Back to the Amazon

As you know, prior to Christmas, Robin was in South America.
It's actually the second time this year that he has ventured up the Amazon, here's the post I wrote last time:
'Arrival in the Amazon, Caruso and Fitzcarraldo'

Before Crystal Symphony set sail there was a couple of days to enjoy Manaus, Brazil, especially as Robin had 9 days before his first concert...

Here you can see the famous Opera House and beautifully decorated tree:





A trip to the fish market highlighted the many different fish available when shopping in the Amazon, Robin was however quite pleased to be recovering from a cold and therefore had a reduced sense of smell...




It was in the tiny village of Boca de Valeria that one really sensed they had arrived in the Amazon:



This is a typical village house:



A local tradition for recycling involves old Kayaks. Put to good use growing flowers and herbs:




It was a particularly long trip, especially for 2 concerts, but both were received enthusiastically with standing ovations.
Appropriately Robin played lots of South American music, featuring composers such as Federico Bustamente, Dilermando Reis, Pernambuco and Heitor Villa-Lobos.



Robin kept busy though with lots of practice and plenty of table tennis although he declined to try piranha fishing.
Not being a fisherman, I think it was a wise choice, his fingers are rather important to him....

There were plenty of concerns about getting home for Christmas.
First British Airways threatening to strike. And as soon as this situation resolved, the weather changed.
Severe snow hit the UK.
Robin left Buenos Aires, Argentina, for Heathrow without any problems, and 15 hours later arrived to find his connecting flight cancelled.
Eventually a coach was supplied and a travel weary musician slowly made his way home.

At least it gave the rest of us time to make this little fellow for him:

Manuel de Falla's, 'Miller's Dance', and the Solar System.

I did get to speak to Robin last night, just prior to his concert, and asked what he was doing.
"Practising the Miller's Dance, what are you doing?"
"Oh, making a mobile of the solar system, with son number two."
"That's nice."
I didn't think he was really concentrating, so left him to his Falla, and went back to recreating the universe.

However, we did get to talk again after the concert, and it all went very well.
I'd known Robin had been apprehensive about performing Manuel de Falla's, 'Miller's Dance', from 'The Three Cornered Hat'.
For many years he has performed the piece with the Hill/Wiltschinsky Guitar Duo, and it has always been hugely popular.
So, when he decided to add it to his solo repertoire, I was looking forward to hearing the end result.
The problem was he couldn't find a suitable arrangement of it anywhere.
So he did one himself.

This was the first time Robin has performed the solo version in public, and it's always a different experience to practising it alone in your music room.
He needn't have worried though, it went very well, and the audience loved it.

Amongst other things, he also played his own 'Fiesta de Xabia', 'Two Dances' by John Dowland, Two pieces for Viheula ('Guardame Las Vacas' - Luis de Narvaez, 'Fantasia' -Alonso Mudarra), 'And I Love Her' - Paul McCartney, 'Una Limosna par el Amor de Dios' - Agustin Barrios, some Villa-Lobos and Pernambuco.

A nice programme, shame I wasn't there to hear it.
Today he should be in Grand Turk, even bigger shame I'm not there to see that, I'm awaiting further news here in the cold.

Track 3: Sons de Carilhoes - Joao Pernambuco

The third track is 'Sons de Carilhoes' by Joao Pernambuco.
Pernambuco was born on the 2nd November 1883, in Jatoba, Pernambuco, Brazil, and named, Joao Texeira Guimaraes.
After moving to Rio he told so many stories about his home state that he quickly became known as 'Joao Pernambuco'.

Pernambuco came from a poor family but learnt the guitar from an early age.
Whilst living in Recife, and then Rio, he had to supplement his composing and playing by working as a blacksmith and then as a labourer.

As he was illiterate he used to have to ask others to write his compositions down, and sadly, several were stolen.

An example of this is, 'Catulo da Paixao Cearense' which was transformed into 'Lunar do Sertao' and then became the unofficial Brazilian anthem. Unfortunately it was credited only to Catulo, and only recently has been properly acknowledged as Permanbuco's composition.

Between 1914 and 1919 Pernambuco became extremely popular and Villa-Lobos helped by transcribing and registering several of Pernambuco's songs to prevent any further loses.

Pernambuco was an important Belle Epoque composer of seminal choros, jangos, valses, toadas, and cancoes.

'Sons de Carilhoes' is a beautifully melodic and rhythmic piece which is closely related to the samba (which we discussed yesterday).

It has long been a favourite of Robin's and, despite the problems that Pernambuco faced as a composer, is one of the most optimistic pieces which Robin plays.

Second Concert Success

I'm late posting tonight for two reasons.
Firstly, I have been visiting my brother after his horrific accident. I was delighted to see him looking so well despite the ordeal, and even walking about, well, hobbling really. It was all rather emotional, (for me), as you can't help thinking how lucky we are to still have him with us, and sadness for the family of the other man. Robin has been waiting anxiously for news and is very relieved to hear of Jonathan's progress. He'd guessed that he was doing well, as the reply to Robin's e mail about understanding the concept of bunjee jumping was, "The bridge doesn't usually follow you to the ground."
The second reason is that I have been waiting for news of the last guitar concert on board the QM2.
In true professional style, Robin put his personal concerns behind him, and gave an excellent performance.
He played:

Mozart Variations

Danza Brasilera - Morel

Misionera - Bustamente

Sons de Carilhoes - Pernambuco

Asturias - Albeniz

Jota - Trad.

Berceuse and Danza del Altiplano - Brouwer

Judging by the whistles at the end, I think the audience enjoyed it.
Robin also informed me that earlier in the day Richard Dreyfuss had been in the same theatre doing a questions and answers session.
As Robin's work has now finished I'm sure he will be going for some R&R.

Robin Hill Turns to South America

Sometimes I can't quite believe how lucky I am, and today is one of those days.
The sun is streaming through the window and I've just been listening to a selection of some of the most vibrant, ebullient, rhythmic, melodic and lively music you can imagine.
See if you can guess the theme, here's some of the composers:
Jorge Morel, Federico Bustamente, Dilamando Reis, got it yet?
No, well here's a few more:
Villa-Lobos, Antonio Lauro, Agustin Barrios and Pernambuco.
Answer:
They are all South American.
The reason is that Robin is deep into his practice for ExCel starting on Sunday afternoon, all day Monday and Tuesday. As he will be on the Brazilian Springs stand we felt a South American feel would be appropriate.
As the whole exhibition is an international food and drink event I'm sure there will be plenty there to satisfy all the senses.
I must now get back to my eavesdropping, all that music and it's not even lunchtime!