Experiencing Havana's Music: A Cultural-Historical Immersion
IREMU-UT 1819.001 | 4 units | Instructor: Ned Sublette | Collaborating Scholar: Caridad Diez
Taught by New York City-based scholar and longtime Clive Davis Institute instructor Ned Sublette in collaboration with Havana-based Latin Grammy-winning music producer Caridad Diez, the class will revolve around Havana’s Cubadisco music festival taking place during the first week of the program. Students should expect an intense but rewarding schedule of events. Students will meet some of the most interesting artists in the world and are scheduled to attend field trips to sites like Regla and Mantanzas.
Class discourse will unfold through daily lectures and discussions incorporating elements of a wide range of disciplines to offer the student the chance to shape his or her personal vision of the culture of the grand 500-year-old city of Havana. Class sessions will feature visits from distinguished musical guests as well as dance lessons, as music and dance in Cuban culture are often intricately connected.
The intellectual approach will be Postmamboist, i.e., taking music as the center of understanding and using music to interrogate other disciplines. Knowledge of Spanish is not required, nor is prior study of music required, although either of those will enhance the student’s experience considerably.
