An excerpt from the ‘Congo’ DVD

Afro-Cuban Percussion and Song

Afrocubanpercussion.com evolved from my studies with Maestro Lázaro Galarraga, one of the world’s foremost authorities and practitioners of Afro-Cuban religious and folkloric music. The goal of this project is to document and preserve this musical tradition and share it with those of you who, like myself, greatly value and appreciate it. Below you’ll find information about Lázaro along with links to instructional materials, including books and DVD’s. In the future I hope to add additional material that will be useful to you on your musical journey of discovery. —Richard

ABOUT LAZARO

A founding member of the famed Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba, and former professor of the Escuela de Arte in Havana, Lázaro Galarraga is a master singer, percussionist, dancer, and teacher of Afro-Cuban music. With his vast storehouse of knowledge and experience, he is a senior member of that group of practitioners who’s lineage goes back to the beginnings of the Afro-Cuban tradition.

Full Bio

the Bembe & Guiro DVD

Lázaro and students demonstrate 40+ songs as they are performed in a Bembé (drums) and Güiro (shekere)ceremony. Includes captioned lyrics. Accompanies the Bembé and Güiro book.

$29.99 us — 78 min

the Bembe & Guiro Booklet

A companion piece to the DVD, this book contains notations of the songs and rhythms along with background material about the religious tradition that they come from.

$25.00 us — 108 Pages

the Congo! DVD

Lazaro and his students perform 36 songs and rhythms from the Congo traditions of Cuba: Makuta, Palo, Garabato, and Yuka. Includes captioned lyrics. Accompanies the Congo book.

the Congo! Book

A music instruction book on the rhythms and songs from the Afro-Cuban Congolese tradition of Regla de Palo as taught by master Lázaro Galarraga.