Caminandes
Caminandes was written for an animated short film of the same name. Although the film is set in the snowy Andes, the music comically contrasts this with a tropical flavour sprinkled with ethic music spices to brilliant effect. There is no dialogue in the film. The music holds the lions share in conveying the rise and fall of action and emotional content, much like the era of silent film.
A white sandy beach contrasts with glistening waves set against a clear blue sky and a warm tropical breeze. Life is good; the mind is clear and relaxed. A comfortable and festive calm washes over the senses.
This short edit gives the sense of a carefree, happy-go-lucky, laissez faire attitude. All is well in the world until this feeling is disrupted by a jolting punch from the bass drum, and pizzicato/spiccato strings. Something is amiss and the easygoing day has taken a sharp, unexpected turn. "How's it going?" "Great!" But maybe not...
This crazy comical edit is fast paced, frenetic and hyper. It’s like watching the Charlie Chaplin restaurant scene in Modern Times at warp speed. The flavour is best described as Hungarian Gypsy music, and is driven by a double bass, snare drum, flamenco guitar and violin.
Here we just cut to the chase, and get to the point! With a brief ascending octave from the violin….aaaaand…..go! Bedlam ensues!!
This jagged and angular edit stretches and contracts our sensibilities as to what is happening. One brief moment is calm and gentle; the next moment is tense and uncertain. The overall topsy-turvy feeling is akin to watching a Three Stooges slap stick scene.
Fast action, fast paced and rapid crazy movement. The introduction has two chromatic contrary melodic passages that set a circus scene for a kooky and zany ride. We zing along, weaving and wavering. The dramatic ending is like a high wire act floundering and then masterfully recovering. Or maybe they don’t. It’s a cliff-hanger. Tune in next week to find out.
This short edit is a light and calm transition piece that gives a moment of breathing space. The Cha Cha groove provides a balmy and relaxing atmosphere but it is tempered with the feeling that something soon may change.
Triste is a blend of Parisian Café Chantant and Hungarian Gypsy music, with a hint of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli thrown in for good measure. It’s a moment of sadness, dejection, and rejection. But there is hope at the end, and all is not as bad as it seems. An ascending harp glissando is like the silver lining revealing itself. Always look for the silver lining.
We are back to the beginning; warm tropical breezes, hot sun and sand, glistening water under a blue sky, good music, good food, good friends and a festive atmosphere. All is well that ends well!
This edit has an extended intro. A Cuban percussion section sets up the Cha-Cha groove. The bass tumbao enters followed by a timbale abanico; a fan roll that signals the whole band in. The Cha Cha groove simmers and sways, all carried by a sweet, tasty piano montuno. Sabor!