windhorse
supporter
Gold Member
 Offline
Posts: 677
|
 |
« on: August 16, 2004, 09:55 AM » |
|
This is Agbe, a Guiro alternative to Bembe which I learned at the Explorations in Afro-Cuban Drum/Dance Workshop from Chris Walker – aka Flaco.
Im only including the Caja (low drum) part and bell.
The other three percussive parts, not shown here, are played with tuned Guiros (Chekere).
cnt: | 1 2 3 4 5 6 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 ||
bell | - X X - X X | - X - X - X |
Caj: | b t B b S t | b t b b - S |
hnd: | L L R L R L | L L R L - R |
If theres interest, maybe Ill post several variants and alternate rides later.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Hollow a log into a drum. It's the space inside that makes the sound.  |
|
|
tamboricua
Copper Member
Offline
Posts: 64
|
|
« Reply #1 on: August 16, 2004, 12:51 PM » |
|
Very nice Windhorse!
Is that the standard "guataca" bell pattern for Güiro these days? If possible, I would like to check out some Caja variations and alternates rides. Thanks in advance!
All the best,
Jorge Ginorio
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
windhorse
supporter
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 677
|
|
« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2004, 10:33 AM » |
|
Is that the standard "guataca" bell pattern for Güiro these days? Definitely, I would like to check out some Caja variations and alternates rides.
Jorge, I really haven't a clue about what's standard. Not sure about "Guataca" either. I really don't have near enough background in Folkloric Cuban yet to talk about differences in styles, or even commonalities within styles. As much as I talk on this board, it's really just a beginner voicing his amazement how cool this music is.. Perhaps a bit of showing off here and there,, but really, after visiting many masters and hearing them talk I'm reminded of how little I know.  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Hollow a log into a drum. It's the space inside that makes the sound. |
|
|
tamboricua
Copper Member
Offline
Posts: 64
|
|
« Reply #3 on: August 18, 2004, 12:10 PM » |
|
Hi Windhorse,
Don't worry my friend! We as percussionists and musicians in general are in a constant learning process. It will be absurd to consider that one knows everything.
Traditionally slaves and it's descendants used a "hoe blade" to play the bell pattern. In Cuba the hoe blade is known as "Guataca", in Puerto Rico is known as an "Aza".
The following bell pattern is considered an older more traditional bell pattern, as opposed to the one you provided that is more hip to play these days.
1 2 3 4 5 6 l 1 2 3 4 5 6 l
X X X X X X X
I still want to check out the caja variations you did learn from "Flaco".
Saludos,
Jorge Ginorio
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
windhorse
supporter
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 677
|
|
« Reply #4 on: August 18, 2004, 02:42 PM » |
|
Don't worry my friend! We as percussionists and musicians in general are in a constant learning process. It will be absurd to consider that one knows everything.
Traditionally slaves and it's descendants used a "hoe blade" to play the bell pattern. In Cuba the hoe blade is known as "Guataca", in Puerto Rico is known as an "Aza".
The following bell pattern is considered an older more traditional bell pattern, as opposed to the one you provided that is more hip to play these days.
1 2 3 4 5 6 l 1 2 3 4 5 6 l
X X X X X X X
I still want to check out the caja variations you did learn from "Flaco".
Yeah, we call that "short" bell, and most of the Haitian we do is "long" bell. This one Flaco showed us I've never seen before. More on the variants soon! Thanks for the lesson the vocabulary! |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Hollow a log into a drum. It's the space inside that makes the sound. |
|
|
windhorse
supporter
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 677
|
|
« Reply #5 on: November 05, 2005, 03:12 PM » |
|
OK, here's my first instructional video! It's Agbe,, and I threw in a few variations. http://animaldreams.net/cong/agbecaja.aviTell me what you think! Dave |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Hollow a log into a drum. It's the space inside that makes the sound. |
|
|
Fed
Bronze Member
Offline
Posts: 167
I love the Drummer Cafe!
|
|
« Reply #6 on: November 18, 2005, 07:34 AM » |
|
windhorse, cool video, somehow I missed it earlier. It would help if you played it at slower tempo first and the faster too. I guess if you have transcription with it, it won't matter that much. Anyway thanks for sharing. P.S. I am trying it right now in the office, on my little djembe   |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
windhorse
supporter
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 677
|
|
« Reply #7 on: November 18, 2005, 07:51 AM » |
|
Thanks Fed! I figured out how to nest a QuickTime version of it into my notation page: http://animaldreams.net/cong/congblock.htmlAnyway, I had thought of making a few versions of it... slower, and faster,, and just went with a medium speed. It does speed up slightly through the example. Did you notice the short bell ending? Ends right on the one count. Maybe I'll do some more,, but actually was thinking of making vid examples of most everything on my notation page. It'd be a huge a project, so it's probably just one of those "ideas".. That never gets realized. Time will tell.. In the mean time, we all are just getting better! right? In case anyone's wondering,, I don't have any video editing software.. All I did was use a little Logitech pod video cam that I use to conference with my dad sometimes. It has cheap easy to use one-click software I used to record the clip - which may not be the best format on the internet. I tried it six times, and the sixth was the winner. Dave |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Hollow a log into a drum. It's the space inside that makes the sound. |
|
|
Fed
Bronze Member
Offline
Posts: 167
I love the Drummer Cafe!
|
|
« Reply #8 on: November 18, 2005, 09:09 AM » |
|
You should probably just make a link on your notation page to the video, its cleaner that way. (sorry I am web developer by day and can't help myself  ) I am going to print that page out and practice some of those patterns if you don't mind. man... I need more drums... I only got two ...  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
windhorse
supporter
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 677
|
|
« Reply #9 on: November 19, 2005, 08:59 AM » |
|
You should probably just make a link on your notation page to the video, its cleaner that way. (sorry I am web developer by day and can't help myself ) I am going to print that page out and practice some of those patterns if you don't mind. No worries! I put that stuff out there with no strings attached.. BTW, you're absolutely right about NOT embedding the video, and linking it. I'm the first one who gets annoyed by waiting on large files to load, if I'm not looking for that particular file. Good suggestion, I'll defiinitely change it  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Hollow a log into a drum. It's the space inside that makes the sound. |
|
|
perc1713
Copper Member
Offline
Posts: 94
The best of music is not always in the melody
|
|
« Reply #10 on: November 25, 2005, 03:45 PM » |
|
Great job, Very interesting. I will try to apply this to my drumkit. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
windhorse
supporter
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 677
|
|
« Reply #11 on: November 26, 2005, 09:56 AM » |
|
Last night my friend Eric played a three drum Bembe with his larger African drum - tuned lower than his tumba - as the low drum to hit on the "one". I was playing the Agbe caja on the tumba, and the tone pattern was undeniably wonderful! We're planning on sharing it with the Rumba group in the mountains today!
Here's the 3 drum Bembe:
(6/8) 3 drum Bembe (Large drum on the left, quinto in the middle)
cnt: | 1 & a 2 & a | 3 & a 4 & a ||
hnd: | L - R L R R | L L R L R R ||
Qui: | - - - - O O | - - S - O O |
Seg: | - - O - - - | - - - - - - |
Tum: | O - - B - - | B T - T - - |
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Hollow a log into a drum. It's the space inside that makes the sound. |
|
|
windhorse
supporter
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 677
|
|
« Reply #12 on: November 27, 2005, 10:22 AM » |
|
Boulder BembeMy teacher - David - is playing an Iya as the lead hitting the "one", and I'm playing Agbe on the next drum up and hitting the bombo on both sides of the bell. Eric is playing a two drum bembe, and Dusty is playing bell. Dave's big Doberman keeps walking back and forth in front of the microphone - we called him the "Perro of the Rumba"..  I think, though this clip mostly demonstrates the monstrous power of the Iya, that you can tell how dialogues from the bombo note become possible playing Agbe with a lower lead drum playing on and off the "one".
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Hollow a log into a drum. It's the space inside that makes the sound. |
|
|
windhorse
supporter
Gold Member
Offline
Posts: 677
|
|
« Reply #13 on: December 03, 2005, 08:53 AM » |
|
OK, this mp3 clip is Eric playing the lead. I'm playing three drum Bembe with the big African drum on the left - hitting the one - and the other two are the segundo and quinto. Eric on the tumba shifts back and forth between Agbe lead and Bembe possession hitting on the bombo - never on the one. Starts slow and speeds up. http://animaldreams.net/cong/bldrbem2e.mp3 |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Hollow a log into a drum. It's the space inside that makes the sound. |
|
|
|
