Percussions, songs, and dances from Barlovento and the Orishas - a weekend with the Cátedra Libre de Percusión from Caracas
Village of Rhythm 3rd Edition
October 12-13, 2024
Village of Rhythm 2024: a weekend with the Cátedra Libre de Percusión from Caracas!
Editorial
For its third edition, the Village of Rhythm 2024 offers you an exceptional immersion dedicated to the Afro-Venezuelan music from the Barlovento region and the Afro-Cuban religion known as Regla de Osha or Santería. This year, we have the honor of welcoming the Cátedra Libre de Percusión from Caracas, a renowned institution in the world of percussion and traditional music in Venezuela. Composed of experienced educators and internationally acclaimed artists, this team will share their knowledge, accumulated over more than 40 years of musical expertise. Through workshops and performances, you will be invited to dive into a rich and energizing musical universe.
During this weekend, the ADEM Maraîchers premises will resonate with the sounds of the culo e’ puya drums, the mina drum, and the quitiplás, as well as the spontaneity of the songs and percussion of the fulía barloventeña. The captivating polyrhythms and mystical power of the batá drums, accompanied by the songs and dances of the Orishas, will also be integral to this musical adventure. These ancestral practices, passed down from generation to generation, will be highlighted to offer you an immersive experience where every beat and every movement will bring you closer to the deep roots of these cultures.
The ADEM invites you to this unique event, aimed at rhythm and dance enthusiasts. Come feed your senses and discover these musical treasures that have stood the test of time. The Village of Rhythm 2024 promises to be an unforgettable moment of sharing and cultural discovery.
Join us at the Village to immerse yourself in the richness of Afro-Venezuelan traditions and those of Santería!
Julio D’Santiago
Educational Coordinator of ADEM
Program
For the schedule of each workshop, please visit our website.
PERCUSSION
- Barlovento Percussions: culo’é puya drum, mina drum, quitiplá, and fulía with Miguel Urbina, Johnny Rudas, Keny Quintana, Juan Carlos Figueredo, Samuel Urbina, Richard Avila
In this workshop, the set of African-origin drums from the Barlovento region of Venezuela will be studied. They accompany the traditional dances of the region, associated with the celebration of Saint John the Baptist, the most important festival of the year in Barlovento. The rhythms of the culo é puya drums (prima, cruzao, and pujao) with their distinctive ternary beats will be explored, along with the mina drum and its distinctive phrasing and its accompanying drum, the curbata, which evokes the tchadjou and agouda drums of Benin. Additionally, the melodic-rhythmic approach of the quitiplás (pounded bamboo) will be explained, along with the fulía barloventeña drums and their ritual songs.
- Batá Drums with Miguel Urbina, Johnny Rudas, Keny Quintana, Juan Carlos Figueredo, Samuel Urbina, Richard Avila
After an introduction to the historical and musical context of these instruments, the rich rhythmic complexity of this ritual music linked to the Santería religion will be analyzed and explained. Then, learning the rhythms of the Batá drums will serve as the foundation for the practical application of a musical ensemble that will be the focal point of this workshop.
DANCES
- Barlovento Dances and Orishas Dances with María Gabriela Gil and Pedro Herrera, accompanied by the musicians from the Cátedra Libre de Percusión from Caracas
This two-part workshop will present Afro-Venezuelan dances from the Barlovento region, characterized by circular movements where a couple leads the dance while inviting others to form a collective circle. Additionally, the dances honoring the Orishas will showcase the main traits of each deity in the Yoruba pantheon and the natural elements each one represents. This style of dance engages the whole body, with particular emphasis on torso movement, while maintaining harmony with the lower body, symbolizing the connection to Mother Earth.
Registrations
Online ticket sales (Infomaniak)
