Y el canto de todas
Rafael Serrallet (guitar)
Orquesta Sinfónica Filarmónica Nacional de Lviv/Serbiy Khorovets
rec. 2024, Sala Principal de la Filarmónica Nacional de Ucrania en Lviv
Reviewed as download
Private release [44]

In the foreword to the booklet, Virginia Sánchez Rodriguez writes: “We find ourselves surrounded by music, although, at times, we don’t even realise it. And we are even less aware that some of the songs we know, even those that have accompanied us during important moments in our lives, were born from the imagination and pen of women. Sometimes, the names of these female authors, from different eras, parts of the world, and styles, have been unjustly excluded from historical discourse. Fortunately, some of the melodies they created are part of our collective imagination. This is why projects like the album you hold in your hands, titled Y el canto de todas (And the Song of All Women), are so necessary, with the purpose of recovering a selection of musical pieces authored by women.”

It is a pleasure indeed to accept her invitation to a journey through Latin America in the company of eleven female composers, some of them well known also in northern Europe, but the majority frustratingly anonymous on our shores. It’s worth mentioning, though, that we are bereft the texts to the songs, since this is a plainly instrumental issue, but we can uninhibitedly enjoy the melodies, which are little gems, and they are delivered in attractive arrangements with Rafael Serrallet’s guitar in the foreground with assistance from a string ensemble from the Orquesta Sinfónica Filarmónica Nacional de Lviv in Ukraine.

We begin the trip in Chile and the foremost folklore singer, together with Victor Jara, Violeta Parra. Her best known song is also one of her last, Gracias a la vida (Thanks to life). Ironically she committed suicide the year after, but the song reached international popularity which still lasts. A couple of years ago it was recorded by the ageing Plácido Domingo. In this quite extended arrangement Serrallet also quotes another song, Volver a los 17. Next stop is Perú and the waltz Fina estampa, a beautiful melody that immediately sticks. Chabuca Granda, who also was a record producer, wrote it in 1956. We continue to Cuba and the name Lecuona is familiar. Ernesto was world famous for his orchestra and his many popular compositions, that still are played frequently. Ernestina was his older sister, and she was his first teacher. Like so many other women, she had to give up her career when she married, but when her children had grown up she could resume her activities, and Solo a ti te Quiero has become a love song for many couples. This is another memorable melody to savour.

Chavela Vargas was born in Costa Rica but moved to Mexico where she became a citizen. Maria Tepozteca has influences from both countries. Chavela passed away as recently as 2012 at the age of 93. Lidya Mendoza was also vouchsafed a long live, leaving this world at 91. She was also Mexican with some roots in Texas. Amor bonito is a catchy melody with stirring rhythms, another new favourite. Aire Norteño is likewise an up-tempo and stimulating song full of go. Argentina was María Luisa Anido’s homeland, and she also reached the old age, 89. She was an outstanding guitarist, and this piece was originally conceived for solo guitar. 

A masterly guitarist from the same generation was Valencia born Josefina Robledo. She was the only pupil who studied with Francesco Tárrega. Though European, she had close contacts with Brazil. The valse de salón Reviens is a delightful, caressing piece, that should be a dream for anyone with a sweet tooth – and who hasn’t at least one? – and when we are in that mood, the next piece, the romantic Petite valse, will come as another gift from above. The composer is the oldest one represented here, Teresa Carreño from Venezuela. She was a pianist and composer of choral and orchestral music, chamber music and forty works for piano. The waltz was originally a piano piece, but she rewrote it for guitar and dedicated it to her daughter Teresa, who was a guitarist. The daughter,  Teresita Tagliapietra Carreño, is also represented here with a lovely little lullaby, Petite berceuse. She was born in the US, where her mother had lived since an early age, and had double citizenship, Venezuelan and American. 

After these intimate pieces, Benigna Dávalos’ Angel de luz comes as a breath of fresh air. She was from Ecuador, and this song is in her home country regarded almost as a national treasure.

For the final work we return to Mexico and presumably the best known song worldwide: Consuelo Velazquez’ Bésame mucho. She composed this hit song when she was not yet seventeen, and at that time she had never been kissed. To stress the status of the song it is presented here in two versions, one without and one with bandoneón. It is an invigorating conclusion to a highly attractive programme, but there is an encore squeezed in between the two versions of Bésame mucho, and it was not planned. During the recording sessions in Lviv at the beginning of November 2024, the terrible flood occurred in Valencia, which was a catastrophe that devastated parts of the city and killed more than 200 people. Rafael Serrallet was deeply moved by this and on November 2 and 3 he composed his Elegia as a tribute to the city of Valencia and the victims. This further increases the value of this issue.

The arrangements are inventive and well balanced, and the playing is excellent. As for Rafael Serrallet, he is an experienced player for thirty years and is probably one of the most widely travelled musicians. He was awarded a Guinness World Record for being the first classical musician to perform concerts on all six continents, including Antarctica. It goes without saying that his playing is sensitive and technically impeccable. Anyone with a liking for melodic music should enjoy this collection of lollipops. 

Göran Forsling

Contents
Violeta Parra (1917-1967)
1 Gracias a la vida /Volver a los 17
Chile Folklore Chileno Juani Ferreras / R. Serrallet
Chabuca Granda (1920-1983)
2 Fina Estampa 
Perú Vals peruano R. Serrallet / R.
Amaranto / M. Torres
Ernestina Lecuona (1882-1951)
3 Solo a ti te quiero
Cuba Canción-Bolero R. Serrallet / Humberto
Suárez
Chavela Vargas (1919-2012)
4 María Tepozteca 
Costa Rica /
México Ranchera dramática R. Serrallet / I. Matús
Lidya Mendoza (1916-2007)
5 Amor Bonito 
(Texas) /México
Ranchera Norteña R. Serrallet
María Luisa Anido (1907-1996)
6 Aire Norteño  
Argentina Bailecito R. Serrallet
Josefina Robledo (1897-1972)
7 Reviens 
España/Brasil Vals de salón R. Serrallet / D. Albir
Teresa Carreño (1853-1917)
8 Petit Valse 
Venezuela Vals de salón R. Serrallet /D. Orekhov
Teresita Tagliapietra Carreño (1882-1951)
9 Petite berceuse
Venezuela Pequeña pieza de salón R. Serrallet
Benigna Dávalos (1910-1960)
10 Angel de luz
Ecuador Pasillo ecuatoriano R. Serrallet
Consuelo Velazquez (1916-2005)
11 Bésame mucho 
México Bolero/ Tango R. Serrallet
Rafael Serrallet (b. 1971)
12 Elegía España Endecha R. Serrallet
Consuelo Velazquez (1916-2005)
13 Bésame mucho (con bandoneón)
México Bolero/ Tango R. Serrallet / J. Cárdenas