This is my entry for this week's topic "Quiet Desert". When I read the word desert I couldn't get my mind off the idea of recording another emblematic waltz from Venezuelan repertoire: Sombra en los Médanos by Rafael Sánchez López. This is one of those pieces any player of this traditional music starts to learn from early on during their musical careers.
There are countless versions of this song, but as you might have noticed, I tend to go instrumental. My idea for this was inspired by the recording of Dr. Jesús Sevillano which is a masterpiece. This one comes from the group "Jesús Sevillano y su Sexteto de Cuerdas" in the production "Canciones Venezolanas Puras". I didn't play that arrangement, but tried to do something involving more voices.
Looking up around the internet I found a choir arrangement that is incredible. It comes by the mind of Gustavo Maggi. And I wanted to make it even more weird. So, here is my take on the waltz on 4 voices using my trusty Bri (mandolin). I hope you enjoy it.
This waltz has some beautiful lyrics which will be on the Spanish part. It makes reference to the Médanos (dunes) of Coro, our little "quiet Venezuelan desert" located between the city of Coro and the isthmus that connects it to the Paraguaná Penninsula in the norwest of Venezuela.