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Everybody Salsa!

“The roots of Cuban music are in my head.”
— Compay Segundo

Music and dance is everywhere in Cuba, on the streets, in the restaurants to the the Casa de la Trove set up  following Fidel Castro's degree that every town in Cuba should have its own Casa de la Trove where the troubadours were to be given regular wages. You couldn't escape it even if you wanted to - most don't!

most of the music played in Bueno Vista Social Club type salsa

Then of course there is the national song 'Guantanamera' or literally 'farm girl from Guantanamo Bay'. I have to admit that I, along with others in the group, had not previously associated it with Cuba but with Mexico! If you are trying to remember the tune here it is in a version by Compay Secundo of the Bueno Vista Social Club.

Company died back in 2003 and has been awarded the accolade of being buried in the cemetery at Santiago de Cuba near to the Cuban's founding father Jose Marti. 

On one of our nights in Havana we went to see the band that had evolved from the Bueno Vista Social Club incorporating a couple of the original members it was chaotic but great fun with fabulous music and a fair number of Mojitos.

The music on the streets was the best

whether single musicians of larger groups, in this case discussing what to play next 

or in the evening in Trinidad in the Casa de la Musica

so come and and join in!

tags: cuba, music, Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Trinadad Cuba, Compay Secundo
categories: information, Photography, travel, music
Wednesday 02.17.16
Posted by Barbara Evans
 

Strawberry Fields Forever - a Tale of Central Park

“Let me take you down
’Cause I’m going to Strawberry Fields
Nothing is real
And nothing to get hung about
Strawberry Fields forever”
— John Lennon

Just back from a great trip to New York, several posts worth here I think, but I'm going to start with a story of Central Park. Looking at the map I discovered  there was an area named strawberry Fields with a memorial to John Lennon. 

it was clearly a place of pilgrimage so we sat for a while and watched as people came and went. 

There were people of all ages and nationalities, families, individuals, groups, all coming to pay their respects.

Then there was the music - all Beatles / Lennon songs of course

and the garland makers who worked diligently until they at finished their task,

Then sat and reflected together for a while,

before laying their garland carefully

and making the final adjustments

until it was perfect 

“Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one”
— John Lennon
tags: New York, Central Park, John Lennon, Strawberry Fields, Imagine, garlands, music, Beatles
categories: information, Photography, Poetry, travel
Wednesday 06.18.14
Posted by Barbara Evans
 
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