RESOUND A QUARTERLY OF THE Archives of Traditional Music Volume III, Number 4 October, 1984

..qt From the Director ..q, of Traditional Music. These donations scholars, with whom I had been in cor­ are extremely important to our oper­ respondence for some time. Responding to an Increasing ations, as they provide precisely the I took with me, via train and the financial margin and flexibility that al­ overnight ferry from Miami to Havana, Demand lows us to respond to unusual requests the recording equipment, a small fold­ and to send this quarterly to archives ing hand camera that I could carry in Regional and national audio ar­ around the world. I hope you will take my hip pocket, flash bulbs characteris­ chives are being established through­ this occasion to contribute this year, tic of the times, and a hand-held Key­ out the world at an increasing rate, and which at the same time will guarantee stone movie camera with which I hoped many of those that already existed are that Resound will be delivered to you to document dances and other tradi­ being expanded. I visited a small but as well. Thank you. tional activities. expanding one in August at the Insti­ Although I have recorded in many tuto para a Defesa de Folclore in Rio places over the years, and with all kinds de Janeiro, now directed by a former of equipment, the Cuban project re­ student of mine. In late September I mains one of my most vivid recollec­ attended a symposium on ethnomu­ tions, no doubt because of frustrations; sicology archives at the recently estab­ breakdowns, help from unexpected lished and modern Archives and sources, and a cops-and-robbers drama Research Centre for Ethnomusicology in Matanzas Province. in Pune, India. In nearly every case, ~ From the Field ~ In Havana I had a number of meet­ archivists at these new institutions say ings with Fernando Ortiz, after which that most of the older recordings are he put me in the reliable care of Alfredo to be found abroad, and they have dif­ Recording in Cuba in 1941 Zayas, a young man who was active ficulty convincing members of their in the Lucumi cult and a member of own societies to contribute their recent In May, 1941, I made a field trip to the Aoakwa secret fraternity. Zayas collections. Assisting these archives Cuba to record the traditional music took me to an all-night Abakwa cere­ build their collections requires both an and oral literature of Afro-Cuban cults, mony in Guanabacoa, a Havana sub­ effort on the part of those institutions in particular the Lucumi (Yoruba), the urb, which I eventually described in an that have the older recordings and a Arani (Dahomean), the Kimbisa or article entitled /I Abakwa Meeting in major effort within each nation. Mayombe, and the Abakwa or Carabali Guanabacoa."l He also made it possi­ It will be easier for the Archives of (an Efik-Ekoi secret fraternal society). ble for me to record traditional Lucumi Traditional Music to respond to re­ With minimal financial assets-pri­ music somewhere on the outskirts of quests for the collections made on wax marilya $300 assistance grant from the Havana. My ready access to these cylinders, since the last of our nearly American Council of Learned Socie­ events, due to the interest and help of 7,000 cylinders was rerecorded onto ties-I planned to stay as long as the Ortiz and Zayas, did not prepare me tape on September 24. The cylinder money held out. In fact, the trip lasted for situations yet to come. project draws to a close with the pro­ abou t four weeks. Ortiz and others recommended that duction of copies for the listening room Dr. George Herzog, then director of I go to the town of Jovellanos in Ma­ and the preparation of the catalog. We the Columbia University Archive of tanzas Province for more recording. have applied for another grant that Primitive Music, provided me with a Not only was Jovellanos an important would allow us to copy onto tape all lightweight disc recorder, custom built center for various Afro-Cuban cults, a of the field recordings made on acetate with an old fashioned spring-wind prominent Arara cult leader, Esteva discs, as well as to catalog the collec­ turntable drive, and something like a Baro, was located there. As "presi­ tions on the OCLC database. Whether hundred recording discs, acetate sur­ dent" of an association of Matanzas cult or not we receive the grant, it is easy faces overlaid on aluminum. The discs groups he had special prestige and in­ to foresee an increasing demand for had just arrived from Sweden and were fluence in the area and could be very the field collections at the Archives. in sealed tins. My main contact in Cuba helpful. So I packed all my possessions With this issue is a form requesting was Dr. Fernando Ortiz, generally rec­ and went by train to Jovellanos. you to make a donation to the Archives ognized as the dean of Afro-Cuban The manager of the hotel at which I saw the name Ritz freshly painted over questions. As time passed, however, stayed in Havana had advised me that whitewashed bricks. Showing through his answers seemed to become more the only place fit to live in Jovellanos the whitewash was the old name, El reluctant, and his civility evaported. was (as I recall it now) the El Dorado Dorado. The Ritz, formerly El Dorado, Suddenly he asked, "What is it you Hotel. He had warned me not to go was in fact the only hotel in town. The want in Jovellanos?" anywhere else. I think I was the only ground floor had a restaurant and a I reminded him of our discussion the traveller to get off the train at the Jov­ billiard room and the second and third previous day, and said I hoped to re­ ellanos station, but there was a crowd floors were for guests. cord the singing and drumming of Ar­ of local people on the platform, which It was still early afternoon, so I went ara and Lucumi services. I explained seems to have been regarded as one of off at once with a letter from Fernando that I didn't need a formal occasion, the town's community centers. Many Ortiz to a man whose name I can't re­ possibly just a small group to begin were playing dominoes, some were call. He was eager to assist me, but said with. He said something like that would sleeping. But four taxi drivers sur­ the key to everything was the Colonel be very difficult, as well as costly for rounded me, trying to get control of in charge of the Jovellanos military dis­ him. He repeated his statement in dif­ my luggage. I selected one of them at trict. So he escorted me back to the ferent ways until, finally, I perceived random and asked how much he would hotel and we found the Colonel play­ that he was asking for a sum of money. charge to take me to the El Dorado. ing pool. I presented various "to­ I stressed that I would be glad to pay He said, "El Dorado? Impossible. whom-it-may concern" letters from for costs and refreshments. He said, You must go to the Ritz." Having been Ortiz and Columbia University. The "Yes, naturally, but the Colonel and I in similar situations before, I remained Colonel was affable, offered me a rum are in a particular position. Do you un­ firm. I demanded the El Dorado. He drink, and took me to the house of derstand? You have to take us into ac­ kept saying, rather vehemently, I Esteva Baro, the Arara priest. We talked count." I finally asked how much thought, "No, the Ritz." I turned to for a while, and Baro invited me to money would be required. He said, the other taxi drivers and asked who come back the next day to explain in "For me, one hundred dollars. For the would take me to the El Dorado. They detail what my interests and purposes Colonel, one hundred dollars." I said echoed the first driver, "No, the Ritz." were. He and the Colonel stepped aside I didn't understand about the Colo­ I kept saying El Dorado and they kept and had a brief conversation of their nel's part. Baro said, "He is at the top. shouting back, "No, the Ritz." I was own, which I presumed to be in the His permission is always necessary." tired, and I had all that equipment. Fi­ interest of my project. After that I re­ I'm not sure what I answered, but I nally I decided to surrender. I would turned to the hotel with the Colonel, knew the amount was astronomic, go to the Ritz, leave my possessions, and he resumed his pool game. since my grant-in-aid was only three and find my own way on foot to the My room had a small balcony over­ hundred dollars. _ --ELDDrado.___ _ lookingJhe-IDain...street. I sat there re- _ I came Qg~kilgaill the next morning, When I capitulated, everyone on the flecting on how much had been but this time he was not very patient station platform cheered. I got into the accomplished on my first day in town. and referred almost at once to the taxi. We bumped across the railroad Hardly ever had I made crucial con­ money. When I told him I could not tracks, went no more than a hundred tacts so swiftly. At about seven in the possibly afford it, he no longer had time yards to the main street, and stopped evening, young women began to stroll to talk to me. It became clear that as in front of the three story building. I on the sidewalk across the street, walk­ far as Baro and the Colonel were con­ ing in pairs or small groups. As they cerned, I was at a dead end and would passed the hotel, they turned and have to start afresh. glanced toward where I was sitting. I For the next several days I wandered Resound asked the daughter of the hotel man­ through the town and into the coun­ A Quarterly of the ager whether these parades took place tryside, which was not more than two Archives of Traditional every evening in Jovellanos. She said, or three hundred yards away, observ­ Music "Oh, yes. There are always some ing guajiros (white peasant farmers) at strollers, but not so many as now. They work. I talked to people whenever I Marilyn B. Graf, Editor heard that you are here to make a could. A few of them spoke Creole as Resound is issued in January, April, movie, and they hope they will get a well as Spanish, and some were from July, and October. Comments, letters, chance to be movie stars." Jamaica or Barbados. Now and again I and items of interest are welcome and The next morning I walked back to met people who would have been glad may be addressed to the editor. Esteva Baro's house. I was able to ob­ to help me but were afraid to do so. serve details I hadn't noticed the day One of them said people had been Archives of Traditional Music before. Behind it there was a dance warned by the Colonel and Baro to have Maxwell Hall 057 court with a roof made of palm leaves. nothing to do with me. During these Indiana University In front and on both sides were shrines more or less aimless wanderings I was Bloomington, Indiana 47405 to the deity Ogun, benefactor of war­ followed at a discreet distance by two (812) 335-8632 riors and blacksmiths. Two of the uniformed policemen. They were mild Anthony Seeger, Director shrines were piles of scrap iron. An­ mannered and pleasant. Once we even Louise S. Spear, other consisted merely of an over­ had a smoke together. But wherever I Associate Director turned sugar vat. Above the door was went, they followed. Mary E. Russell, Librarian a crudely painted sign which said, On one occasion a young man named Marilyn B. Graf, Secretary "Casa Ogun." Baro took me on a tour Sanchez (who, it turned out, was the of his premises and answered my local justice of the peace), stopped me 2 and asked, "Why are the policemen following you?" I said I didn't know, /I Although I have recorded in many places over the years, and with all but they hadn't given me any trouble. kinds of equipment, the Cuban project remains one of my most vivid He went back and asked, "Why are recollections, no doubt because of frustrations, breakdowns, help from you pursuing this man? He is a guest unexpected sources, and a cops-and-robbers drama in Matanzas Province." in Jovellanos," They said "We don't know. The Colonel ordered us to do it. The Colonel says he is probably a German spy, and we have to report me around) living in a back room of couldn't accept any more from her un­ everything he does. /I the hotel who was fascinated with my der such circumstances. I thanked her, I showed Sanchez my Columbia recording equipment. Every noon gave her some money and sent her on University introductions and identifi­ when he came to the hotel to eat he her way. Luiz was very pleased with cations. He became angry, saying, looked in and asked whether I'd been having gotten someone to sing for the "What a disgrace for Cuba!/I Then he able to make any recordings. One day machine. said he would try to arrange something when we were sitting on my balcony Troubles with the equipment seemed for me in the town of Pedro Betan­ I called his attention to a woman walk­ to come all at once. The next morning court, where he had a friend who, like ing along the street. She was wearing I found that something had gone wrong himself, was justice of the peace. We a distinctive head cloth and several with the hand-wound turntable. It was took a taxi to Pedro Betancourt. His strands of heavy beads. Luiz said, /lOh, a broken governor spring, and I spent friend said, "No problem. Come on she is a Lucumi priestess. They wear most of the morning mending it, after Saturday night. There will be a dance, things like that./I Before I could stop a fashion, with wires. Then I opened and you can record everything./I I was him, he leaned over the balustrade and a sealed tin of recording discs, and to elated. But two days later Sanchez came firmly ordered her to come upstairs, my horror found that the acetate coat­ to the hotel to show me a telegram just which she did without protesting. ing was separating from the aluminum received from his friend. It said merely, When she arrived on the balcony he base on many of them. I quickly opened

"Sorry. Dance has to be cancelled. /I told her to sit down. He told me to start a tin containing recordings I had made Sanchez said, "The Colonel heard the machine, and he commanded the in Havana and Guanabacoa. They too about it. He is a damned Castillo." woman to sing. She hesitated and he were peeling. There was a young policeman named said even more firmly, "Sing Lucumi./I When Luiz came by at noon on his Luiz (not one of those who followed She sang. I liked what I heard, but I regular visit, I was sitting on the bal-

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I would like to be a Friend of the Archives for 1985. My contribution will support Resound and other activities of the Archives of Traditional Music.

____ Sustaining Friend ($100.00 or more). Enclosed is my check for $ _____. I am selecting the following longplaying record from the Archives Ethnomusicological Series: ___ Songs and Dances of Nepal, recorded by Caspar Cronk (Folkways FE 4101) ___ Songs of Aboriginal Australia and Torres Strait, recorded by Geoffrey and Alix O'Grady (Folkways FE 4102) ___ Kurdish Folk Music from Western Iran, recorded by Dieter and Nerthus Christensen (Folkways FE 4103) ___ An Historical Album of Blackfoot Indian Music, compiled by Bruno Nettl (Folkways FE 34001) ___ The Big Drum and Other Ritual and Social Music of Carriacou, recorded by Donald R. Hill (Folkway FE 34002) ___ Supporting Friend ($15.00 or more). Enclosed is my check for $ ______Student Friend. ($7.50 or more). Enclosed is my check for $ ______. My institution is __

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Please .mail this coupon with your check in the enclosed envelope to Friends of the Archives, % Indiana University FoundatIOn, P.O. Box 500, Bloomington, IN 47402. cony ruefully looking at a pile of dis­ not to worry, everything would be several days a number of individuals integrating discs. He crumpled a small taken care of. He said, "At eight o'­ came to my balcony and offered to sing piece of acetate, smelled it, and ex­ clock I will come with the taxi. We will one or two songs for the machine. claimed with an air of triumphant dis­ put the recorder in the trunk, and you Among them were several guajiros covery, "Aha! Camphor!" Forgetting will say to the driver, 'Take me to Pedro (white peasant farmers) who brought his lunch, he bounded down the stairs Betancourt.' Everything is arranged." claves and guitars with them. One per­ and went to a small pharmacy a few At eight o'clock in the evening I fol­ son I hoped to record was an old man doors away, returning with a bottle of lowed the script precisely. We put the who came to the hotel every morning oil of camphor clutched in his hand. equipment in the trunk of the taxi and to beg for stale bread from the restau­ Explaining that he excelled as an am­ I loudly instructed the driver, "To Pedro rant. If he received something, which ateur chemist, he tested the liquid on Betancourt." We took off with screech­ he usually did, he performed a dance a fragment of acetate. The acetate soft­ ing tires, and about a mile down the in the street. People said he was a Kim­ ened and began to dissolve. "Aha! highway the taxi turned onto a side bisa (Congolese) who had arrived in Aha!" he exclaimed. "My nose remem­ road and came to rest in a grove of Cuba in a contraband slave cargo about bered!" We applied small amounts of trees. About ten minutes later we heard fifty years earlier. When I tried to talk oil of camphor to the edges of the ace­ a car coming from Jovellanos. The with him he always responded in a lan­ tate so that it adhered once more to the driver said, "Here he comes." We could guage that was not Spanish, probably aluminum. Luiz crossed himself in see the car from where we were hidden a Bantu dialect, and I had the feeling mock solemnity, and when he was in the grove. A minute later my secre­ that he was playing a game. In any ready to leave he said, "Tell them all tario said, "There he goes, all the way case, I was never able to get him to­ that my nose remembered." to Pedro Betancourt." I asked, "Who gether with the microphone. That same afternoon a fifteen-year is it?" Everyone answered, "The Col­ A time came when my slim funds old boy who had appointed himself my onel. He is on his way to put a stop to were running out and I had to return "secretario" came to find me, saying that whatever you are doing. But that's not to Havana. I devoted most of my re­ we were going somewhere. He put my where we are going." maining time there to making notes, equipment in a taxi and we drove to a We returned to Jovellanos and went compiling glossaries of Abakwa and sugar plantation about five miles out to the house of the Salazar family. Ac­ Lucumi words, collecting African-type of town. The workers, both men and tivities were already under way. The musical instruments used by the cults. 2 women, were on their siesta break. small living room was crowded and Alfredo Zayas continued to help me, They brought out some drums and a people clustered in the doorway. An and I recorded whatever was record- hand rattle and a dance began. I re­ corded greedily, frequently forgetting to wjnd up.,my turntable. The 5essioIl lasted about two hours, then the peo­ ple had to go back to work. I passed liThe small living room was crowded and people clustered in the doorway. out as much money as I could afford, An old man was peeling oranges and giving pieces to the guests . ... For and we were back at the hotel before light, the room had a single oil lamp attached to a rafter, and I had difficulty the Colonel knew we were gone, seeing what I was doing with the recording machine. I had to feel blindly though he learned of the brief expe­ for the turntable's crank." dition later. By this time a kind of game was going on in the town. A number of persons old man was peeling oranges and giv­ able, even the rhumba and conga bands began to suggest ways of outwitting ing pieces to the guests. The instru­ on the Prado. On the morning of my Baro and the Colonel. Most of the ideas ments appeared-three guiros (tall departure, Zayas brought me a going­ were a little too complicated for me. metal rattles with external bead stri­ away gift, a set of rattles with basket But one morning my secreta rio came for kers), a small gourd rattle, and an agogo handles, instruments used by the me and walked me to the unpaved, (a forged iron bell with a hand-held Abakwa fraternity. I was not prepared vermin-infested slums in Jovellanos. striker). People began to sing and some for his generosity and had nothing to He took me to the house of a woman tried to dance, but there was hardly give in return except my wrist watch, named Salazar. Having come from Ori­ room to move. The songs were all from which he accepted graciously. ente Province many years before, she the Lucumi repertoire. For light, the I gave many of the musical instru­ spoke Creole, and we conversed at room had a single oil lamp attached to ments into George Herzog's care at the some length. She agreed to have her a rafter, and I had difficulty seeing what Columbia University Archive of Prim­ family and friends participate in an I was doing with the recording ma­ itive Music, and my understanding is evening of Lucumi songs. I thought chine. I had to feel blindly for the turn­ that he took many of them with him she ought to know about Esteva Baro table's crank. I recorded for about an when he went to Indiana. I'm not sure and the Colonel, but the information hour and a half. By that time it felt as how he fared with the copying of the didn't impress her. She said, "It makes if half the population of Jovellanos was acetate aluminum discs. A sampling of no difference about Baro. We are dif­ in the room. They hardly noticed when the Cuban recordings was issued by ferent nations. We are Lucumi, he is we left. Back at the hotel, discreet in­ the Disc Company in 1947, and later Arara. Arara cannot tell Lucumi what quiries revealed that the Colonel had reissued by Ethnic Folkways Library. I to do." I left some money for party not yet returned from Pedro Betan­ myself was able to copy some of the refreshments, and we departed. court. badly deteriorated originals on tape, I was still concerned about the Col­ The exploit was quickly known and I believe most of these copies are onel, but my young secreta rio told me throughout Jovellanos. During the next at the Indiana University Archives of 4 Traditional Music. * Unfortunately, they Acomita Pueblo performs a Spanish include only a part of what was re­ hymn. Documentation reads, "Learned corded in Cuba. George Herzog had from Mexicans." United States, South­ my glossaries in his keeping, and on west, 1927. occasion mentioned them in his letters Example 3: R.B. Dixon and D.S. Spen­ /I After twenty or thirty creation after he went to Indiana, but by this cer, researchers. An informant from date I am sure they must be included myth songs, or war songs, or heal­ one of "various Indian groups" in Cal­ among the casualties of the Cuban trip. ing songs, the lab technician may ifornia sings something which closely resembles Nevertheless, the trip itself was a hear the unexpected tones of a an Irish jig. 1910. memorable experience. church hymn, or an English­ Group B: The cylinder records an speaking voice dramatically ren­ attempt on the part of the ethnogra­ pher to imitate the native culture's NOTES dering an Italian aria or a patriotic musical style. 1. The Journal of Negro History, Vol. march." Example 1: G.L. Wilson, researcher. XXIX, 1944. Wilson recites, in Mandan, the Lord's 2. I reported on the instruments in Prayer. Hidatsa and Mandan Indians, "Musical Instruments of Cuba" in The in "male, unaccompanied," or "male, North Dakota, 1909. Musical Quarterly, Vol. XXVII, No.3, with drum." Example 2: George Herzog, researcher. July, 1941. This sort of general documentation The cylinder has four selections, or *Archives accession number Pre'54-058- reflects the emphasis field researchers strips. On the first two, an informant F includes tape copies of forty-six discs. in the era of Franz Boas placed upon sings; on the second two, Herzog sings. © 1984 by Harold Courlander a broadly-based survey of a culture Documentation reads, "Laguna dance group. The cylinders they recorded song, recorded twice, then singing of Harold Courlander, Bethesda, Maryland document general traits, not individ­ the recorder." Cochiti Indians, Santa ual personalities. Fe, New Mexico, 1927. The written accounts of early eth­ Group C: The cylinder records a nographers contributed much to an­ performance by the ethnographer, thropology, linguistics, and ethno­ which is presumably indicative of his Cylinder Project News musicology. Valuable transcriptions of or her cultural background or musical North American Indian songs espe­ training. The recording may include cially enriched ethnomusicology. These the sounds of audience response, pioneering expeditions into "primi­ again, presumably that of the inform­ Ethnographic Anomalies in tive" cultures produced many arti­ ants who have just heard the perform­ Cylinder Recordings facts, including the cylinders and their ance. samples of sound, but not much com­ Example 1: Washington Matthews, re­ Rerecording seven thousand wax mentary about the circumstances of searcher. Matthews sings what resem­ cylinders may seem a tedious task, their creation. Of the personal expe­ bles a French art song for the Navaho complicated by confusion over correct riences of the field workers we learn Indians. New Mexico, 1913. speeds and incorrect or insufficient very little. Example 2: George Herzog, researcher. documentation. To a certain degree, Given the ethnographic situation, the The cylinder has three strips. The first this is true. Yet the lab technician who Archives cylinder project team with two are sung by an informant. The third is also an ethnomusicologist, working some surprise discovered, while rere­ is very likely Herzog, performing a hu­ methodically through entire field col­ cording the thousands of cylinders, oc­ morous song, "No Beer Today." Doc­ lections, has access to a primary casional "ethnographic anomalies." umentation reads: "American Song." source-authentic aural ethnography After twenty or thirty creation myth Acomita Pueblo, Navaho Indians, 1927. of early field work. This kind of access songs, or war songs, or healing songs, These examples are representative has advantages: a sense of direct con­ the lab technician may hear the un­ of those found on the cylinders to date tact with history and the undisputed expected tones of a church hymn, or by lab technicians Bruce Harrah-Con­ fact of the music, the actual sound, and an English-speaking voice dramatically forth and myself. Reader commentary not a transcription or description of the rendering an Italian aria or a patriotic on the nature of these anomalies is music. march. welcomed. The cylinder recordings may be con­ There are several groups of aural an­ What do we gain from discoveries in sidered as ethnographic objects solic­ omalies, which may be classed as: early ethnographic collections? First, ited by the ethnographer. They contain Group A: The cylinder records an the "anomalies" give us a perspective brief samples of music or narrative in attempt on the part of the informant into the field experience of the eth­ the culture being examined: a hunting or informants to imitate musical styles nographer. The anomalous recording song, a corn grinding song, or a med­ which are not a part of their own cul­ becomes more than an aural artifact; it icine song. ture. is a unit of sound behavior. It is hard Generally speaking, the field-re­ Example 1: Charles Wagley, researcher. to imagine field work without some corded cylinders held by the Archives An informant sings, in his own lan­ cultural exchange between researcher of Traditional Music lack context. They guage, a song to the tune of "In the and informant. The anomalies actually are identified, if at all, by the genre Sweet Bye and Bye." Tapirape Indians, document this exchange, as, for ex­ which they represent. An informant Brazil, 1935. ample, the gleeful laughter which fol­ may be named, but often nothing more Example 2: George Herzog, researcher. lows George Herzog's performance of than a statement of gender is given, as A group of Navaho Indians hom "No Beer Today." 5