Cimarrón

Saturday, October 2, 2010
Showtime 11:30am
at Martin Library
in honor of National Hispanic Month

Skip funding acknowledgments and go to event details »

Made possible in part by a grant from Target Foundation.

Performer hospitality provided by our host venue, The Yorktowne Hotel.

A part of our Martin Library series, presented in cooperation with Martin Library.

High velocity roots music with a dynamite kick!

Cimarrón (seem - arrr - ON) is a seven-piece ensemble specializing in joropo, the colorful folkloric music and dance from Colombia, South America. Joropo is characterized by fast, complex rhythms played on harp, bandola (guitar) and cuatro (lute) accompanied by bass, cajon (box drum) and maracas. The percussive dancing and colorful costumes create a festive mood.

Los Llanos Orientales are vast plains that stretch from Colombia into Venezuela, and joropo is the music of its people -- ranchers descended from Spanish settlers, African slaves and indigenous peoples. The men have long sung to accompany their tasks of herding cattle and milking. Consequently, joropo song has a masculine character, with themes drawn from the male-dominated cattle-ranching lifestyle. Yet today, one of the most renowned joropo singers is a woman: Cimarrón's vocalist Ana Veydó.

Cimarrón is the most accomplished folkloric group in Colombia. Under the direction of harpist and composer Carlos Rojas, they have been working for over twenty years and have performed the world over. These musicians and dancers are immersed in the sounds of their culture. They seek to explore and experiment with their rich traditions while retaining the essence of their heritage.

To Learn More...

• Visit Cimarrón’s website (with music samples and more video links)
• Visit their agent's website (with music samples and more video links)