Golden Age of Exotica, compiled by Henk Braaksma.
Harpists of PARAGUAY. Part 4
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 in different ways in the South American countries such as Mexico, Venezuela, but especially Paraguay, particularly in playing style. Around 1950, Paraguay introduced the harp in its perfect form to the Western World 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 was not to 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.
This month, we start with a singing duo, but we have to admit that we don’t know who the harp player is. We play their music anyway, because there are many of such duos in Paraguay. Next, we present one of the few, and maybe the first, female harpist in Paraguay. She had a famous father who was very well-known among classical guitarists in the beginning of the last century: Agustín Barrios Mangoré. His surname was ‘Nitsuga’, funnily enough this is Agustín said backwards. After the story about Ada Valiente, the female harpist we also find as the first one in France, we stay in France to get acquainted with prodigy Nicolasito Caballero who was to become one of the most virtuoso and leading harpists of Paraguay.
Playlist :
1) Machupe guará, polca (Cristín Palma-Aristóbulo Aguil) – Dúo Aguilera-Britez – Cantares Del Paraguay – Asunción A 1000
2) Tres de mayo, kyre’yn (Ada Valiente, harpa) (Les Guaranis de Francisco Marín) – Barclay 8604
3) Mariposa mí, purajhei (Ada Valiente, harpa) (Les Guaranis de Francisco Marín) – Barclay 8604
4) Panambí, kyre’yn – (Ada Valiente, harpa) (Les Guaranis de Francisco Marín) – Barclay 8604
5) Danza Paraguaya (composed around 1925) recorded April 17, 1928 – Agustín Barrios (Mangoré)
6) Vals Nº 3 – Agustín Barrios (Mangoré)
7) Che mbo’e jhoarepe (Teodoro S.Mongelos-E.Méndez)- Ada Valiente (Los Guayakí) – Paraguay – Carrere 67 264
8) Romance guaraní, instrumental (Ada Valiente) – Ada Valiente (Los Guayakí) – Paraguay – Carrere 67 264
9) Eres bonita (Cirilo R. Zayas-Ch.de Nicola) – Ada Valiente (Los Guayakí) – Bel Air 211.333 M
10) Danza nativa (Ada Valiente) – Ada Valiente (Los Guayakí) – Bel Air 211.333 M
11) Melodía para tí, harpsolo (Pedro Gamarra) – Nicolasito Caballero (Echos of Paraguay) – Trío Paraguay Tropical – Collector Records JEP 3007 (1)
12) Ndarecoi la culpa (No tengo la culpa), polka (Mauricio Carodozo Ocampo) – Trío Paraguay Tropical – Vogue LD 408 (1960)
13) Flor de jazmín, harp solo (Nicolásito Caballero) – Echos of Paraguay – Trío Paraguay Tropical – Collector Records JEP 3007 (3)
14) Danza del colibrí (Nicolás Caballero) – Nicolás Caballero (El Prodigio del Arpa Paraguaya) – Marpar 33.328
15) Nocturne Opus 9 (Chopin, arrangement, Joka) – Nicolás Caballero (Concerto de Aranjuez-Zorba Le Grec) – Arcade ARC LP 205 (1979)
16) Cervecería americana (Teófilo Ochoa) – Nicolás Caballero (El Prodigio del Arpa Paraguaya) – Marpar 33.328
17) Melodía sin título (Martin Meyer) – Nicolás Caballero (Concerto de Aranjuez-Zorba Le Grec) – Arcade ARC LP 205 (1979)
18) Vuelo de pájaro (Nicolás Caballero) – Nicolás Caballero (El Prodigio del Arpa Paraguaya) Marpar 33.328
19) Josefina, polca (M.Cardozo Ocampo-G.Anice) – Nicolás Caballero – Aníbal Lovera con Nicolás Caballero – Chaco Borreal G.V. 9006 (1968)
20) Recuerdo de una noche, vals (Herminio Giménez) – Nicolás Caballero (Betty Figueredo con Nicolás Caballero) – Chaco Borreal G.V. 9006 (1968)
21) Arrorró Bibeca, canción (A.R.Patiño-M.Cardozo Ocampo) – Nicolás Caballero (Betty Figueredo y Aníbal Lovera con N. C.) – Chaco Borreal G.V. 9006 (1968)
22) Soldado del Chaco (Reinaldo Sosa-M.Cardozo Ocampo) (José Magno Soler, vocal) – Chaco-Ré Purajhei – N. Caballero – Marpar 33.332
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