Browse Items (60 total)
- Collection: Sharing Culture - Roots Music
Sort by:
Pepe and Francisco
Pepe and Francisco connected over the tradition of music and how important it is for a culture to take pride in and keep its music alive for themselves and future generations.
The Glass Case
Pepe's private collection in his Stanhope, NJ home.
Armadillo Shell Charango
The back of a charango, an armadillo shell. This shows just how resourceful the indigenous peoples of the Andes were and are. They used nature to make their music.
Not a Thing Has Changed
Pepe Santana poses just as he did for a book from the 90's about musicians in the United States. Pepe's mission to spread his traditional music with others has never changed. Thanks to him many know about Andean Music and its importance. He is an…
Bolivian Instrument
Bolivian instrument
Pepe Plays
Pepe is always ready to show someone how his instruments sound and to teach about the origins of an instrument. His passion for Andean Music is always present.
Tour of Instruments
Pepe takes the time to show us the instruments in his collection. He shared with us the origins of many of his instruments, and even told us stories of how he acquired some of them.
The Collection
The collection
Charango and Pipes
The staples of Andean Music. A genre of music that has survived so many years. In pre-columbian South America music was thought of as sacred. It was used in agricultural and religious rituals and wars. Thanks to musicians like Pepe Santana, we can…
Pepe's Instruments
Pepe's instruments
String Collection on the Wall
A portion of Pepe Santana's collection of stringed instruments from around the world hand in a wall display.
The Flutes
The flutes
Strings Close Up 2
Strings close up 2
After the Interview
Pepe, Francisco and I pose at Pepe's Stanhope home after the interview. I left the interview with a completely different view on what culture means and how its changing in our modern-day world. I left with more appreciation for traditional musicians…
Pepe Santana Oral History Excerpt - Andean Identity
In this clip Pepe talks about the "Andean identity" and how important it is for Andeans to take pride in their culture. Pepe fears that if Andeans don't take advantage of all they have to offer to share it with the world, that the culture will be…
Panpipes
Pepe plays the Panipes, an Andean music staple instrument. What is most spectacular is that Pepe seamlessly plays two pipes at the same time. As you can tell by the audience's reactions they were impressed!
A Heartbeat
Pepe Santana explains to the audience the importance of the drum-the heart beat of a song. It helps us to feel the song not only just hear it.
An Andean Song
Pepe Santana sings an Andean song. It was the first time that the audience heard Pepe sing a song in an indigenous language. There was a great silence in the room making it known that the audience was moved by the new and unfamiliar music they were…
Oral History with José Gabriel Muñoz - Cuatrista
On October 20, 2019, Raíces Cultural Center had the honor of conducting an oral history interview with cuatrista José Gabriel Muñoz. Download a PDF of the full oral history interview transcript here: José Gabriel Muñoz Interview Transcript
Excerpt: Classical Music Demonstration on Cuatro
Cuatrista José Gabriel Muñoz demonstrates how the cuatro is interpreted with classical music.An excerpt from Cello Suite No.1 by J.S. Bach interpreted by José Gabriel Muñoz. The Cello Suite was transposed and arranged on the cuatro by Alvin Medina.…
José Gabriel Muñoz
José Gabriel Muñoz speaks about his experiences as a cuatrista.
After the Interview
José Gabriel Muñoz speaking with Raíces Cultural Center director Francisco G. Gómez after his oral history interview with the Raíces Digital Archive Crew
Playing Cuatro
José Gabriel Muñoz gave the Raíces Digital Archive crew a short private concert after his oral history interview.
Cuatro - Close Up
Close up José Gabriel Muñoz’s modern ten-string cuatro while he plays after his oral history interview for the Raíces Digital Archive.
Ten Stringed Cuatro
The Puerto Rican cuatro is unofficially known as the national instrument of Puerto Rico. It is used to play the traditional jíbaro music of the mountains of Puerto Rico.