Review
Kabiosile continues to generate our respect and further interest. Here they offer a direct, honest insider's perspective of how practitioners in Cuba elicit the attention of the orishas. Both the picture and sound are of high quality, which is helpful to appreciate the subtleties of the sacred batá drums. Ceremonies, in the form of cantos, güiro or bembé, are interspersed with concise question and answer segments (filmed separately and nicely edited) featuring some of the percussionists. It's a smart format that creates a context for each musical segment. For the initiated or novice, this excellent quality DVD is Highly Recommended. --Bruce Polin, Descarga.com
Product Description
La Fuerza del Tambor is a live recording of the power of the drums to call the Orishas. This DVD documents the Afro Cuban folkloric ritual music of the Santeria religion as played in Matanzas, Cuba, the cradle of the Afro Cuban religions in Cuba. Eight selections from authentic public drumming celebrations illustrate Afro Cuban folkloric music as it is played in the religious (vs. tourist) environment. In addition to the traditional Lucumi bata drums, the DVD includes rare footage of the unique Lucumi Bembe Macagua drums and an unusual segment of Palo Mayombe songs accompanied by Aña. The 90-minute DVD features interviews with Alfredo Calvo, Elder of the Egwado branch of Santeria; drumming demonstrations of the Palo toques and the Bembe Macagua drums; and lyric subtitles for all the songs. English subtitles are included for all the interviews
