MATANZAS, CUBA, ca. 1957 AFRO-CUBAN SACRED MUSIC FROM THE COUNTRYSIDE CD

Recorded in Matanzas in 1957, these ritual rhythms provide a direct link to the music of 19th-century colonial Cuba, and provide a window into the religious life of the first generations of Africans who worked the sugar mills. Collected by Lydia Cabrera and Josefina Tarafa, these recordings preserve extremely rare bembé lukumi ritual drumming used by practitioners of Santería to summon the gods or salute Cuba's African nations. It is remarkably different from the urban style heard today in Havana, although some of the same songs were sung in both city and countryside. With origins in Yoruba religion in West Africa, this music reveals the roots of today's Afro-Cuban ceremonial practices. 32-page booklet, extensive notes, photos, 69 minutes.

101     Toque Oyo      Domingo Hernández, Marcelo Carreras, Angel Rolando, and Domingo Hernández, Jr.      2:59                 
102     Toque Arará     Domingo Hernández, Marcelo Carreras, Angel Rolando, and Domingo Hernández, Jr.     4:02                  
103     Toque Mina--Yona (Obatalá)     Domingo Hernández, Marcelo Carreras, Angel Rolando, and Domingo Hernández, Jr.     2:22    
104     Mo juba ocha     Inés Sotomayor and group     1:53                                                                        
105     Ogún Onile     Inés Sotomayor and group     1:58                                                                          
106     Ibarabo ago mo juba     Marcos Portillo Dominguez and group     3:09                                                    
107     Song for Ogún     Marcos Portillo Dominguez     3:20                                                                    
108     Oshosi Ayilodá Mala Mala De     Marcos Portillo Dominguez     4:47                                                      
109     Omodara Deí     Emiliano de Armas and group     3:02                                                                    
110     Babluaiyé     Marcos Portillo Dominguez     3:20                                                                        
111     Shangó     Marcos Portillo Dominguez     5:22                                                                            
112     Oyá     Marcos Portillo Dominguez     4:16                                                                              
113     Yemayá     Marcos Portillo Dominguez     3:22                                                                            
114     Osain Songs     Domingo Hernández     1:26                                                                              
115     Guirigi tongo un mene mene ó     Florinda Pastor, Agustín Diago, and group     1:13                                      
116     Magó kueki baya arere     Florinda Pastor, Agustín Diago, and group     1:25                                            
117     Okun leo, vamo' pa' la loma     Florinda Pastor, Agustín Diago, and group     1:15                                      
118     Toque Yesá for Inlé     Domingo Hernández, Marcelo Carreras, Angel Rolando, and Domingo Hernández, Jr.     1:55          
119     Urú Dadá     Alberto Yenkins and group     2:41                                                                          
120     Shangó moforibale     Alberto Yenkins and group     2:55                                                                
121     Yeyé (Songs for Iroko)     Alberto Yenkins and group     2:21                                                            
122     Toque Yesá for Oshún     Domingo Hernández, Marcelo Carreras, Angel Rolando, and Domingo Hernández, Jr.     1:40          
123     Moforibale Ogún     Inés Sotomayor and group     1:45                                                                    
124     Olokun     Fernando Hernández and Inés Sotomayor's Group     2:01                                                        
125     Toque egbado     Domingo Hernández, Marcelo Carreras, Angel Rolando, and Domingo Hernández, Jr.     1:27                  
126     Toque de bembé     Domingo Hernández, Marcelo Carreras, Angel Rolando, and Domingo Hernández, Jr.     3:31