music style: son tradicional

This is a traditional son played in a traditional septet format, using clave
as the basic measure of its tempo. The clave is the fundamental beat
structure on which all Cuban music rests.

music style: son-guajira

Rendered in traditional son with guitar, tres and bass. Son (lit. "sound") is one of the most popular and influential Cuban musical forms. Migrating musicians brought son west to Havana in the 1920's, where it exploded in popularity.

music style: cha cha cha

A typical cha cha cha, but with an orchestration in the charanga style, using cords and flute. The charanga was the first musical format in Cuba.

music style: bolero-feeling

Although The Beatles may not have used tumbadoras when they played this tune, they are central to the feeling style inherent in the song. El feeling is a bolero with a jazz harmony.

music style: guajira-pilón

Lucy In The Sky starts with guajira-typical to countryfolk- and suddenly hits into a vigorous pilón. The guajira is usually soft and sweet. Pilón, on the otherhand, another typical but quite forgotten rhythm easy to dance to, is fitting for the chorus.

music style: guaguancó

Internationally famous percussion group Los Papines perform one of Cuba's most African rooted musical beats: el guaguancó.

music style: son (a capella)

The fundamental element of the son is a rhythmic pattern called clave (lit. "key"). Played on two wooden sticks, called claves, this repetitive beat is the foundation upon which all other musical elements are structured. Most contemporary salsa is based on son.

music style: son-güajira

The only piece where the clave was somewhat forced, because it is structured on a 2/4 tempo. Two beats were added to give it the son flavor.

music style: reggae-son

A blend of Jamaican reggae with Cuban son makes for a hip swinging Eleanor Rigby.

music style: traditional son

music style: danzón

Untraditionally, this danzón includes song. The danzón was a ballroom dance style of the cul-tured class. In this version the piece preserves the structure of the danzón with its use of baqueteo, bass, piano, and flute.

music style: bolero-son

With the inclusion of clave and bongo, The Beatles seem to have attempted a son. Blended with bolero in this version, the piece acquires a tempo that sweeps the dancefloor.

music style: cha cha cha

A cha cha cha played with metals.

music style: bolero-cha cha cha

music style: columbia

The columbia is like a guagancó, but very slow and sensual. The percussions here are rendered entirely vocal, by Vocal LT.

music style: bolero-guaguancó-conga/son-bolero

Because of the romántic use of the guitar, this piece starts with a bolero in the trio style, but not in full as it would sound unbalanced with all the orchestration that comes later. From bolero it moves into guaguanco, and from there to conga. The rock portion in
the original Beatles version is resolved using conga and then guaguancó.
The End portion of the trilogy uses a blend of son and bolero.