The Library Run:The Music of Cuba 1909-1951
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Artist:
This is the first time in many weeks that I was able to have a civilized moment: after the scurry of fiscal year reports, covering the phone for our department secretary, and hailing the US News "Best Hospital" rankings, I've become thoroughly disoriented and more than a little annoyed at my grey, stunted cubicle.(That's right - I don't even have a full cubicle.)So, despite Philadelphia's current tendency to resemble a swamp, I took a stroll down to the free library; my mind was finally rested, had the free space, for some new music. And what could be better for a little wishful thinking than Cuban rumbas?
The Music of Cuba 1909-1951 is, naturally, positioned as the clever, thinking person's version of Buena Vista Social Club: "Sorry, gentlemen, but I'm not taken in by your slick marketing tactics - I'm listening to the real thing." This "real thing," of course, is a very basic digital translation of the "original" Columbia recordings. I would hardly call the sound pristine, no matter what the liner notes say.It sounds like old records, with not too much depth, and without the pops and crackles. What-ev.According to Dick Spottswood's liner notes, the "vogue for rumba music [started] in the 1930s," and these are very much the tunes of the nice folks in the parlors with the Victrola - finding the fire, well, that takes a little sussing out. But they're certainly tunes of a time and mood...think not of sweaty dancehalls, but mojitos on the front porch on a steamy Saturday afternoon. It'll do.
The most interesting rhythms seem to have come from the Lecuona Cuban Boys and, fortunately, three of their songs are provided here. (What makes them a "semi-independent orchestra," I don't know.) "Ernesto Lecuona":http://www.kha.it/lecuona/librettoEn_lq.htm himself composed many popular tunes including "Malaguena," "Tabu," and "Siboney"; but he did not play with the orchestra that bears his name."Rumba Tambah" is fun stuff, and one wonders if a little of the French spirit rubbed off while it was being recorded in Paris.Oh, yeah, I think so.Also check out "Oye Mi Rumba":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKHDrvVhk-0 on YouTube.
The Music of Cuba 1909-1951 is, naturally, positioned as the clever, thinking person's version of Buena Vista Social Club: "Sorry, gentlemen, but I'm not taken in by your slick marketing tactics - I'm listening to the real thing." This "real thing," of course, is a very basic digital translation of the "original" Columbia recordings. I would hardly call the sound pristine, no matter what the liner notes say.It sounds like old records, with not too much depth, and without the pops and crackles. What-ev.According to Dick Spottswood's liner notes, the "vogue for rumba music [started] in the 1930s," and these are very much the tunes of the nice folks in the parlors with the Victrola - finding the fire, well, that takes a little sussing out. But they're certainly tunes of a time and mood...think not of sweaty dancehalls, but mojitos on the front porch on a steamy Saturday afternoon. It'll do.
The most interesting rhythms seem to have come from the Lecuona Cuban Boys and, fortunately, three of their songs are provided here. (What makes them a "semi-independent orchestra," I don't know.) "Ernesto Lecuona":http://www.kha.it/lecuona/librettoEn_lq.htm himself composed many popular tunes including "Malaguena," "Tabu," and "Siboney"; but he did not play with the orchestra that bears his name."Rumba Tambah" is fun stuff, and one wonders if a little of the French spirit rubbed off while it was being recorded in Paris.Oh, yeah, I think so.Also check out "Oye Mi Rumba":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKHDrvVhk-0 on YouTube.
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