Bata Drumming

The transcriptions in this book--Bata Drumming--are basic parts which chronicle a stylized system for playing bata as found in Havana, Cuba. This book contains two sections: The first section is transcriptions of the Oru del Igbodu (or Oru Seco). The second section contains many special toques found in the bata repertoire.

I'm a teacher, by nature. The original intent behind this work was to help the beginning students of bata within my own immediate community do their homework. I understood that if drummers could come to practice session already able to play their parts, more time could be spent focusing on conversations and transitions. To this end, I have seen how this book has expedited the learning process. And have decided to make it available to the bata community at large.

The transcriptions represent what I believe are the most basic forms of the parts as shown to me by my master teachers: Regino Jimenez, José Pilar, Angel Bolanos, Julio Guerra, Pedro Orta, Mario Jauregui, Carlos Aldama, Felipe Garcia, Marcus Gordon, David Peñelosa, Mark Lamson and Juan Carlos Blanco.

Return to Index

All Rights Reserved © Gary Greenberg 2007