Wednesday, January 24, 2024
John Anthony Theater
More about The Pan-Tones here.
Guadalquivir
Guadalquivir is one of Spain’s most important rivers. This is an Andean folk tune, based on the recording by Los Caballeros (1974).
Alyse: I originally arranged this in 2015, when I joined Los Patos Poderosos (Peruvian chicha/cumbia band).
Potokito
“Citizens of Potosi” (Old Quechua dance)
Huayno, from Bolivia. From the album “Folklore de Bolivia, Vol. 2” (1994) by Ukamau, led by Hery Cortes.
Moonlight Densetsu
By Tetsuya Komoro (b. 1967), the theme song to the Japanese animated TV show Sailor Moon.
A: I remember watching this show on Cartoon Network when I was growing up.
Music from the original Pokémon video game
Opening Theme
Palette Town Theme
Battle (vs. Trainer)
Pokémon Center
By Junichi Masuda (b. 1968), from the Pokémon video game soundtrack (game released 1996).
A: I saved up for a (B&W) gameboy in 6th grade, and the Pokémon Blue game was one of the few games I had. These are tunes I remember from that time, and I believe some of them are still used in the current game.
Merry Go Round of Life
By Joe Hisaishi (b. 1950), from the 2004 Studio Ghibli animated film “Howl’s Moving Castle.”
A: I grew up as a Japanese American in Hawai’i. Studio Ghibli films are very popular there, and I loved this movie, especially Howl’s capricious yet charming character.
Naquele Tempo
“In that time” (1946), Brazilian choro by Pixinguinha and Benedito Lacerda (1903-1958), Brazilian flutist, composer, and conductor.
Proezas de Solon
Another lively tune by Pixinguinha and Benedito Lacerda. This tune was supposedly written in gratitude for Pixinguinha’s dentist, who solved a persistent toothache.
El Condor Pasa
By Daniel Alomia Robles (1871-1942). Based on recordings by Los Incas (1963) and Los Caballeros (1974).
The tune was originally a musical piece in the Peruvian zarzuela (musical play), El cóndor pasa.
Kacharpari
Based on recordings by Los Incas (re-released on a 2002 compilation) and Los Caballeros (1974).
More about the band Los Incas (aka Urubamba) here, which was directed by the Argentinian composer and world-renowned charanguista Jorge Milchberg (1928-2002).
Sinfonia No. 40
By Los Laikas, based on themes from Mozart’s Symphony No. 40. From their album Los Laikas 3 (1973).
Libertango
By Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992), arr. Klaus Jäckle and Robert Hokamp.
Ratita
“Little Mouse,” Carnivalito (Carnival Dance from Deni and Sta. Cruz), by Ukamau.
From the album liner notes: “In contrast to the original music of the Indians, stringed instruments dominate the musica criolla which developed under the recordings and rearrangements of European influence. Amongst these are the Carnival songs in which the ability of the Indians to inspire and their joy of life are reflected.”
In the original version, the melody is played on Zampoñas, a reed pipe, known in Europe as panflute. Since it takes time to physically move from one pipe to the next, the melody is split between two players to create a continuous musical line (and cool stereo effect!).
Unaimanta
“In other Times” (Dance of the Andes’ Aymaras), a traditional Bolivian tune, from Folklore de Bolivia, vol. 2.
From the album liner notes: “…the ancient tunes of the Aymaras did not yet know song. Their music was simple and abstract. Involuntarily one is reminded of the wind, or the majesty spaces of the high plateaux.”