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MMD > Archives > August 1999 > 1999.08.23 > 02Prev  Next


New Dutch Street Organ CD - "The Cuban"
By Robbie Rhodes

[ The text below is taken from Channel Classics' web pages:
 [   http://www.channelclassics.com/newrel/nrCCS%2015098.html
 [   http://www.channelclassics.com/diversen/distrib.htm

'The Cuban' - Musical Adventures with a Street Organ

Inspired by the traditions of the Cuban barrel organ, Jaap de
Kwaasteniet, after acquiring a 36-key barrel organ, founded the
trio Dansorgel de Cubaan (organ grinder and percussion) in 1991.

Cuban barrel organs, which originated in Europe, were originally fitted
out to play waltzes and polkas. This was soon combined with the more
Cuban tradition by adding percussionists. The result was a relatively
inexpensive orchestra, which nevertheless sounded "full" enough to be
acceptable.

The European musical repertoire was ultimately replaced completely
by the most up-to-date musical numbers of the island itself it was re-
ferred to as "organo oriental", i.e. the organ from the east, because
European barrel organs first made their appearance on the east coast
of the island, where they had been imported from Haiti.

The barrel organ was probably introduced by the French to Haiti, which
remained a French possession until 1804.  Just like the Cubans, who
experimented with the production of barrel organ rolls with Cuban
music, "Dansorgel de Cubaan" had to build up its own repertoire.

In the Netherlands, the familiar barrel organ repertoire did not extend
much beyond popular tunes like "Tulips from Amsterdam".  Years of ex-
perience as a percussionist, combined with his extensive collection of
authentic Caribbean music provided Jaap de Kwaasteniet with a readily
available source of inspiration. With the help of Tom Meijer and Jan
Kees de Ruiter, both of whom were experienced barrel organ arrangers,
he started his experiments.

Please note: If you hear strange sounds at the end of some tracks this
is the remaining air escaping from the wind chamber of the organ !

Jaap de Kwaasteniet: THE CUBAN ,  Channel Classics CCS 15098

USA distributors:

Harmonia Mundi USA
2037 Granville Ave.
Los Angeles California 90025
tel: 1 310 478 1311
fax: 1 310 998 1366
email: msklansky@harmoniamundi.com

Channel Classics America
P.O. Box 5642
Englewood
07631 New Jersey
tel: 1 201 568 1544
fax: 1 201 568 6146


(Message sent Tue 24 Aug 1999, 03:05:00 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  CD, Cuban, Dutch, New, Organ, Street

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