Artist Archives - Page 20 of 38 - Alliance for California Traditional Arts

Hayashi is a traditional Japanese percussion ensemble. Originating in Noh theater in the 14th century, hayashi also plays an important part in Kabuki theater. The core hayashi instruments are the kotsuzumi (a shoulder drum that produces low sounds), the okawa (a hand drum that makes very high sounds), and the…

Hoopa and Yurok Traditional Arts

Mutiple genres of traditional Mexican music rely on the sounds of stringed instruments, from mariachi’s guitarróns, vihuelas, and guitars, to son jarocho’s jaranas. The quality of music produced is a direct result of the quality of craftsmanship that went into the creation of the instrument, including the mastering of necessary…

Puerto Rican Bomba

West African Dance is the cultural, social, spiritual, and moral expression of African people. It is how values are expressedfor various life events including birth (naming ceremonies), growth and maturity (rites of passage), love and family (marriage rituals), social events, and death. African dance holds these traditions that are near…

Hindustani or North Indian classical music, a tradition that originated in the Vedic ritual chants, has been evolving since the 12th century. The sarod (or sarode) is a 25-stringed fretless instrument, used mainly in Indian classical music. Along with the sitar, it is among the most popular and prominent instruments…

The skakuhachi is a bamboo flute whose origin is in China but migrated to Japan around the sixth century. It was primarily played by Buddhist monks, who used it as a spiritual medium in order to master breathing techniques. The primary genres of shakuhachi are honkyoku (solo), sonkyoku (ensemble), and…

Hawaiian rich and ancient culture depends on plants, and still depends on them today. Native plants played a vital role in all aspects of life related to ancient Hawaiian culture. Learning about native Hawaiian plants and their medicinal and cultural uses has the capacity to connect Hawaii’s cultural past with…

Tsugaru shamisen is a three-stringed instrument which has its origins in the Tsugaru region of Aomori, Japan. The earliest form of shamisen made its way from China to Okinawa, Japan, in the 16th century. Of the three most common types of shamisen in Japan, the tsugaru shamisen is the largest…

Colombia’s Caribbean coast is host to a plethora of rhythms and musical styles. Many fall under the umbrella of cumbia, which is but one of a number of styles. In this region, the most commonly used instruments are the alegre, llamador, tambora, maracón, guacho, and gaita. Together, they represent the…