Santiago de Cuba’s Rich Culture

Cerro del Cardenillo is nestled right in the heart of Sierra Maestra, with an ancient settlement of miners. The Monument to the Cimarron is perched on the highest spot to extol Slave Rebelliousness. There is also a temple devoted to the Patron Saint of Cuba. El Cobre is based 20 kilometers away from Santiago de Cuba City, with sparks of Caribbean identity.

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"Joel James – an intellectual and founder of Casa del Caribe – brought Steel Band into Cuba, Santiago and El Cobre," Hermes Ramírez, director of this group, recalls.

At the time, the elderly say, they only had original brasses, barrels they cut, profiled and tuned their musical notes up, so they replaced the instruments and voices of an authentic orchestra. They would later change those instruments for new ones donated by Caribbean friends, a format they have merged with the most unquestionable Cuban percussion: conga, bell, drums, double second and bass, among others.

He pointed out that El Cobre was chosen due to the presence of mines, since the first steel players in Caribbean countries were mine workers. "Its founders here — workers of the local mining company — had to make their instruments, tune them up and organize the band with their own resources."

Ramírez, who studied guitar at the Higher Studies Center in his province and has been directing this group for nearly five years, recalled the collaboration with specialists from Trinidad & Tobago, a Caribbean country with over 200 bands of this kind.

"We have usually been advised by them. We kind of have the formula to learn by means of audiovisual materials. The Trinitarian people began playing music with mambuses, modified cans; they even used nickel-plated oil tanks to make special music."

"We recently went to Trinidad and found an instrument called spider, with weaved notes and peculiar sound. So, they have brought the technique up to date."

"We have improved and enriched the tradition by gathering young people —always from El Cobre—, with elemental musical knowledge and vocation, which has helped us achieve this reality we show to our people, supported by intense training when it comes to mastering this musical format."

The Caribbean Festival, the Latin American Fiesta, stands among the events that have been attended by the only professional group in town. "We also had the opportunity to go to Pernambuco, Brazil, twice – Hermes says – and represent the Caribbean with this instrument and our Caribbean music." During 15 days this percussionist group showed its talent in Brazilian squares, as members of a 65-artist cultural delegation that included other musical groups and a representation of folkloric Cabildo.

"As musicians, we had the opportunity to play Shubert’s Hail Mary and Mambi Virgin for Pope Benedict 16th during his visit to the Sanctuary of Cuba’s Patron Saint. We were also very happy with our performance for Leonel Fernández, former president of Dominican Republic."

The 14 members of the group have said that the Caribbean has given them a lot. "Friendship ties with other cultures, the freshness of their culture and I would say that the kind of instrument we play is the reason why we have to be in touch with the Caribbean life."

"Despite we have these instruments from other countries, we play our own music. That’s the difference between Cuba’s Steel Band and other groups from the rest of the world. We play Van Van, but we also have Bob Marley, Calypso, socca, samba, frebo, maracatú, mambo. There is a lot of Benny Moré, Electo Rosell – Chepín –, Matamoros.
A whole range of different genres, always standing for Cuban music with this instrument, that’s our secret."

"We have established musical links with many countries. The Caribbean festivals give us the perfect opportunity when we meet bands from Bahamas, Mexico, Brazil, Trinidad & Tobago. We all share experiences. There is a profound friendship bond among the countries in the region”, Hermes Ramírez declared.