Paco Diez - photo by Nigel A. JAMES
The
Spirit of a Nation
info - www.aulamuseopacodiez.net
Paco Diez
Music
is, without any doubt at all, the greatest and
strongest tradition that exists for us all. And, because it mostly
reflects the moments of its times, it often falls prey to the
emotions of now. And, so it is, that one by one, many beautiful
pieces simply quietly vanish by stepping out of our hearts for ever!
And,
folk music is the most vulnerable of all! But there is, thankfully,
on the Iberian peninsular, a man who is doing all that he can to
retrieve the treasures of sound that still lay slumbering in the
depths of many Spanish souls; and his name is Paco Diez.
Living
not far from the town of Valladolid in northern Spain, Paco Diez has
become well known for not only his massive collection of now
preserved songs, but also his collection of over 500 now rare musical
instruments which he houses in his very own museum which is part of
his home. But, that's not all, he also has his very own theatre,
and, it was there, late one night about two weeks ago, that I
witnessed one of the most magically loaded concerts that I have ever
experienced!
And
it was coming straight from his heart! This curator and collector is
also one of Spain's finest musicians - and his playing isn't only
restricted to the Spanish guitar. On stage he had a collection of
instruments which included a set of Iberian bag pipes; a Pandea
Narbanturn – an Arabic percussion instrument which looks like a
flat skin covered box; a Thamfurmi – an instrument that's similar
to a violin in nature but which is not played with a bow but rather a
wheel produces the fiction which produces the sound; a Ulcher bone
pipe which produces a very high sweet tone; and, of course, a set of
castanets. And, he was fluent in them all!
And,
as as he gently moved from one instrument to another, it was easy to
understand how these musical rarities were once the emotional glue
that held his country together! They were the spirit of a nation!
And, maybe, that's why Paco Diez is as popular as he is; after all,
his music is the music that makes the entire Spanish heart!
info - www.aulamuseopacodiez.net
