Cuban family makes hundreds of musical instruments for schools

Record ID: 1423641

  • Title: Cuban family makes hundreds of musical instruments for schools
  • Date: 17th July 2019
  • Summary: POSTER THAT READS: (Spanish): "PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL OF ART 'EDUARDO ABELA'. ARTEMISA"
  • Embargoed: 31st July 2019 15:59
  • Keywords: Cuba luthiers music family instruments guitar maker
  • Location: HAVANA & ARTEMISA, CUBA
  • City: HAVANA & ARTEMISA, CUBA
  • Country: Cuba
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Music,Editors' Choice
  • Reuters ID: LVA003AO627GJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:A family of Cuban luthiers has produced more than 500 musical instruments for Cuban schools over the past five years in an unprecedented agreement with the country's ministry of culture, helping to fill a void in the state's own ability to produce musical instruments.
    In a workshop located in the courtyard of his house on the outskirts of Havana, among his dogs and the scent of mango trees, the luthiers of the "Guayabo" sociocultural project construct instruments using recycled raw materials: pieces of antique furniture found in remodelled churches, in demolitions, or in the rubbish.
    In Cuba, private luthiers are unable to purchase wood suitable for the manufacturing of instruments, so the only way the "Guayabo" can to do its job is to upcycle wood.
    They mainly construct Cuban "tres'' guitars -three string guitars and "lute," typical instruments of traditional Cuban music. The teaching of these typical instruments was first introduced into the syllabus at music elementary schools in recent years.
    In 2014, in the context of new measures introduced by former president Raul Castro to promote private work, the "Guayabo" project signed a contract with the state-owned National Centre of Art Schools to provide instruments to some 37 centres throughout the country.
    After the revolution led by Fidel Castro in 1959, members of the isolated workshops of luthiers that existed on the island at the time united to create a music industry with three factories.
    But this national industry cannot supply enough instruments to meet the needs of schools or professional instruments, after being hit by the same permanent economic crisis that affected other sectors of the country after the fall of the socialist bloc.
    The independent workshops of luthiers are resurfacing to meet these needs. However, some luthiers admit many professionals prefer to import their instruments than to commission them to a local workshop.
    International organizations such as "Luthiers Sin Fronteras" (Luthiers Without Borders) have supported the work of Cuban workshops. The Canada-Cuba Luthier Solidarity group, for example, provides the "Guayabo" project with key materials and tools that can't be recycled or purchased on the island.
    In Cuba, there is no school for the preparation or restoration of musical instruments. The job has been passed on from family to family and from generation to generation.
    (Production: Nelson Gonzalez, Anett Rios)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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