Clinic/Workshop: The Role of the Flute in Afro-Cuban Music: 1900-present
This required an enormous amount of research which included finding recordings dating back to the turn of the last century. I presented my first clinic in August 2001 at the National Flute Convention in Dallas, Texas.
This clinic/performance will focus on the innovations flute players have contributed to the development of Afro-Cuban music. The period of time discussed will be from 1900-present.
The flute was introduced to Cuba by way of Haiti in the late 1700’s by the French landowners who had been forced to emigrate to Cuba during the Haitian Revolution. They brought the five- keyed flute with them along with a rich musical culture. The flute was eventually incorporated into a musical ensemble called the Charanga Francesa or Charanga Tipica Francesa.
This clinic will enlighten the audience with historical facts which are relevant to the development and evolution of the flute in Afro-Cuban music. It will also highlight a select few of the vast amount of amazing flute players who have played this music and contributed to each significant innovation throughout the time period specified.
The master class will end with a performance in which the audience will hear original music which was greatly influenced by Charanga music, a facet of Afro- Cuban music, other facets of Afro-Cuban music, and Jazz.
Materials needed:
o Microphone and sound equipment if needed
o CD player, and audio visual equipment for showing video clips, and an overhead projector
o Table to place materials
o Placement of chairs should be considered depending upon size of each room, always preferably in an arc in order to facilitate intimacy for discussion.
o Handouts: glossary of musical terms, one page of most important relevant dates, resource page, discography of material used, brochure.
+ Introduction of myself – 1 minute
+ Content of Clinic- 45 minutes
The body of the clinic will begin by explaining the history of the West African’s forced arrival in Cuba. It will continue by highlighting each flautist who contributed to the development of Charanga music and Afro-Cuban influenced music as it is known today. Interspersed within all dates and flautists, will be coordinated musical selections, overhead sheets, and video clips.
+ Credits – 4 minutes – Brief discussion of materials which were used to create the clinic along with people who contributed their time and expertise.
+ Question and answer period – 15 minutes
+ Performance- 20 minutes- Pieces to be performed:
# Latin Sunset – 10 minutes
# Quatemala’s Dance – 10 minutes
Total time: 85 minutes
Note: For an additional 20 minutes, a guest artist can be included in the clinic who is one of the featured flautists.
Suggested Reading
Diccionario de la Música Cubana, Biográfico y Tecnico-by Helio Orovio-Editorial Letras Cubanas, Cuidad de La Habana, Cuba 1981
Essays on Cuban Music- North American and Cuban Perspectives, Edited by Peter Manuel, University Press of America, 1991 Ballroom Dance Magazine Vol 2 no. 7 July 1961
The Devastation of the Indies, A Brief Account-Bartolomé de Las Casas, translated by Herma Briffault, The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1992
Biography of a Runaway Slave, Miguel Barnet, Curbstone Press, 1994
Jazz Monthly Magazine, “The Charanga and the Chachachá,”Derrick Armstrong,May 1959, Vol. 5 #3, June 1959, Vol. 5, #1
La Música en Cuba Editorial Letras Cubanas, Carpentier, Alejo, Cuidad de La Habana, 1979
Miguel Faílde-Creador Musical del Danzón by Oswaldo Castillo Faílde 1964-Oficina del Historiador de La Cuidad Habana
Charanga: Then and Now, Latin Beat, Connie Grossman, Dec. 1999
Brief History of the Latin American Flute, Latin Beat, Luis Tamargo, March 2000
De La Contradanza al Danzón, Argeliers León, Dept. de Música Biblioteca Nacional, Habana, Cuba
The Cuban Danzón-Before There Was Jazz: 1906-1929, Arhoolie Records Cristóbal Díaz Ayála
The Cuban Danzón: It’s Ancestors and Descendents, Folkways Records, Produced by Andrew Schloss, Introduction by John Santos
El Danzón Iconografía: creadores e intérpretes, Recopilacíon y Coordinacíon: Ezequiel Rodríguez, 1967
Salsa Guidebook for Piano & Ensemble, Rebeca Mauleón,Sher Music Company
Latin Beat Magazine – any articles by Max Salazar
Suggested Discography
www.descarga.com/www.amazon.com
Historical:
* La Volanta-Danzas Y Contradanzas Cubanas-EGREM-1993
* Early Cuban Danzón Orchestras:1916-1920-Harlequin-1999
* The Cuban Danzón-Before There Was Jazz: 1906-1929-Arhoolie-1999
* Hot Music from Cuba: 1907-1936-Harlequin-1993
* The Music of Cuba:1909-1951-Columbia
Cuban-Typical:
* Antonio María Romeu-Danzones-EGREM-1996
* La Sabrosa Aragón- Artex-1993 (any Aragón record)
* Montuneando con Arsenio Rodríguez Y Su Conjunto:1946-50-Tumbao-1993
* Silver Star- Orquesta América de Ninón Mondejar-Tumbao-2000
* Prueba mi Sazón- Orquesta de Belisario López:1942-1948-Tumbao-1995
* Pancho El Bravo- Edenways
* Arcaño Y Sus Maravillas-Grandes Orquestas Cubanas-EGREM-1992 (any Arcaño record)
* Fajardo Y Sus Estrellas-esto sólo se da en Cuba-Bis Music
* Montuno Favorito-Orquesta Melodías del 40-Tumbao-1999
* Charangas Orquesta América del ‘55/Orquesta Estrellas Cubanas-SEECO-1995
* Collection-Dr. Olavo Alén Rodríguez-From Afro-Cuban Music to Salsa-Book and CD-Piranha-1998
New York Charangas:
* Pachéco Y Su Charanga-Alegre-1996
* Charanga Moderna- Ray Barretto-Tico-1999
* Eddie Palmieri and his Conjunto La Perfecta-Alegre-1996
* Pruébalo Mi Amor: Try it Out, My Love-Orquesta Broadway-Tico-1968
* Viva Palmieri- Charlie Palmieri and his Charanga Duboney-Alegre-1998
* Charangas de Cuba y Nueva York-Tico-1976
* Charanga ‘76-TR-1976
* Charangueando-Típica ‘73-Fania-1980
* Rumba Caliente-Típica ‘73-Inca-1976
More Contemporary Cuban and New York:
* Descarga Total-Maraca-Ahí-Namá-2000
* Es Diferente-Los Jóvenes Del Bárrio-Shanachie-2000
* Cuban Roots-Mark Weinstein-Cubop-1999
* Best of Los Van Van-Milan Latino-1996
* Cuban Carnival-Tito Puente and his Orchestra-1990 (Any Tito record)
* More Legendary Descarga Sessions-Cachao-Caney-1995
Latin Jazz/Jazz:
* Wildflower-Hubert Laws-Atlantic-2001 (any record where Hubert plays)
* Burning Whispers-Néstor Torres-Sony-1994
* Madera-Mauricio Smith-Wenmar-1996
* Live at the Blue Note-Dave Valentín-GRP-1988
* Unreleased and Unleashed-Mongo Santamaría-Sony Music-2000
* Jazz Masters 56-Herbie Mann-Verve-1996
* Cal Tjader’s Greatest Hits-Fantasy Records-1995