Arnaldo Rodríguez, el Talismán, Delivers Lecture and Performs Concert in Dominican Republic

October 10, 2024

Singer-songwriter and music producer Arnaldo Rodríguez offered a masterclass on the evolution of Cuban music to art students at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) in that capital.

Rodríguez, director of the popular Cuban group Arnaldo y su Talismán, held an interactive discussion for just over two hours with students from the music school of that institution of higher learning.

He noted that the music of his country is distinguished by its rhythmic and sonic richness, and the multiplicity of genres, which have influenced other international currents.

A musician with solid professional training, he maintained that it possesses a mixture of Spanish and African influences, like other Caribbean countries, such as the Dominican Republic, which explains the mutual influence between the nations of this geographic area.

He covered different musical genres that emerged on that island during the seventeenth century, including the punto guajiro performed by various string and percussion instruments such as the clave; the danzón (nineteenth century), the rumba, Cuban song, and the son.

Regarding the latter, he said that it achieved worldwide fame during the 1930s and is considered by scholars as the most important genre of music from the largest of the Antilles since its emergence in the eastern region of the country.

During the exchange, the distinctive sound of Cuban claves was heard, while Arnaldo performed excerpts from Son de la Loma, the outstanding work by Santiago composer Miguel Matamoros, and other pieces.

The director of the group, known for pieces such as "Mulato Acelera´o," also referred to the development of music schools in Cuba, which allow, he said, an important level of instruction.

The popular group is touring the Dominican Republic, where it will perform in various venues on the occasion of Cuban Culture Day, October 20th.

This afternoon it will perform in the municipality of Baní, capital of the province of Peravia, birthplace of Generalísimo Máximo Gómez, one of the most admired heroes of Cuban struggles for independence.

The creator of Talismán in 2002 will be with his band at the Casa de la Amistad, in this capital, next Friday, and on Saturday will travel to the province of Santiago de los Caballeros, where he will visit the Museo del Son.

In the evening, his contagious music, which draws from cumbia, merengue, and other Caribbean genres, will be heard in Moca, province of Espaillat, and his performances will close on Sunday in Villa Mella, Santo Domingo Norte.

Directors of the UASD Faculty of Art, professors from the music school, and personnel from the Cuban embassy in this country participated in Thursday's event.