The Island of Quisqueya Music from the Dominican Republic, Vol. 1 (1976) CD

"This item is part of the Folkways archives.  The original liner notes from the LP are included."

Recorded by Verna Gillis and Ramón Daniel Pérez Martínez.

"Lying midway between Puerto Rico and Cuba in the West Indies is the Dominican Republic, a country which occupies the eastern two-thirds of an island it shares with the country Haiti. The aboriginal name of the island was Quisqueya, which means ‘mother of the earth.’ When Columbus discovered the island in 1492 he renamed it ‘Española.’ In Santo Domingo, founded in 1496, one still sees the remains of the first church built in America. Here is the house where Cortés kept the court records before he had even heard of Mexico. From here Ponce de León set out in search of the Fountain of Youth..."

Tracks
1. A Novena     Drummers, singers from Samana     5:45    
2. O Reina     Heraldo Enriques, Pablo Jiron, and Saturnino Enriques     4:57    
3. Instrumental, with Vocal     Isabel Jimenes and Santos, Colon, and Damito Jimenes     5:25
4. A Novena     People from the community at the home of Mr. Amable     5:49    
5. Merengues: "Apagame La Vela"     Nicole Guitierres, Porfifio Rosario, and Santo Peña     4:56
6. Merengues: Merengues     Seseco Martinez, Bicolo Avila, and Goyo Caminero     3:42    
7. Merengues: "Cuando Yo Vine del Cibao" (When I Arrived from Cibao)     Tomás Aguino de León, Maria Isabel Trinidad, Licinio Modesto     4:14    
8. Merengues: "Julio Ven" (Julio Is Coming)     Erasmo Errera, Julio, Virgilio Errera     3:47    
9. Merengues: "Las Mujeres Son el Consuelo de los Hombres" (Women Are Men's Confort)     Nicolo Guitierres, Porfifio Rosario, and Santo Peña     4:00
10. Merengues: Merengues     Seseco Martinez, Bicolo Avila, and Goyo Caminero     3:28