Harp players of PARAGUAY, part 1
On 8 June 2010, the president of Paraguay at that time, Fernando Lugo Méndez, officially proclaimed the harp of Paraguay ‘The Symbol of the Musical Culture of Paraguay’. The harp was brought from Spain to South America by Jesuits around the year 1700. The harp developed differently in different South American countries such as Mexico, Venezuela and especially Paraguay, particularly in playing style. Around the year 1950, Paraguayan musicians introduced the harp in its perfect form in the West, and caused a real revolution. What a beautiful instrument it had become, and so pure in tone. Really hundreds of ensembles travelled to Europe, of which Trío Los Paraguayos became the most famous. All folk music from Paraguay was played using a harp, which therefore became an indispensable instrument for this music. Nevertheless, also in Paraguay progress could not be stopped, and the harp threatened to be pushed out by electronic keyboards. This was not allowed to happen, and through combined efforts (propaganda, schooling and festivals) the harp was finely revalued to the status it got through the proclamation of 8 June 2010.
It is sometimes said that every Paraguayan can play the harp, naturally, this is an exaggeration. But it is true that the country buzzes with ensembles in which the harp, or the accordion, have the principal part. In the next few programmes, we will play as many famous harpists as possible. The programmes could become monotonous if we would only play virtuoso solos by them. Therefore, we will look for music in which also the ensembles as a whole are spotlighted, and in which also singing plays an important role (as far as we know).
Playlist:
1 Bohemio [Digno García]
(Digno García) – Philips 842 013 PY (1967)
2 Lucerito Alba [Digno García]
(Eladio Martínez) TRÍO PARAGUAYO – 78 record (1954)
3 Cascada [Digno García]
Digno García Los Paraguayos – Philips P 10403 R (1954)
4 A mis dos amores [Digno García]
(Digno García) – LOS INDIOS – Philips P 10422 R (1955)
5 Por tu gracia Angelical, polca [Digno García]
(C.R.Zayas/Ch.de Nicolás) – LOS INDIOS – Philips P 10422 R (1955)
6 Purajhei chu=í, polka-paraguayo [Digno García]
(H.Jiménez/Cardozo/Ocampo) – and His Paraguayan Trio -Fontana 846 114 ACY (1956)
7 Saludos Asturias [Digno García]
(Digno García) – Holiday in Spain – HEP HN 4341(1981)
8 La bailarina, harpsolo [Abel Sánchez Giménez]
(Abel Sánchez Giménez) – LOS INDIOS – Fontana 661 000 TR (1955)
9 Camino de Caäcupé [Abel Sánchez Giménez]
(J.Alfonso/F.de Val) – LOS INDIOS – Fontana 661 000 TR (1955)
10 Torbellino [Juan Alfonso Montiel (JOHNNY MONTE)]
(Juan Alfonso Montiel) – TV (Japan) (1977)
11 Isla Saca, galopa/harpsolo [José de Los Santos González] (Félix Pérez Cardozo) – LOS PARAGUAYOS – Philips (25) P 10119 R (1957)
12 Canto de peregrino, vocal [José de Los Santos González](E.Méndez) – Philips 840201 BT (1958)
13 Pájaro chogüí [José de Los Santos González]
(Indio Pitagüá) – Los Paraguayos – Philips 840213 BY (1961)
14 Arpeada [José de Los Santos González y Rodolfo Órtiz]
(Sango) – Los Embajadores Paraguayos – MFP 5474 (1970) 15 Caraí Germán [José de Los Santos González y Rodolfo Órtiz](Villa Mayor) – Los Embajadores Paraguayos – MFP 5474 (1970)
16 Campamento Cerro León [Rodolfo Ortiz]
(D.Paredes/A.Piñanez) – L.A. del Paraná y LOS PARAGUAYOS – Philips 840270 BY (1967)
17 Colorado, Live ! [Rodolfo Ortiz] (F.P.Cardozo (motivo popular) – REYNALDO MEZA y LOS PARAGUAYOS Weltbild Music (CD2-07 (1970)
