Golden Age of Exotica, collected by Henk Braaksma.
The Harpists of PARAGUAY Part 12 (Final)
On 8 June 2010, the then President of Paraguay FERNANDO LUGO MÉNDEZ officially proclaimed the harp of Paraguay as ‘The Symbol of the Musical Culture of Paraguay’. The harp, which was brought to South America by the Jesuits from Spain and Ireland around 1700, developed differently in playing style in South American countries such as Mexico, Venezuela and especially Paraguay. Around the year 1950, the harp in its perfect form was introduced to the West (the Old World) by Paraguay and caused a true revolution. It had become such a beautiful instrument, with such a pure tone. Hundreds of ensembles travelled to Europe, of which the Trío Los Paraguayos became the most famous. All folk music from Paraguay was played with the harp and thus this harp became an indispensable attribute of this music. Yet even in Paraguay, progress could not be stopped and the harp threatened to be replaced by the electronic keyboard. This, of course, could not be allowed to happen, and with combined efforts, propaganda, education and annual six-day festivals the harp was eventually upgraded to the status it acquired with the proclamation of 8 June 2010.
In this 12th and final instalment, we present another random selection from the immense range of harp music from Paraguay. Randomly, because most of the episodes you have listened to so far came from the compiler’s collection. He has never been to Paraguay and certainly not in recent years. However, the use of the Paraguayan harp in Paraguayan folk music has remained unchanged and is maintained by Festivals, Congresses and TV programmes. Nowadays, the Internet is also a source of information. With this 12th broadcast, we have featured 30 harpists, although there are hundreds more. The 5 artists you will be hearing today also have great track records, they have produced many records and were active in Europe, America and the Middle East for a long time. AMADEUS MONGES, for example, had already been recorded in the Netherlands in 1960 with the popular LOS TRES SUDAMERICANOS featuring MARCELINO ROMERO. Even the Dutch HENK BOUMAN was regularly featured on the radio. RITO PEDERSEN, SERGIO CUEVAS and PABLO MOREL (PABLITO); we could easily dedicate a whole programme to the latter, nephew of FÉLIX PÉREZ CARDOZO. As early as 1957, he was invited to Russia and later to LOS INCAS, which is not really a Paraguayan ensemble. Through various visas and passports from his government, he was given the opportunity to play all over Europe, America and Asia.
1 Naranjerita, polca (O.J. Sosa Cordero J. Osvaldo) CBS (Columbia) 8248 (1960)
2 Ensueño de claro lunar, guarania (Cirilo R. Zayas G. de Arroyos)
CBS (Columbia) 8248 (1960) 06
3 Pájaro campana (vocal) (Motivo onomatopéyico (Arr. FPC)
Columbia EX 5098 (1963)
4 Barrilito de cerveza – Amadeo, Monges, harpista – Arpa y Ritmo (1962)
5 Moliendo café (Hugo Blanco) – Amadeo, Monges, harpista Arpa y Ritmo (1962)
6 Segunda zona ((Amadeo, Monges) Entre Polkas y Galopas (Amadeo, Monges, harpista)
7 Luna llena (D. García) – Dúo SALTAO (Henk Bouman) – Las Golondrinas
8 Oda a Máxima (Henk Bouman) – Dúo SALTAO (Henk Bouman) Las Golondrinas
9 San José de Los Arroyos, harpsolo (Albero Romero Ruiz Díaz) Marcelino Romero (Los Amigos del Amambay) Ay Qué Paraguay Festival FLDX 507
10 Mi dicha lejana, guarania (Emigdio Ayala Baez) Marcelino Romero (Los Amigos del Amambay) Carnavalito – Polydor 46351 LPHM
11 Marinerito, polca paraguaya (William Ribeira) Marcelino Romero (Los Amigos del Amambay) – Carnavalito Polydor 46351 LPHM
12 Apytavo che año-mí, polca (Ramón Mendoza) – Rito Pedersen Fuentes Vol. 2
13 Despertar, guarania (Maneco Galleano) – Rito Pedersen Fuentes Vol. 2
14 Suceso (Pedro Gamarra) – Rito Pedersen – Fuentes Vol. 2
15 Gracielita (Quintín Irala P. Boloqui) ARION ‘A Musical World Tour’
16 Lágrimas, guarania (Chacha Linda) The Artistry of Sergio Cuevas –
UAI (Barclay) UNS 15558
17 Ne’ a rory (Sergio Cuevas) – Sergio Cuevas L’Amérique Latine (Vol. 4) –
Barclay 930.047
18 La del chancho, gato (Argentine-Ouest) (poeme Angel Sanábria) L’Amérique du Soleil – Philips Réalités V. 29
19 Jarabe tapatío, jarabe-mexicano (Trad.) – Pablito (Pablo Morel)y Sus Trovadores Paraguayos – Vogue (D-LP) 304-LDA.4505
20 Maruchi, orchidea-Paraguay (Pablo Morel Vazquez) – Pablito (Pablo Morel)
y Sus Trovadores Paraguayos – Vogue (D-LP) 304-LDA.4505
21 La guerra de Los Vargas, joropo (Venezuela) – Pablo Morel (Pablito)
(Los Incas) – L’Amérique du Soleil – Philips Réalités V. 29
22 Concierto en la Llanura, pasaje-Venezolana (Juan Vicente Torrealba)
Pablito (Pablo Morel) y Sus Trovadores Paraguayos Vogue (D-LP) 304-LDA.4505
