On May 9, the Grade 11 DP Music class enjoyed a performance of Cuban music by Eliades Ochoa, guitarist, singer and original member of the Buena Vista Social Club. The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts was bursting with the soulful music of Ochoa and his six collaborators as they played a variety of songs both old and new.
This concert was the perfect way to cap off the DP Music class’ past two months learning about Cuban music and the rise of the Salsa genre in Central and North America.
The Buena Vista Social Club, named after an historic venue in Cuba, was a key group in revitalizing the popularity of Cuban traditional music. Their self-titled debut album from 1997 quickly became one of the best selling records out of Cuba, and the power of their music endures nearly 30 years later, as evidenced by the crowd gathered at Saturday’s concert.
Ochoa led the band on guitar, and was accompanied by a pianist, upright bassist, conga and bongo player, violinist, and a saxophonist and trumpeter who both switched over to maracas and guïro throughout the set. Paired with bright and colourful projected art, the ensemble performed Cuban son, salsa, and bolero full of skillfully improvised solos.
Feeling the Rhythm
Following the concert, I asked the students to reflect on the performance and what they personally took away from the show. This is what they had to say:
“What stood out to me the most was the guy playing the trumpet. He was, as the crowd would say, “¡muy bueno!”, as he stole the show with the energy in his playing.“—Harvey
“Listening to Cuban music live made me realize it was truly made to bring people together. As the concert went on, more people got up and started dancing and it is an important aspect of their culture.”—Lucy
“This performance exposed me to a different soundscape compared to my typical musical interests. This has allowed me to develop the understanding of the different cultures and methods that are used in different musical genres.” —Bradley
As the students saw first hand, experiencing music live has a powerful impact on community and culture. The DP Music course enables students to not only develop their skills, but experience the ways that music allows for communication and connection among peoples around the world.
