My Blog

NEWS!! We have the best clavijeros/ tuning machines for your stringed instruments.

Mon, 25 May 2009 08:00:56 -0400

Give your instrument nothing but the best. Wether it’s a Puerto Rican Cuatro, Tiple, Cuban Tres, Puerto Rican Tres, Bordonua, Cuban Cuatro, Steel String guitar, Mandolin, dulcimer...basically any steel stringed instrument that needs horizontal tuners...well look no further. We have them. These are lightweight and beautiful. We have them in:

Gold with Black or Pearloid knobs
($9.98 each tuner)
or
Chrome with Black or Pearloid knobs
($8.04 each tuner)

If interested in purchasing these tuners for your instrument make sure to let us know the type of tuner, type of knob and how many left and rights you need. You would then be invoiced for the order.

If you are an instrument builder and would like to apply for an account and get builder pricing send us a request at info@riverainstruments.com and we will send you a dealer application.

To purchase or more information contact RiveraInstruments at:

info@riverainstruments.com

Tune in for more information on The 4th Annual Festival Del Cuatro in California on Saturday, November 14, 2009

Mon, 25 May 2009 07:50:27 -0400

Come to the Fourth Annual Festival Del Cuatro in California

This year, the Festival the festival will take place in three mayor cities in California:

“Cuatro con Trovadora”

Friday November 13, 2009 in San Diego
Saturday November 14, 2009 in Los Angeles
Sunday November 15, 2009 in San Francisco

We will feature great cuatristas like Yomi Matos and Alvin Medina. And directly from Puerto Rico we will have Yezenia Cruz, one of the great Trovadoras from the Island that will delight you with her traditional and popular music from Puerto Rico.

Stay tuned for Venue information.

For further information e-mail us at info@festivaldelcuatro.org
or visit the Festival Del Cuatro website at www.festivaldelcuatro.org

The Festival Del Cuatro Organization
www.festivaldelcuatro.org

Diomedes “Yomi” Matos

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:06:56 -0400

Yomi Matos has dedicated his life to promoting the arts and Puerto Rican culture. In Yomi’s case, not only he is an outstanding performer with the guitar, cuatro, tres and requinto but he has dedicated his time to “pass on” a tradition from one generation to another. The building of the Puerto Rican Cuatro. Several students have had the honor to apprentice with Yomi.

I happen to have been one of those students. I was Yomi’s first apprentice. I was the recipient of a Puerto Rican folk art tradition, building the Puerto Rican Cuatro. An honor I can not begin to describe.

To be guided by such an outstanding individual through the process of building these beautiful instruments is beyond description. It all started as an apprenticeship via a folk arts apprenticeship program grant awarded to us by the New Jersey State Council on the arts. I received two consecutive awards to learn how to build the Puerto Rican cuatro. What started as a commitment of 80 hours of his time, turned out to over 2 years and countless hours of discussion and talks about cuatro construction. To this day, Yomi and I share a wonderful friendship. And on occasion I would call up on the “Master” and ask the question....”What do I do here?” :-)

To me Yomi has been a positive example, a friend and mentor. Over the years I’ve earned his affection, respect and love for our friendship and relationship. Now that we are so far from each other, I long for those countless hours we would spend building and playing the cuatros.

An experience I will never forget! I am a devoted admirer of his work and actually own one of his cuatros! Hat’s off to Yomi.

As they say in Puerto Rico, “a Yomi hay que sacarle la marota aparte”.

The Festival Del Cuatro organization cordially invites you to The 3rd Annual Festival Del Cuatro in California on Saturday, November 15, 2008

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:18:29 -0400

Come to the Third Annual Festival Del Cuatro in California on Saturday, November 15, 2008 at Scripps College in Claremont California!

This year, the Festival will honor Puerto Rican women and all women who struggle in supporting a cause.

Thus we will feature three of the best Cuatro players in the world, all who happen to be women: Emma Colón Zayas, Maribel Delgado, and Nelian Colón. They will perform traditional Puerto Rican music on Puerto Rico’s national instrument, the Cuatro. The event address is:

Garrison Theatre (Scripps College)
231 E. 10th Street (corner of Dartmouth)
Claremont, CA 91711

Doors will open at 6 pm. For further information or tickets e-mail us at info@festivaldelcuatro.org or visit the Festival Del Cuatro website at www.festivaldelcuatro.org

The Festival Del Cuatro Organization
www.festivaldelcuatro.org