" in a delicately balanced counterpoint. This, in turn, is well suited to the multifaceted role of F.G.V., who play the role of a self-centered first actor as well as that of an anonymous yet ideally representative prototype of a time and a place. Or rather, multiple times and places.

for more information click here

A True "MUST HAVE"

This is truly a unique book. Not only is it informative, but also easy to read. I don't know of any other source that delves as deeply into the life of a single Afrocuban religious musician or practitioner as this book does. It is a gold mine of information not only for the serious student of Afrocuban culture, but also for any practitioner.

Invaluable reading for any drummer or practitioner

If you consider yourself a serious drummer in the Afro-Cuban styles (batá, bembé, palo, abakuá, rumba, comparsa, etc.), you must read this book, as you will learn a great deal from it. It is refreshing to see the music and the culture through the eyes of a musician and practitioner himself (Mr. García Villamil), a true living legend. Every page is loaded with TONS of information, dating from his Yoruba great-grandfather's time to the present.

for more information click here

If I could give 6 stars........

This book is the absolute best available about Afro-Cuban religious traditions, music, and culture that I have ever seen. Velez writes in a clear style and with great respect for Mr. Villamil's heritage. Finally a book in english has addressed the controversy surrounding lineages and lines within Afro-Cuban religion. Not to mention one of the few books that describes festivles and musical celebrations within these religions instead of 'new age magic'. Secondly, the voice and mannerisms of Mr. Villamil come through the pages as if you were watching a documentary. As a long time (medio asiento) affiliate en La Regla de Ocha this book has truly touched my heart. Instead of spewing out made-up "secrets" it conveys the feeling, culture, and legacy of these little known traditions with utmost dignity. If you enjoyed the book I would suggest seeking out some of Mr. Villamil's CD's under the group Emikike it is amazing. Velez deserves some kind of award for this work because it is truly astounding..... just when I was about to give up on English books concerning Afro-Cuban culture.
Charles Panella
", but you have to keep hammering away there because he was destined for that and I wasn't. This is my religion and I love it with all my heart" FGV

for more information click here

"I am Felipe Garcia Villamil" begins "Drumming for the Gods", the life history of the Afro-Cuban artist whose music has survived both political and personal upheaval. "Balogun for thirty years. Oluana, of Matanzas, Cuba, for about forty years. Omoana for almost forty-five years. OluIyesa [he who knows the secrets of the Iyesa drums]." A practitioner of sacred drumming for almost his entire life, Felipe practiced his trade in Cuba both before and after the Revolution and brought it with him to New York, where he continues to play for the gods. This book focuses on three periods of Felipe's life, each marked by changes in his personal life and by important historical events. The first period covers his formative years during which he received his initial training. Through Felipe's story, we explore the legacy of slavery in Cuba, the nature of Afro-Cuban religions and their musical traditions, and the history of bata drums. The second period covers the critical years of the Cuban Revolution. Here we see the effect of social turmoil both on music and religious practice (santero, palero, and abakua). The third period covers Felipe's life in New York as a refugee/immigrant, and the role of music in rebuilding his identity. Felipe's story illuminates his cultural practices and beliefs as well as the ways in which an individual musician selects and modifies the elements of his cultural heritage to create a voice that is personal and unique. Felipe not only lives through history but also makes history, shaping an identity that cannot be described as "Cuban immigrant," "Afro-Cuban," religious drummer," or "santeria initiate," but is composed of all of them. Through Felipe's experiences, Maria Teresa Velez reveals the interaction between social, political, economic, and cultural forces and an individual's own actions. The professionalization of musicians in Cuba following the Revolution and the plight of Afro-Cuban immigrants in New York are seen as large historical and social problems to which Felipe must personally respond. A noted ethnomusicologist, Velez provides the most insightful and comprehensive English-language study of an individual Cuban religious drummer available. "Drumming for the Gods" is a must-read for those interested in ethnomusicology, Caribbean studies, and Afro-Cuban religions and culture. Maria Theresa Velez is a freelance ethnomusicologist.

for more information click here