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This year I traveled to Cuba. You know, it’s that little island that’s spitting distance from Florida and should not be visited without special dispensation. I wanted to see it before MacDonald’s arrived. I’m so glad I did. I learned a lot and I met some wonderful people. It seems they like us. Now there’s a change!
I’ll add a short T/F quiz to each post the same as I did last year about Burma, and I’ll post the answers to the questions the following day.
FALSE 1. The average teacher in Cuba doesn’t make anywhere near $100 a month. The information I got while there was they make about $15 a month.
Two extra people stepped in to have their picture taken! |
Q is for Quartets
The Cubans are nothing if not musical, and everywhere you go you’ll find groups playing great and very danceable music. Usually I found Quartets and they always had CDs available for sale. $10 seemed to be the going price. The quality of the home-made CDs is rather tinny, but the rhythm can’t be beaten.
The history of Cuban music is amazingly complicated. Spain brought its rhythmic flair. African slaves created many percussive instruments they remembered from their homeland. They formed social clubs called the cabildos and gathered together to play their music as well as socialize. Santeria, the religion from Haiti, added it’s influence. The native folk music had its influence as well, and anthropologists are still tracing many of these early musical roots by talking to musicians today. They want to know what passed from Great-Grand Father to Grand Father to Father to Son. This crossroads of the Caribbean is a musical treasure trove of history.
Answers tomorrow.
Sharon Himsl says
That must be fascinating to hear, all that mixed culture. I don't think I'd recognize it though.
Joylene Nowell Butler says
A fascinating country. It's been nice learning more.
Juneta Key says
Music really is the universal language.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
Natasha Duncan-Drake says
It is amazing how music can evolve and how it seems to speak to all cultures in different ways.
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
Samantha Redstreake Geary says
Oooh, you're speaking my language! Would love to just eat and listen my way around Cuba–I'd rack up a serious music collection.
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T. Powell Coltrin says
Cuban music must be quite flavorful with all the sounds mixed in.
Yvonne Ventresca says
It sounds like you had a really amazing trip. 🙂
Stephen Tremp says
Are there barbershop quartets in Cuba?
Patricia Lynne says
I love drums in music. Cuban music is always fun. What I've heard is usually upbeat.
~Ninja Minion Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
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Donna McDine says
One is false, two is true. Fascinating history. Keep it coming!
Courtney Turner says
They seem to be very musical. I took a Cuban salsa dancing lesson and it was very different and much sillier and light-hearted than regular salsa, with several invented moves like Foto and Coca-cola! Maui Jungalow
Liz says
I've never been anywhere so exciting! ~Liz http://www.lizbrownleepoet.com
Shooting Stars Mag says
Oh interesting about quartets! Thanks so much for sharing. I really love listening to music from other countries.
Birgit says
I think the teachers here in Canada should be told about this since that is horrible whereas I feel the teachers in Canada get quite a bit. They can even pool all their sick days for years and take them as vacation. one woman retired but took her sick days first which amounted to 2 years worth with full pay! I love the music because I love folk music. I always think of Desi Arnaz:) I will say false to both questions. I have no idea about the guitar but tres sounds like there should be 3 of something
Susan Gourley/Kelley says
Ouch on the teachers' salaries.
I think the answers today are false.
Susan Says
Elizabeth Seckman says
I failed. I think I'll stick with capitalism. It may have warts, but $15 a month? Wow.
Kelly Hashway says
The true and false answers just make me sad.
Beverly Stowe McClure says
It's interesting how a country is influenced by other countries in so many ways, like with their music. I'd love to hear them playing their songs. Great post.
sage says
I saw (and reviewed in my blog) a movie about the Rock & Roll scene in Cambodia pre-1974. I was surprised that they talked about a lot of the influence on Cambodia that lead to their music started out with Cuban music in the 50s… It's amazing how the earth is connected.
Mary Aalgaard says
I would love to experience the music there! I can almost feel the dancing beat from your description.
Roland D. Yeomans says
Cuban music has a life of its own … even tinny I bet. 🙂
Kathleen Valentine says
One of the joys of South and Central America is the music that is everywhere. Quartets are the mainstay of street musicians, it seems.
@Kathleen01930
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A Tarkabarka Hölgy says
I grew up listening to Buena Vista Social Club 🙂
@TarkabarkaHolgy from
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Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – $15 is measly to say the least … Cuban music is amazing … and having it around all the time, must have been fun … those Quartets (+ two!) … look fun ..
Cheers Hilary
Bish Denham says
(I failed yesterday's quiz…) Just as Puerto Rico has it's own *folk* music, influenced by many cultures, I imagine it would be true for Cube as well. I'm going to take a wild guess and say false for both questions.
Pat Hatt says
True for number two. I knew they were musical indeed.
Nicola says
I think Cuban music was how I got to hear about Cuba 🙂 As a child, I always loved the rhythm of South American music. And then there was Gloria Estefan – big fan during the 80s and 90s. Thanks for a lovely msuical post today, Lee.
Yolanda Renee says
$15 a month is unbelievable but if they can sell their CD's to the tourists for $10 each maybe they can actually afford the transportation to get to work. Amazing! I have to wonder how U.S. businesses coming back in will influence all of that. Or will they just take advantage and make it worse? I've no idea for this quiz so I'll say true. 🙂
Tamara Narayan says
Hey, I got one right, finally, but 15 buck a month? Yikes, that's pitiful. Today I will guess that number 1 is false and number 2 is true. And I will probably be wrong.
Natalie Aguirre says
Wow! It's amazing all the influences in Cuba. I'm a little surprised at the CD cost too.
nashvillecats2 says
I am really enjoying your trip to Cuba without the travelling. Thanks Lee.
Yvonne.
Geoff Maritz says
Hi. Both false. Yes the Tres is a guitar type instrument played in Cuba but it definitely does not have 12 strings, only six. They have a very Spanish sound about them. The Spanish and African people having the most influence on the Cuban people. South Africans have been holidaying there for many years. The war in Angola ended in 1988 and it wasn't long after that that south Africans began going there on holiday. My good friends Andy and Margie went there a few years ago and had a fantastic time.
Blessings in the name of Jesus, Geoff.
Pat Garcia says
I am not sure about number, but I would say number one is False. I enjoyed reading about the quartets. We had many quartets back home in my childhood.
Shalom,
Patricia @ EverythingMustChange
Mason Canyon says
I'm surprised their CD were $10 (not a bad price) when the teachers only make $15 a month. The Cuban music I heard always makes me want to dance.
Nick Wilford says
It must have been great to see so many talented musicians in the streets. A real melting pot for sure. I'll go for true on 2 but I'm not sure about the Chinese presence.
Blogoratti says
A truly diverse country it seems. Thanks for sharing!