by davidpenalosa » Mon Sep 29, 2008 6:00 am
Hi Christian,
When I said that chachalokuafun is the bata adaptation of bembe I was not referring to a literal adaptation of the melody from one drum ensemble to another, but of one system (bata) adopting another system (bembe) in a general sense. Chachalokuafun and nyongo accompany the bembe dances and songs when those songs and dances are accompanied by the bata. Perhaps my use of “adaptation” is not the best choice or words.
We see the same sort of thing with the bata “adaptation” of iyesa. There are certain basics shared by both the actual 4/4 iyesa rhythm and the bata “iyesa”, but it is not a literal adaptation of the drum melody. The same is true for the bata “Arara” and I think, the bata “Olokun” (although I can’t remember where I could have heard the actual Olokun drumming).
You probably know more about the various bembe ensembles than I do. I’m mostly familiar with arrangements played on congas. Here in North America, I have heard and seen an arrangement of bembe where both bombos are played on a mid conga, like palo, but I don’t know where that arrangement comes from.
Chachalokuafun at its most basic is three-over-two, which is the basic framework for so many 6/8 Cuban rhythms. But yeah, palo probably has the closest melody to chachalokuafun, even closer than that arrangement of bembe I mentioned.
-David