Don Robertson's Musical Kaleidoscope
Show Examples - World Two
Since 2017, the Rising World foundation has completed over 1,000 videos. Over 260 of them are shows, each averaging 1 hour in length.The following are five example videos from our “World 2” section. So far, we have created 28 shows for World Two.
Europe and “South of the Border”
Includes:
Folk and Popular Music of Europe
Folk and Popular Music “South of the Border”
Folk and Popular Music of Europe
Example 1 – The World of French Chanson (1 hour)
We present a showcase of performances by the legends of the famous French chanson tradition from the 1940s through today.
France’s national chanteuse Édith Piaf (1915-1963) sings “La vie en rose”: her signature song written in 1945 by Piaf and Louis Guglielmi (known as Louiguy). Famous French-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour (1924-2018) performs “La bohème”, his signature song, written with Jacques Plante. It was an international hit in 1965.
French singer Charles Trenet (1913-2001) sings his self-penned signature song, the famous “La mer” (The Sea) that he first recorded in 1946. Then, the great Belgian singer Jacques Brel (1929-1978) performs “Ne me quitte pas”, a song from 1959 composed by the singer.
The famous French actor and singer Yves Montand (1921-1991) performs “Les feuilles mortes” (Autumn Leaves) written by Joseph Kosma and Jacques Prévertin in 1945. Next, French singer Dalida (1933-1987) sings “Je suis malade”, a 1973 song by Alice Dona and Serge Lama that was written especially for her. Léo Ferré (1916-1978), from Belgium, sings “Avec le temps”, a 1970 song composed by the singer.
French singer-songwriter and record producer Jean-Jacques Goldman performs his song “Puisque tu pars”, a hit in 1987. Following that, French-Canadian singer Celine Dion performs “On ne change pas” that was penned by Jean-Jacques Goldman. Their collaboration, where she sings Goldman’s songs, was a huge success in the French-speaking world. We witness Jean-Jacques Goldman and Celine Dion together singing “Pour que tu m’aimes encore”, composed by Goldman. “Sous le vent”, written by Jacques Veneruso in 2000, is sung by Canadian artists Garou, Celine Dion and Francis Bernier.
Finally, in a video trilogy, we present the current great Belgian singer Lara Fabian performing Dalida’s signature song “Je suis malade” followed by Serge Lama singing the famous love song “Je t’aime” to Lara Fabian in a surprise television appearance (Je t’aime had originally been written for film actress Brigit Bardot by French singer-songwriter, actor and filmmaker Serge Gainsbourg in 1967), and then we end with Lara Fabian performing the same song, “Je t’aime”, to an adoring audience in Hungary.
Example 2 - A Taste of Eastern Europe (1 hour)
A wonderful panorama of great music, beginning with great traditional music from Romania. First, we watch and listen to Pavel Turcan playing cobza (the Romanian lute) with a folklore orchestra conducted by P. Neamtu. Next, from Bulgaria, witness Bulgarian singers perform “Lale li si, Ziumbiul li si” conducted by Ilia Mihaylov, in an arrangement by Filip Kutev. Then, we are presented with a folk song from Macedonia performed by Tancheva Galina, Elena Yanakieva and Daniela Velichkova. From Armenia, we experience “Hayr Komitasin” performed by Norayr Kartashyan – a Duduk player and composer, followed by “Lullabies of Mush and Akn” performed by Hasmik Harutyunyan and the Shoghaken Folk Ensemble.
Finally, we watch “Hoy Nazan Im” composed by Komitas, the Armenian priest, musicologist, composer, arranger, singer and choirmaster who was the founder of the Armenian national school of music. Our performance of this song is by the Ararat Choir conducted by Raffi Mikaelian with a solo by Narine Hakobyan. Next, from the island of Corsica, we watch “Paghjella” beautifully sung by A Filetta, a singing group that performs Corsican traditional music. From the country of Georgia, we present “Alilo”, a Christmas anthem performed by Georgia’s Imeri Ensemble, along with a Corsican choir, followed by the song “Ar Madzinebs” performed by Georgian jazz singer Nino Katamadze and the Shvidkaca Band.
From Greece, we watch music from Greek Macedonia performed by the singer Yiannis Katevas, then “Ta Ziliarika Sou Matia” performed by musicians of the Rebetiko Carnival. Finally, we visit Hungary to hear “The 20 Talléros Verbunkos” by the Déki Lakatos Sándor Gypsy Band, followed by “Vittorio Monti’s 1904 Csárdás”, a rhapsodical concert piece by the Italian composer Vittorio Monti, written in 1904. This well-known folkloric piece is based on a Hungarian csárdás and is performed by the Szalai Hungarian Gypsy Band.
Example 3 - Special Feature – The Folk Music of France
France’s fascinating regional folk music traditions are presented in this two-part special feature. We expand the cultural context of each region by presenting video footage that relates to the region itself, in addition to the music and dance specific to that region. In Part One, we present four regions: Brittany, Auvergne, Limoges and Gascogne. In Part Two, the Basque Region and the island of Corsica are covered. (Each part is 45 minutes)
Folk and Popular Music “South of the Border”
Example 4 - “South of the Border” (1 hour)
This is a Musical Kaleidoscope show that features great live music videos and film clips from Mexico and South America.
First, we feature performances of music from Mexico: “Amor Sin Cuenta” by Vicente Fernández (the style is Música Ranchera), “Cucurrucucú Paloma” by Lola Beltrán (Música Ranchera), “Malagueña Salerosa” by Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan (Música Mariachi), “Pirékua – Santa Fe de la Laguna“ by Orquesta Tatá Vasco de Santa Fe de la Laguna (Música de Michoacán).
Next, from Colombia: “La Paloma Guarumera” by Alfredo Guierrez (the style is Cumbia), and an unnamed composition by Son de Joropo (Joropo).
From Brazil: “Samba Triste” by Baden Powell (Samba), “Berimbau” by Sivuca (Afro-Samba), “Se é Tarde Me Perdoa” and “Saudade Fez Um Samba” by Carlos Lyra and Leila Pinheiro (Bossa Nova), “Tarde em Itapoã” by Toquinho and Gilberto Gil (Bossa Nova), an improvisation by Toquinho playing guitar and an homage to Paraquayan classical guitarist Augustin Barrios by Yamandu Costa. From Ecuador: “Nunca Llacta” and “Pobre Corazón” by Los Garles (Sanjuanito style). From Bolivia: “Hoy Tengo Ganas de Ti” by Miguel Orias y los Ilegales (Bolivian Cumbia). From Chile: “Mi Banderita Chilena” by Los Huasos (Tango).
Example 5 - A Taste of the Andes (1 hour)
A show of live performances of some of the great Andean bands. We begin with three very popular songs performed by the respected Bolivian group called Kjarkas: “Imillitay”, “Wayayay” and “Bolivia”. Also from Bolivia is the group Jach’a Mallku, here performing “Mis nostalgias” and the Bolivian group Tupay performing “Nunca tuve suerte en el amor”. The final Bolivian group that we present is Savia Andina performing “Duraznero”, “Eterno amor” and “Lagrimas de estaño”. Now we turn to the country of Chile to experience the group Illapu performing “Vuelvo para vivir”. Next, from Ecuador, we feature the band Nanda Manachi performing “Paspa Chaky” and “Caraway”. We turn to Peru now, with Wayanay Inka performing “Pastorcita” and Alborada from Peru performing “White Buffalo” and the well-known song “Chirapaq”.