Cuban Music 'A solo tradition?'

Subject: RE: Cuban Music 'A solo tradition?'
From: M.Ted
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 01:11 PM

I am not sure what you mean by a "soloist"--Do you mean soloists in the ensemble? Or do you mean soloists as in an unaccompanied singer?

Within the ensemble,there are instrumental soloists, with particular emphasis on percussion solos, and the vocalist often sings as a solo-in fact, you could say that in a way, each player is a soloist, because the music is polyrhythmic, which means that it is a fabric of interwoven and overlayed rhythmic phrases, and each player has a part, which can be played alone, in unison, against, or in a call and response pattern with the others.

Lyrically, in Cuban music, it seems that everyone is a poet, with their own poems that fit to familiar musical patterns, and even their own verses to familiar and traditional songs--and there is a strong tradtion of the poet as a singer, self-accompanied.

However, the music and the culture value ensemble performance, and there is a feeling that the poet's expressions are even better when a brother plays another guitar, and perhaps sings a harmony, and several cousins add percussion, perhaps the neighbors play horns, and of course, no poetry is ever complete unless everyone else dances--

Subject: RE: Cuban Music 'A solo tradition?'
From: Bert
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 12:05 PM

Sam, you might try sending a PM to our own CubaJoe.

Subject: RE: Cuban Music 'A solo tradition?'
From: GUEST,refresh
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 11:57 AM

Subject: Cuban Music 'A solo tradition?'
From: GUEST,Sam Pirt
Date: 27 Dec 00 - 12:09 PM

Hi

I have a question. I am very myuch into the cuban music at the moment as well as the swedish stuff (Like Vasen) I have listened to lots of cuban music although I can't say i am a specialist. One thing that intrests me is there appears to be no 'solo' tradition. Do individuals exsit in the band setting? Nearly all cuban music invlves a brass section, singer, piano and bass. They also have the occasional string section? Do they have things like Unaccompanyed singing, like the english tradition. The solo fiddle for dances in Sweden or do they all have a full band? Help!!

Can I also take this opportunity to pay my respects to Kirsty MacColl who died in a tragic boat accident, she will be missed.

Cheers, Sam