SUITE “CANTACLARO”
In 2023, with the support of Norma Starter-Fonds, we were able to record our first LP: The Suite “Cantaclaro”. Named after the legendary character from the popular legend “Florentino and the Devil” it is a homage to the brave Fandangueros from the “Llanos”, the sub-amazonian plains of Colombia and Venezuela. The Suite consists of a set of two dances: an aristocratic Fandango from the XVIII century, and a Folk- Fandango called Pajarillo. The lyrics, by Horacio El “Cholo” Valderrama, praise the strong men of the Plains: rough cowboys who led the independency of the Bolivarian Countries. Original improvisations by members of the ensemble bring the pieces in relationship.
Prelude
Violinist and leader Camilo Arias starts with an improvised baroque prelude. Some of the material is borrowed from improvisations by Venezuelan Violinist Alexis Cardenas.
Antonio Soler (1729-1783): Fandango for Keyboard R.146
An original arrangement of the famous Fandango for Keyboard by Spanish court composer Father Antonio Soler is the main movement of the Suite.
Cadences
Original improvisations by Camilo Arias, Hugo Rodas and Ivan Gianakis from a third, slow- moevement. Some elements for the violin cadences are taken from the venerated Fandango Ensembles “Grupo Cimarrón” (Colombia) and “Los Camperos De Valles” (México) as a small tribute.
Llanero, sí soy llanero primo
Y el que quiera comprobarlo
Que vaya pa mi llanura
Y pregunte en la costa el Pauto
Como aprendí desde niño
A dominar un potranco
A ponerle un rejo a un toro
Coge´un novillo poel tallo
A patronea´una curiara
En las crecientes de mayo
A conocer el aguaje
Del pescao´ grande en el charco
Y la astucia del caimán
Velando altivo en el paso
Cover: “Llanero, Sí, Soy Llanero” - Pajarillo
A Colombo-Venezuelan Fandango, traditionally called pajarillo, closes the suite, paying tribute to its autor Horacio “El Cholo” Valderrama, and to their acclaimed performers “Grupo Cimarrón”
“Plainsman, Yes, I Am a Plainsman. And those who want to verify it Should go to my plains And ask in the coast of the Pauto River How I learned as a child To dominate a young horse To put a plowshare on a bull To catch a young bull by the tail To master a small boat In the floods of May To know the watering place Of the large fish in the pond And the astuteness of the alligator Proudly watching the way To the barking capybara That dives into the ravine river To the early morning yell Of the ranch foreman I go to bed when the sun sets And with the sun I get up With the trills of guacharaca birds And the cry of a red howler monkey The clamor of hoatzin birds Fill the dams of the channel And within the dark woodlands The growling of a male tiger.”
Al chigüiro lateperro
Zumbarse al río del barranco
Al grito madrugador
Del caporal en el hato
Me acuesto al caerse el sol
Y con el sol me levanto
Con trinos de guacharacas
Y quejíos de un araguato
Algarabía de chenchenas
En los rebalses del caño
Y dentro del monte oscuro
El ronquío de un tigre macho!
