Argentina and Uruguay was an incredible experience. Here's an update
that I sent to my students and colleagues:
I gave a clinic/performance Friday, Sepember 24 in Buenos Aires at the
Universidad de Lanus music festival. Martin Diez, an excellent percussionist
and a colleague of Enrique Cotelo during his Bolivia Symphony days, was my interpreter.
They had so many questions about steel drums. Its not popular there, but they want it to
be.
Total percussion is in its developing stages in Argentina.
Classical percussionists there either studied in the US/Europe or had
teachers that did. Percussion programs have only been in universities
for the last 10 years or so. Uruguay still teaches classical
percussion as its main focus in schools.
Players usually play a few instruments (drumset, hand percussion,
classical. folk percussion, etc...), but whatever it is they are
masterful at it.
We began with an interview on Argentina National Public
Radio. It was a program about instruments and ensembles and is
broadcast live all over Argentina. I talked about the history and
development of steel drums in Trinidad & Tobago, played musical
examples and also played the tenor pan and kalimba.
I also saw several performances that day (two drumset performers as
good as anyone I've ever seen, mibira, cajon, marimba/vibes, one
person playing two saxophones and the most popular Argentine drum
ensemble-Bomba Leguero. They were all so good!!! It is an
honor that I was invited to be a clinician/performer at this festival.
I expericenced Candombe first hand. It was an
unforgettable experience. Check it out on youtube. I gave a steel pan
clinic at Enrique's former music school with Nico Arnicho my
host as interpreter. Nico is a former student of Enrique. Enrique is
well known and respected in both countries. You can see Nico on
youtube as well.
Sincerely,
Ricky Burkhead