Groove for Shabbat

Norm

Uploaded April 1, 2011 8:14pm.

383

A 7/8 improvisation on a set of 3 Bata drums, accented with afucha, tube shekere and cowbell.

The number 7 is a symbol for perfection or completeness: 7 colors in a rainbow, 7 musical notes in a scale, 7 days = a week, etc.

In Cuba, the bata consists of a set of three tapered cylinders of various sizes. Iya, the largest, is referred to as ‘mother drum’. Itotele, the middle one, and Okonkolo, the smallest, are called ‘father’ and ‘baby’, respectively.

Bata drums are primarily for the use of religious or semi-religious purposes for the native culture from the land of Yoruba, located in Nigeria, as well as by worshippers of Santeria in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and in the United States.

As I place no religious significance to these drums or their rhythms, my ‘non-sacred’ Bata drums are called aberinkula -profane Bata- and I don’t abide by the traditional rules and rituals governing the construction, handling, playing, and care of the sacred bata: Only non-castrated male deer’s or goat’s hides may be used–female goats along with bulls, cows, and sheep are not to be used; only an initiate may touch or play the bata, as only they have gone through the ritual of ‘receiving Ana’ which grants them the forces necessary to play them properly; before a ceremony the drummers would wash themselves in omiero, a cleansing water, pray, and abstain from sex for a period of time. In Havana, the bata are not played after sundown, while in Matanzas, ceremonies often begin at night.

More information on Bata drums here.

(For those who may be interested in collaborating on this, this groove is most easily counted like this: “1+2+3+4+5+6+sev-en”.)

7/8 140bpm.

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another cultural landslide said June 23, 2011 12:11pm

Absolutely cool track! Excellent concept! w;-)

Guest said May 8, 2011 11:37pm

Still love this!

Wildgeas Music said April 30, 2011 2:48pm

Lucky 7s :) >>non-castrated male deer's hide I can get you some of these.

Guest said April 29, 2011 6:31pm

You are one awesome rhythm machine!! NICE!!!

Les said April 21, 2011 5:49pm

Cracking collection of rhythms going on here.

Drop D said April 15, 2011 1:12am

I absolutely adore melodic drums...and while delicate...this is one HEAVY and head-bobbin' groove. Nice one...very nice one.

Reefwalker said April 5, 2011 4:35am

This whole this is perfect. I think I like the additional perc at around :55, 1:55 ect the best.

Guest said April 4, 2011 9:54am

Enticing and hypnotic!

richardlaceves said April 4, 2011 4:10am

i always know i can fave one of your beats,,, even before i hear it.... there always that cool/interesting,, and thanks for the write ups you often do .. very nice

Guest said April 3, 2011 7:21am

Very cool, cool enough to carry on into yom rishon!

Tharek Ali Mokbul said April 2, 2011 5:13am

And oh man!!! Egusi Soup is so hard to get in London! This makes me Hungry for it!!!

Tharek Ali Mokbul said April 2, 2011 5:12am

Shame it wont be heard till tonight..... Great Sabeth Tune!! My Ex Lady was Nigerian... E-bo.. Yoruba always had better beats... Howsa always had better food.... This is superb!

Guest said April 2, 2011 1:02am

Really love the name norm! The percussion is spot on Ace as always. Shabbat Hamalka- the queen of the seventh dat of the week.

Movement To Contact said April 1, 2011 11:32pm

I would be most interested in working with this :) and all the other beats I have been messing with!! Love this one as well, esp. the 7 count. Now off to the studio for pizza, whiskey, and some sweet drums to jam to! YEAH!! Oh and FAV'd!