The artistry of Afro-Cuban batá drumming

By Kenneth George Schweitzer

Subjects: Santeria music, Drum, Music, history and criticism, Music, African influences, Batá music, Music, caribbean, History and criticism, Analysis, appreciation

Description: An iconic symbol and sound of the Lucumí/Santeria religion, Afro-Cuban batá are talking drums that express the epic mythological narratives of the West African Yoruba deities known as orisha. In this book, Kenneth Schweitzer blends musical transcription, musical analysis, interviews, ethnographic descriptions, and observations from his own experience as a ritual drummer to highlight the complex variables at work during a live Lucumí performance.