Beagle Channel in the Patagonia

Beagle Channel in the Patagonia

February 10, 2013

SONGS FROM SPANISH AMERICA THAT ARE SPECIAL TO ME



HOW TO START?




My Blog group has issued a new prompt for the Blog Hop called Writer’s Post.

The Theme is centered on “My Special Song”


Well that should be easy, after all I studied music for lots of years, I play the piano, I have sung in choirs big and small all my life!


But wait, how do I choose? There are so many that are “special” for me, and I have so many favorites! There’s classical, popular, traditional, spiritual, and so on.


I could mention “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” sung by a men’s choir, preferably Welsh!


Or how about “Abide with Me”?


Or Beethoven’s “Ode to Happiness”?


Or all the Carlos Gardel Classics?  No, no, I wrote about the Argentine Tango just recently


Well, I have to start somewhere, or I will never finish this post. I also need to remember that my Blog is a Semblance of Spanish America.


So let’s start!



SONGS FROM SPANISH AMERICA THAT ARE SPECIAL TO ME.



The music of Spanish America is rich in variety. There’s music from the Caribbean area, from the high Andes, from the Patagonia and a lot more in between.


Many music styles and forms of dance have been exported to other latitudes. I could mention the bolero, the tango, the chachacha, the cumbia, the mambo, and so on.


I seem to prefer the more southern tones and rhythms, maybe because I live in the Southern Cone of South America.


After much deliberation, I managed to whittle my list down to seven songs; then I took drastic measures and cut it down to two. I hope you enjoy them!






EL CÓNDOR PASA (The Flight of the Condor)




This is a very traditional melody from the high Andes of the Peru-Bolivia area. It is only meant for instruments, basically the panpipes and the rain-stick, the charango and maybe the odd drum. The tune represents the flight of the Andean Condor


This creation belongs to the Quechua tradition, and I have found a video that shows the people playing their music, the instruments they use, their form of dress, and impressive background of the Andes, including Machu Picchu.


THE ZAMPOÑA





Source: US Air Force, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons


I definitely prefer this version to another adaption that became popular in the US some years ago! The tune itself will always sound “catchy”, but the words… oh dear! I’d better not comment on that!


So, here is the video for EL CONDOR PASA.  Enjoy!









 I could look at this video and listen for hours, I guess!





SAPO CANCIONERO.




This is my second choice; it’s an original in the style of the “zamba argentina”, not to be confused with the Brazilian samba.


It belongs to a famous musical group called “Los Chalchaleros” They have been in existence since about 1948, with over 50 LPs that have been international hits. They play a type of song that represents the Argentine pampas, where the “gaucho” is king.


The present singers are not the original ones, but they have kept their style and tone very faithfully through the years. They have many beautiful melodies, and when I hear them I go right back to my years at University, I spent hours studying while listening to their songs. I also used to play several of their tunes on my guitar. So this is Memory Lane for me!


I should explain that this type of zamba is not really intended for dancing, I think it could be classified as a ballad. To me, it’s just beautiful folk music that comes from the heart.


I found a video I like, the style is simple and direct- no flashing lights, the singers wear their gaucho outfits with pride, and it’s easy to see the instruments in action. Enjoy!












SOME FINAL THOUGHTS.



I do so hope the sounds and the rhythms of these two beautiful examples of the music of Spanish America do not sound too strange to your ears!


I would be really happy to learn that the readers of this blog can get to like this type of melody, although I admit this music does not conform to anything that is commonly heard in the northern hemisphere.





SPANISH VERSION



(This Blog is bilingual)


Este post es la respuesta a un desafío propuesto por mi grupo de Blogueros y Blogueras. A disfrutar!



MELODIAS DE LA AMERICA HISPANA QUE SON ESPECIALES PARA MI



La música de la América Hispana presenta una gran riqueza en cuanto a su variedad. Hay música del Caribe, de las alturas Andinas, de la Patagonia, y de múltiples latitudes intermedias.

Muchos estilos musicales y formas de baile han sido exportados a otras latitudes. Puedo mencionar el bolero, el tango, el chachachá, la cumbia, el mambo, y tantos otros.

Al parecer mis preferencias se inclinan por los tonos y ritmos más bien sureños, quizás porque he vivido toda mi vida en el llamado Cono Austral de Sud América.

Después de mucho deliberar, logré reducir mi lista de favoritos de todos los tiempos a sólo siete canciones. Luego tomé drásticas medidas y elegí sólo dos. Espero que sean de tu agrado!



EL CÓNDOR PASA.


Esta es una melodía muy tradicional de las alturas andinas de la región Perú-Bolivia. Su interpretación es básicamente instrumental, donde se emplean las flautas tradicionales, el palo de agua, el charango y uno que otro tambor. La melodía representa el vuelo del Cóndor de los Andes.


Esta creación pertenece a la tradición quechua, y encontré un video que muestra a los intérpretes tocando su música, los instrumentos que utilizan, su forma de vestir y el impresionante telón de fondo de la Cordillera de los Andes, incluyendo vistas de Machu Picchu.

Prefiero mil veces esta versión a aquella adaptación que se hizo popular en los EE.UU. hace algunos años! La melodía siempre resultará atractiva, pero la letra… oh, mejor no me referiré a ese punto!

Bueno, aquí va EL CÓNDOR PASA. A disfrutar!




Me parece que podría pasar horas mirando y escuchando este video!




SAPO CANCIONERO.



Esta es mi segunda selección, su estilo es el de la “zamba argentina”, no confundir con la samba de Brasil.

Es una canción original de un famoso grupo musical llamado “Los Chalchaleros”. Este grupo fue creado por el año 1948, y ha publicado más de 50 LP que han sido hits internacionales. Interpretan un tipo de canción que representa la pampa argentina, donde el “gaucho” es rey.

Los cantantes del presene no son los que iniciaron este grupo, pero han permanecido fieles a su estilo y su tono a través de los años. Tienen melodías preciosas, y cuando los escucho vuelvo imaginariamente a mis años de Universidad, cuando pasé horas de estudio acompañada por la música de este conjunto. Incluso solía tocar algunas de sus melodías en mi guitarra, de modo que este es un Viaje del Recuerdo para mi!

Quizás es bueno explicar que este tipo de zamba no está destinado a ser bailado, es más bien una balada. Para mí, es una producción del folclor que surge del corazón.

Encontré un video de mi agrado, el estilo es simple y directo – no hay golpes de iluminación – los músicos usan sus atuendos de gaucho con orgullo y es posible observar los instrumentos en acción. A disfrutar!



COMENTARIOS FINALES.


Espero de todo corazón que los sonidos y ritmos de estos bellísimos ejemplos de la música de la América Hispanas no hayan resultados extraños para tus oídos.
Me haría muy feliz saber que mis amigos del Hemisferio Norte han llegado a querer este tipio de músiao así como la quiero yo.



More about similar topics in a future post.      Más sobre temas similares en un próximo post.



LANGUAGE TIPS FOR ENGLISH



Words that go together!  * Do the cooking   - * Catch a bus  - * Take a look   - * Pay a fine   – * Keep calm 




LANGUAGE TIPS FOR SPANISH.


Expresiones de uso frecuente: * Caer en saco roto - * Ese es otro cantar  - *  Hacer visita de médico



How is your level of comprehension?          ¿Cómo está su nivel de comprensión?


© 2012  joanveronica  (Joan Robertson)


I will be very happy to receive your comments! Just click the word “comments” lower down.






 



6 comments:

  1. How very interesting Joan! I love the pipes in the first video :) I could listen to that all day! Thanks for sharing :)

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    1. Hi Mary, so nice to have you visit my post! And i'm delighted that you liked the videos, and yes, the pipes are really something! Thanks again!

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  2. Love El Condor Pasa - it has such a great tune and I loved the video. Thanks for sharing and linking up to my prompt.

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    1. Hi Suzy, I don't now how I missed this comment! Anyway, thanks for visiting, and have a good day!

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  3. Joan this is a wonderful and informative post. Sorry I'm late getting here...thank you for adding your wonderful blog to the Thursday Favorite Things hop. xo

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    1. Hi Katherine, so happy to have you visit my post! I know you have a long list of posts on your hop, the last I saw was well over 200, so congratulations and thanks for taking the time to comment! I hope to be on the next one too, but I need to plan a bit first! See you around!

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