Arara!: A Lazaro Galarraga Afro-Cuban Music Book

This book is the music notational transcription of Lazaro Galarraga's 'Arara!' CD on the 50-50 Records label. The author has also included a brief history and explanation of the Arara genre and tradition as it is practiced in the Afro-Cuban folkloric culture. In recording his 'Arara!' CD, Lázaro Galarraga drew on a lifetime of playing and singing the songs from this rich tradition. He first learned Arará songs from his grandmother, Petrona when he was five years old. Lázaro credits her and his aunt Gregoria as his first teachers. As a teenager he was an active member in a house of Arará where he often sang at Arará ceremonies. Later he became a member of the Conjunto Folklórico Nacionál de Cuba, where he routinely performed Arará songs as part of their repertoire. For a more detailed biography of Lázaro Galarraga, please see the Appendix at the end of this book.