The Charanga Handbook

The Charanga Handbook has everything for the flutist who wants to know more or do more with charanga: from "what is a charanga?" to history and style; from musical examples and arranging tips to 29 transcribed solos by charanga's greatest flutists; fingering charts, purchasing advice for getting started on the 5-key flute, and much more. Suitable for flutists playing at a high-school level through professionals, this is a readable and practical introduction to this rich and exciting cultural tradition.

The Charanga Handbook is a much-needed resource for flutists who want to learn and understand how to improvise in a very specific Latin dance musical language. The guide traces charanga's musical evolution from its popular Cuban music roots to New York City's salsa dance clubs. Most importantly, it clearly lays out the genre's foundational rhythmic patterns by which one can begin to develop the flute techniques to effectively perform within the genre. The guide provides solo flute transcriptions of the most renowned charanga flutists, including the seminal contributions of the three important women charangueras. This guide also provides fingering charts for both 5-key system wood flute, and extended range for Boehm system flutes. A discography, and a suggested reading for further study are included. I highly recommend this guide for any flutist wanting to extend their musical knowledge.

Flutist Jessica Valiente has performed with luminaries in the world of Latin music such as Orlando Marin, Ray Santos, Juan Carlos Formell, and Mauricio Smith. She made her mark as the musical director of the veteran New York City-based Latin jazz ensemble, Los Mas Valientes, which she has led since 1995. A passionate expert on charangas, she formed her own ensemble, Anaïsa, featuring members of Los Mas Valientes alongside her grown children—Miguel, Analisa, and Daphne—in a dynamic string section of talented, next-generation performers. Her doctoral research on charangas in New York City earned her an American Association of University Women Dissertation Fellowship in 2014. An esteemed charanga scholar and performer, she has since published influential articles on charanga and its history, organology and performance practice. She leads performance workshops for flutists and gives lectures throughout the US, sharing her deep expertise in charanga history and Latin-style improvisation for flutists.