folk holidays

A CAPPELLA MIXED CHOIR USING BEATBOX INSTEAD OF DRUMS

AFRO-VENEZUELAN RHYTHMS IN A STIRRING VOCAL PERFORMANCE BY YOUNG SINGERS

Tradition, yes, we carry it in our hearts, but we are young and we like hip hop, pop, calypso and reggaeton, so we will take the old music in our own way, said the nine singers, dazzled by the richness of Afro-Venezuelan rhythms, but they replaced the drums with beatboxing and vocal drumming. Even though you have an a cappella choir in front of you, that doesn't necessarily mean you should remain seated and forget about dancing during the concert. In fact, Ensamble B11 downright tempts you to do so at times, and when the voices are eventually joined by real drummers and musicians every now and then, you don't really have a choice. 

The Bigott Foundation, a private institution dedicated to promoting Venezuelan traditional music, is operating in the capital, Caracas. A cultural centre aimed at young people organises educational workshops, lectures and concerts. The Ensamble B11 choir, led by teacher and singer Belkys Figuera, is considered the institution's flagship and now internationally successful choir. "We are presenting traditional Venezuelan music in a fresh format with the intention of attracting the interest of young people who would otherwise prefer foreign pop music," explained Belkys Figuera of the ensemble's intention to simultaneously explore other Latin American and Caribbean rhythms and genres in the form of a modern vocal ceremony based on an ancestral heritage.