Friday, October 2, 2009

Sergio Cuevas

Artist: Sergio Cuevas
LP: The Artistry of Sergio Cuevas
Song: "Maria Elsa"
[ listen ]

There's not much info about Sergio Cuevas on the internet, but according to the liner notes on this 1969 LP (included below), he toured with Sophie Tucker in the 1960s! The LP notes also inform us that the harp is the official instrument of Paraguay—and according to the LP photos, the instrument has also become a popular Paraguayan sex toy. I hope you all enjoy the extraordinary listening experience caused by the harp-playing of virtuoso Sergio Cuevas, but please do guard against the spell often cast by his palpitating rhythms and the very close throbbing of the music.

THE ARTISTRY OF SERGIO CUEVAS
VIRTUOSO OF THE HARP
AN EXTRAORDINARY LISTENING EXPERIENCE

The harp, coming from the Greek work harpè or
faulx which described its original shape was, in
Ancient times, shaped like a sickle
.

The indian harp is an instrument, which was introduced
into South America by the Spanish and Irish Jesuit
missionaries, as a means to accompany the popular
songs allowed in the churches with new...words
.

The harp has become the national instrument of Paraguay
where SERGIO CUEVAS was born, in 1939, at Villarrica
.

From the age of fifteen he devoted himself entirely
to the study of this instrument. In 1958, he was
selected by the Paraguayan Government to be the
musical Ambassador of his country at the Latin
American Festival in Miami. In 1962, he left
for South Africa with the Sophie Tucker show.
Today, he travels throughout the world interpret-
ing this mulatto music which is full of charm and
nostalgia. When the record is played, it casts a
spell which is due, doubtlessly, to this extraordinary

virtuoso, to the palpitating rhythm, the fantastic
and close...very close throbbing of the music
.

[ Sergio Cuevas: 1939 — 1987 ]

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