Golden Age of Exotica, collected by Henk Braaksma.
The Harpists of PARAGUAY Part 3
On 8 June 2010 the then president of Paraguay, Fernando Lugo Méndez, officially proclaimed Paraguay’s harp as ‘The Symbol of Paraguay’s Musical Culture’. The harp was brought from Spain to South America by the Jesuits around the year 1700 and developed differently in South American countries like Mexico, Venezuela, but especially Paraguay, particularly in playing style. Around 1950, Paraguay introduced the harp in its perfect form to the West where it caused a true revolution. It had become such a beautiful instrument and so pure in tone. Hundreds of ensembles went to Europe – of which the Trío Los Paraguayos became the most famous. All folk music in Paraguay was played with the harp, so it became an indispensable attribute of this music. Nevertheless, also in Paraguay, progress could not be halted and the harp was in danger of being supplanted by the electronic keyboard. However, that could not happen, and with combined efforts, the harp was eventually upgraded by propaganda, education, and festivals to the status it was eventually given by the proclamation of 8 June 2010.
We will continue with Gerardo Servín for now, but afterwards we will focus on Lorenzo Leguizamón. He had a great career and played together with the man who is at the heart of everything in Paraguay; Félix Pérez Cardozo. He once proclaimed to the public: “This man will be my successor.” These words turned out to be prophetic. Two years later, Félix suddenly died at the age of 44 and Lorenzo Leguizamón took over leading the ensemble for years. You will see the influence of Lorenzo in Paraguay’s music world everywhere and the number of his recordings is huge.
Playlist:
1) La tropilla, chacarera – [Gerardo Servín 009] – Los Calchakis
(Andrés A.Chazarreta) – Flutes, Harpe et Guitares Indiennes – Arion 30 D 057 (1968)
2) Mitacuna mi – [Gerardo Servín 009] – Los Indios
(Gerardo Servín) La Harpe des Andes – Carabine 16128 GU / Barclay 9509.060
3) El negrito del Batey, merengue – [Gerardo Servín 009]
(Medardo Guzmán) (La Harpe des Andes) – Barclay 9509.060 (1974)
4) Pilarcita (Little star), kyre’yn [Lorenzo Leguizamón 010] – (Les Guaranis)(Lorenzo Leguizamón) – Rythmes d’amérique latine – Barclay 86.018 (1956)
5) Morena resa ivotí, purajhei [Lorenzo Leguizamón 010] – (Les Guaranis)(Melga Chase) – Rythmes d’amérique latine – Barclay 86.018 (1956)
6) Ycuá potrero, kyre’yn – [Lorenzo Leguizamón 010] – (Les Guaranis)
( Lorenzo Leguizamón) – Rythmes d’amérique latine – Barclay 86.018 (1956)
7) Pupi, polca – [Lorenzo Leguizamón 010]
(Lorenzo Leguizamón) – Y Su Conjunto Típico Paraguayo – Philips P 08287 L
8) San Ramón, polca – [Lorenzo Leguizamón 010] (En guitarras Demetrio Ortiz y Jovito García)(D.Ortiz/J.García) – Y Su Conjunto Típico Paraguayo Philips P 08287 L
9) Caraí Fermín, polca – [Lorenzo Leguizamón 010] – Trío de Oro
(Ledesma/Arce/Vera) – Fiesta Campestre en el Paraguay – Philips P 13950 L
10) Rubio Ñú, polca – [Lorenzo Leguizamón 010] – Trío de Oro
(Ledesma/Arce/Vera) – Fiesta Campestre en el Paraguay – Philips P 13950 L
11) Kurucäu vevé (Vuelo de Kurucäu), polca – [Lorenzo Leguizamón 010] – Trío de Oro(Ledesma/Arce/Vera / L.Leguizamón) – Fiesta Campestre en el Paraguay – Philips P 13950 L
12) Barcino coli, polca – [Lorenzo Leguizamón 010] – Trío de Oro
(E.R.Fernández/A.C.Saldívar) – Fiesta Campestre en el Paraguay – Philips P 13950 L
13) Che paraje cue (Mi ex-paraje), vocal – [Lorenzo Leguizamón 010] – Rubito Larramendia( E.R.Fernández/Félix P.Cardozo) – Ay Qué Paraguay – Festival FLDX 507
14) Vapor cué – [Lorenzo Leguizamón 010] – Dúo Vargas-Saldívar
(Zoilo F. Cantero – Eulalio Iglesias) – Vargas–Saldívar – Magenta 13.064
15) La que dejé, polca – [Lorenzo Leguizamón 010] – Aníbal Lovera
(Modesto Pérez/Ocampo/D.Ortiz) – A Mi Paraguay – Marpar 33.306
16) Mi pobre vida, polca canción – [Lorenzo Leguizamón 010] – Aníbal Lovera(Armando Rivero/Ramón Arroyo) – Josefina – Marpar 33.301
17) Al regresar, polka – [Lorenzo Leguizamón 010] – Papi Meza
(E.R.Fernández/B.Cáceres) – Dulce Recuerdo – RCA Camden CAS 3388 (S)
18) Yeroky yma, polka-instrumental – [Lorenzo Leguizamón 010] – Papi Meza(J.Alarcón) – Dulce Recuerdo – RCA Camden CAS 3388 (S)
19) Taperé, canción – [Lorenzo Leguizamón 010] – Aníbal Lovera
(Ortiz/Mayanz/Pérez Cardozo) – A Mi Paraguay – Marpar 33.306
