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'As always, it was sheer pleasure to observe Robin Hill's remarkable fluent technique: everything looks easy when he plays it.' Colin Cooper- Classical Guitar Magazine ----- 'Wonderful for their (Hill & Wiltschinsky) precision, touch and clarity of sound... refined virtuosity, the achievement of a long interpretive process.' Il Giornale D'Italia (Rome) ----- 'I loved your CD and thought your technique and performance were fabulous...' Rick Wakeman

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Yma Sumac 1922 - 2008

The legendary soprano Yma Sumac, often called the 'Peruvian Songbird', has died at the age of 86.

When asked recently how she would like to be remembered, this is what she said:

"That I made good music and made happy, their hearts."

She certainly achieved her wish.
Tributes have been made around the world.
Her international success was based on her extreme vocal range, well over four octaves, and at her peak a staggering five!!

Despite a lack of formal training her skill has influenced many over the years.
The song 'Ataypura' featured in the Coen Brothers 1998 film, 'The Big Lebowski', and samples of her songs have been used by the Black Eyed Peas.
In fact, Yma herself appeared in many films over the years.

A good example of Yma Sumac can be seen in the YouTube video of the song, 'Gopher Mambo'.

This displays an intoxicating cocktail of ethnic South American vocal sounds, Cuban and Latin American rhythms with amazingly virtuosic and tight trumpet section and the most stratospheric, scintillating classical soprano imaginable.

So, enjoy the good music and be happy in your heart....

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