The Latin American chamber music ensemble on the state of the Arts, their aesthetic philosophy, and Casco Antiguo as musical niche.
ENTREVISTA
PANAMÁ
C AN: There is a realm of
archetypes. Within that context of all things platonic, how do you describe the music that inhabits you, the one your minds experiment as the ideal sound?
Fernando:“ I couldn’ t define it … my head is inhabited by all kind of sounds, around the clock. What I have come to appreciate and respect though, is silence.”
Mar:“ The music in my mind tends to be minimalist and concrete; compact. With a hues of a few whispered words. It always complements an image. I like give a soundtrack to moments. I often find myself thinking“ this moment sounds like __________( insert memory of your choice here).”
Alexis:“ Music is capable of amassing the sentiments and features of a concept. That’ s what I define as idealized sound, it comes from the depths of the spirit.”
CAN: Can you describe Panama’ s musical identity?
Fernando:“ Panama is a Young nation … its musical tradition is in search of that identity. Regarding folk and popular music, it’ s a different matter. Conventional, well-executed fusions of Afro-Antillean and Latin rhythms shape a trend that, to my taste, is sometimes interesting, pleasant.”
Mar:“ Panama’ s musical identity is much like a Panamanian: a blend. We feel the proximity of the Caribbean. There’ s also an interesting underground scene that is trying to create its own original sound.”
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Paisaxe recibirá 2017 con su primera gira internacional y nuevos experimentos músico-literarios. Foto: Álvaro Gallego. A mind in five movements an interview with PAISAXE
The Latin American chamber music ensemble on the state of the Arts, their aesthetic philosophy, and Casco Antiguo as musical niche.
CAN: Future projects and new horizons for Paisaxe in the coming months and next year.
Alexis:“ Next year we’ ll have an international tour and we’ ll finish recording our first studio album, which is a compendium of works by French and Panamanian composers. And of course, concerts. We’ re rehearsing for the National Library’ s anniversary celebration.”
Fernando:“ We were able to complete a beautiful cycle of six miniatures by French composer Francis Poulenc called Le Bestiaire. We plan to further explore the works of Poulenc, especially his collaboration with the poet Apollinaire.”
Mar:“ Also a research project on the link between music and literature in the French School.”
CAN: In Paisaxe’ s eight years together, have there been revelations in regard to art and music?
Alexis:“ The greatest discovery has been to have inspired, through our explorations and music, a generation of young people who have chosen music as their professional path.”
Mar:“ For me, the revelation is the need for musicians to belong to an artistic community. Working with artists outside of music has been the most enriching experience, it has pushed us to grow as creatives. Arts are closely interconnected; an artist must gain nourishment from all of them in order to gain a fuller voice and more hues to work with.”
CAN: Music and its markets have transitioned to digital media. How has it affected the Panamanian market and the way in which Paisaxe interacts with its audience?
Fernando:“ Musicians / Artists must selfand market themselves in a very competitive industry. Being a consummate musician, with a solid foundation that can perform with ease in any venue is not enough anymore; these days you need administrative skills an orientation toward entrepreneurship.”
Mar:“ Digital media has promoted a democracy of sorts in the promotion of the arts. Social media has its benefits and I love it that Panama is keen to it. Paisaxe has a close relationship with its audience thanks to social media, where they follow us. And we have newcomers who stumble upon us on the internet.”
Alexis:“ All the way from Mexico, Mariel Chong is Paisaxe’ s Art Director. The Panamanian music industry seems only
PAISAXE( 1. n. All the visible features of an area of land, often considered in terms of their aesthetic appeal. 2. m. The distinctive features of a sphere of activity. 3. n. A picture representing an area of countryside.)
• Fernando Bustos – Countertenor
• Oryana Racines- Violin
• Alexis Fong- Clarinet
• Carlos Alvarado- Cello
• Mar Alzamora Rivera – Bass
LANDSCAPE: Paisaxe( 2008) is born of the time of their musicians’ time and their passion for folk, popular, and Latin American classical music; they delve in the popular songbook as Panama’ s sole acoustic vanguard ensemble. Avid readers, multidisciplinary artists, and sentient beings.
interested in certain genres. It’ s difficult producing a classical album here. During my stay abroad for a Master’ s Degree, I was able to record with Naxos records, one of the world’ s leading classical music labels. This doesn’ t always happens back home …”
CAN: If you identify Casco Antiguo as music destination, what do you hear? Are there soundscapes in this town?
Mar:“ Of course. If you bring along a recording device and walk through its streets, the result is genius. Here stories float in midair, in the conversations you hear in one corner to the next. There’ s also the sea, traffic, the homes with their boom-boxes and stereos blasting salsa on Friday evenings, street musicians. It is full of sound.”
Fernando:“ Definitely. It is a soundzone, from reggaeton intertwined with the laughter of children playing soccer to the cool musician tuning his instrument on the side streets of the National Theater.”
Alexis:“ Casco Antiguo possesses a rich musical heritage, from the music sang at the Metropolitan Cathedral and of which we still have manuscripts, to the inauguration of the National Theater in 1908, and later the creation of the Conservatorio de Música, and the famous retretas – the open-air concerts in its plazas – by the Republican Band in the early 20th century … music has been a fundamental part of the very history of Casco Antiguo. Today, the Danilo Pérez Foundation’ s school of jazz follows on that same tradition; its history makes this barrio a musical paradise.”
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Paisaxe Panamá