A Musical Analysis of Afro-Cuban Batá Drumming
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City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works All Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects 2-2019 Meaning Beyond Words: A Musical Analysis of Afro-Cuban Batá Drumming Javier Diaz The Graduate Center, City University of New York How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! More information about this work at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/2966 Discover additional works at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact: [email protected] MEANING BEYOND WORDS: A MUSICAL ANALYSIS OF AFRO-CUBAN BATÁ DRUMMING by JAVIER DIAZ A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Music in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts, The City University of New York 2019 2018 JAVIER DIAZ All rights reserved ii Meaning Beyond Words: A Musical Analysis of Afro-Cuban Batá Drumming by Javier Diaz This manuscript has been read and accepted for the Graduate Faculty in Music in satisfaction of the dissertation requirement for the degree of Doctor in Musical Arts. ——————————— —————————————————— Date Benjamin Lapidus Chair of Examining Committee ——————————— —————————————————— Date Norman Carey Executive Officer Supervisory Committee Peter Manuel, Advisor Janette Tilley, First Reader David Font-Navarrete, Reader THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK iii ABSTRACT Meaning Beyond Words: A Musical Analysis of Afro-Cuban Batá Drumming by Javier Diaz Advisor: Peter Manuel This dissertation consists of a musical analysis of Afro-Cuban batá drumming. Current scholarship focuses on ethnographic research, descriptive analysis, transcriptions, and studies on the language encoding capabilities of batá. However, this artistically sophisticated tradition demands a more in-depth study of its musical manufacture. Drawing from experience as a ritual batá player and as an oricha priest, I have completed the current study by following three primary analytical modalities: (1) sonic landscape, which encompasses: sound vocabulary, form, individual drum parts, and balance of musical elements; (2) timbral design, how the different batá sounds articulate meaningful and functionally distinguishable structures; (3) the rhythmic construction of batá music. For my research, I have surveyed professional, educational, and field recordings for transcriptions and aural analysis. Besides, I have looked at existing transcriptions and incorporated theoretical models for how this music unfolds through time and space. This paper emphasizes the importance of musical processes as a crucial element in the articulation of meaningful structures in Afro-Cuban batá. Furthermore, it situates its findings within the broader field of theoretical analysis of Sub-Saharan African drum ensemble music. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS While acts of creation often unfold in solitude, we cannot attribute the resulting work to a single person’s labor. In most projects, many individuals are responsible for offering continuous help, encouragement, support, and inspiration along the way in myriad ways. This dissertation is no exception. I am forever grateful to those forces, seen and unseen, that have helped me get across the “finish line.” Maferefún (praised be) Olodumare (God), maferefún egun (ancestral spirits), and maferefún oricha for the opportunities they continue to provide for me. I thank my parents, the late Juan Vicente Díaz (ibbaé bayentonú) and María Raquel Martí, for believing in my musical abilities since I was a child. I am forever grateful to my lovely wife, Toyin Spellman- Diaz; this paper is as much hers as it is mine. Without her support, I could not have finished this study. I am thankful to my padrinos (godparents): Virgilio Figueroa, Mike Orta, Luis Pineda, and Freddy Burgueño for their guidance, support, and patience over the years. I am so very grateful to my batá teachers and mentors Lázaro Galarraga, Román Díaz, and the late Lorenzo Peñalver (ibaé) for their generosity, patience, abundant knowledge, and guidance. I am thankful to my drum brothers: Angel Luís Figueroa, an early mentor and influence, Sebastian Guerrero, Bobby Wilmore, Michael Spiro, Humberto “Nengue” Hernandez, and so many others I have played and interacted with. You have all taught me much. I would like to thank my advisor Professor Peter Manuel, whose encouragement, dedication, and knowledge are ever expanding. Also, I want to thank my dissertation committee: Janette Tilley, David Font-Navarrete, and Benjamin Lapidus for their valuable input and insight. I want to extend a very special thanks to my percussion professor at the Graduate Center Morris Lang for his encouragement during my time at this institution. I am grateful to my good friend Carol Steele for her editorial work. Finally, I would like to thank my editor Carmen Staaf for her precise work. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................................................................... IV ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.................................................................................................................................................V TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................................................ VI LIST OF MUSICAL EXAMPLES.............................................................................................................................VIII LIST OF TABLES ..........................................................................................................................................................XII LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................................................................XIII INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................................................................1 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................................................................5 MUSIC TRANSCRIPTIONS NOTATION KEY .......................................................................................................................6 CHAPTER 1: PRELIMINARY INFORMATION........................................................................................................7 EXISTING SCHOLARSHIP ...................................................................................................................................................7 ORICHA RELIGION: CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES................................................................................14 SANTERÍA MUSIC ............................................................................................................................................................18 SONGS..............................................................................................................................................................................18 PUBLIC DRUMMING AND SINGING CELEBRATIONS.......................................................................................................21 AFRO-CUBAN BATÁ DRUMMING: HISTORICAL AND SPIRITUAL BACKGROUND .........................................................28 BATÁ DRUMMING EDUCATION ......................................................................................................................................33 CHAPTER 2: THE BATÁ SONIC LANDSCAPE: SOUND VOCABULARY, FORM, INDIVIDUAL PERSPECTIVES, AND BALANCE ..............................................................................................................................36 SOUNDS AND TECHNIQUE...............................................................................................................................................36 ON FORM AND STRUCTURE ............................................................................................................................................40 INDIVIDUAL DRUMS PERSPECTIVES...............................................................................................................................46 (1) Drum With a View: The Okónkolo Chair ..........................................................................................................46 (2) The Itótele Perspective: In Batá, Second Parts Are Best .................................................................................54 (3) Iyá: “Mom” Calls The Shots ..............................................................................................................................59 SONIC BALANCE (SYMMETRY) WITHIN INDIVIDUAL DRUM PARTS ............................................................................68 BALANCE AND RECIPROCITY IN THE ENSEMBLE AS A WHOLE.....................................................................................70 CHAPTER 3: UNDERSTANDING BATÁ MUSIC’S TIMBRAL STRUCTURES ..............................................81 THE THREE-CHACHÁ ZONE............................................................................................................................................84 (1) Three-Chachá Zone: Accompanying Chachás..................................................................................................85 (2) Chachás as a Doubling (or Accenting) Element of the Enús