Download PDF document.

9601 Faka Pasifika #1. Dances for children from the age of 3 upward.

9602 Faka Pasifika #2. Dances for children from the age of 8 upward.

9603 Faka Pasifika #3. Dances for adults and children from the age of 12 upward.

This set of three DVDs contains dances from various parts of the South Pacific, as collected by Ad and Lucia Linkels during field trips between 1982 and 2000. The original aim was to learn about daily life in the South Pacific by participating in the singing and dancing. But for instruction purposes and in order to preserve these dances, they are now published on DVD. The dances are performed by Faka Polinisia, a Dutch dance ensemble specialized in Polynesian dancing, under the guidance of Ad and Lucia Linkels.

Each DVD has a length of around 60 minutes and contains 30 - 40 dances.

Descriptions of the dances, as well as lyrics, translations, musical notations, and other background information, are published in the book series "Faka Pasifika" (three volumes in English, corresponding to the separate DVDs). UPC #1: 713958960196. UPC #2: 713958960295. UPC #3: 713958960394.

PAN 9604. Going native in Venezuela. Drums and harps, maracas and indians.

People and musical cultures of a Latin-American country.

This DVD contains three 30-min. documentaries on the rich diversity of musical cultures in Venezuela, filmed by Bartolomé Duysens.

'Of saints and drums' explores Afro-Hispanic music, particularly issues of identity, religious cults, and various percussive traditions.

'Arpa criollo' is about the national cult of joropo (dance) and harp music.

'Kuamore' documents indigenous music of native groups living in remote corners of the country: the Hiwi, Piaroa, Yukpa, Wayu, Yekuana, and Yanomami.

The subtext of this DVD, only hinted at, is a story about cultural confrontation, exclusion and other themes, like the quest for a new identity-the conflicts and contradictions, every individual has to confront-in the context of a modernizing nation-state and a globalizing world.

Extensive liner notes on pdf-file. UPC 713958960493.

9607 Chinese Shadows

The amazing world of shadow puppetry in rural northwest China

We follow shadow puppet performers on their jouney with a donkey from one village to the next, and doing shows in cave dwellings and temples. We record the disappointment and sadness of these men over the gradual decline of a truly superb theatrical art. But the singing and music making during the shows is still amazingly passionate and energetic.

The contrast may come as a shock: on the one hand there are the finely carved and delicate shadow puppets, on the other hand the almost brutal force and wild shouting with which they are cast against the screen.The narrative figures, cut from animal hide, are hardly any less fantastic and capricious than the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch or Hokusai.

UPC 713958960790.

9608 Full Moon over Santiago. Cuba

The Land of Son, Rumba and Bembé

The title of this collection of videos with Cuban music derives from the famous poem by Frederico García Lorca 'Son de Negros en Cuba' (dedicated to Fernando Ortiz): "When the full moon comes I will go to Santiago de Cuba." The 'C' of Cuba is like a bay on which the moon shines, like the bay of Santiago; a haven to hang out in a hammock, hearing heavenly harmonies "with the rhythm of dry seeds." But when the moon wanes, everything changes; the Caribbean sea might get drowned in the sandy beaches or in the hills of the Sierra Maestra, and the country might change beyond recognition overnight.

Extensive liner notes on pdf-file. UPC 713958960899.

RMP 9651.

Cuban Rumba by master drummer Javier Campos Martinez

The ultimate percussion instruction DVD on how to play the Cuban Rumba.

For advanced and (semi-) professional percussionists.

Javier Campos Martinez gives a masterclass explaining the essence of Rumba, the various Rumba styles, clave and kata patterns. The component percussive parts of five original Rumba styles are each presented in separate tracks for kata, tumbadora (salidor), tresdos and quinto in slow time and real time. Various combinations of the interlocking patterns are shown as well as breaks and conversations between tumbadora and tresdos. Special attention is given to the art of solo playing on the quinto, the lead drum.

Javier Campos Martínez is one of the leading percussionists of today’s Afro-Cuban music. He is known as an innovator and pioneer pushing the limits and boundaries of percussion. Javier grew up in Havana and is a master of Afro-Cuban roots music and a specialist on the bata drums (the Yoruba ceremonial drums) as well.

Spanish spoken, subtitled in English, 77+ min. UPC 713958965191.