Niyireth Alarcón

Reviewed by Michael Church

Sunday, 1 March 2009

Niyireth Alarcon is a conservatory-trained mezzo who has dedicated her life to popularising the music of the high Andes, and what she delivers here is charming. Some of the rhythms arrived from Cuba, some from Africa, and some from Europe — in Colombia, the waltz evolved into the "pasillo". Niyireth's warm sound is complemented by lutes and exotic percussion, such as the esterilla and the rainstick. How can a handful of seeds sliding down a hollow tube sound so magical?

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-niyireth-musica-colombiana-andina-arc-1634588.html - THE INDEPENDENT - Music

By Ernest Barteldes in Rotation, Sonidos y Mas
Thursday, Jan. 15 2009 @ 9:27AM

Niyireth

Musica Colombiana Andina - Music from Colombia (Arc Music)

When we hear about Andean music, the first thing that comes to mind are those Peruvian pan-flute players who perform on city streets, either playing traditional tunes like "El Condor Pasa" and "Fina Estampa" or adapting American pop songs into their own style. But there is much more music that comes from the South American mountains, like this disc from UK-based label Arc Music.

Classically trained Niyireth Alarcón has dedicated her life to spreading the traditional folk music of the Colombian Andes. While danceable and electronic genres like vallenato and salsa have found a home in the U.S. via the many immigrant communities that have arrived here in recent years, somehow the more organic sounds styles like bambuco and pasillo have failed to fully make it across the border.

To make matters worse, younger urbanized generations are unfamiliar with them, hence the need to preserve these songs for posterity. On this CD - Alarcón's first to get worldwide distribution - we get some examples of Alarcon's vast repertoire. The program opens with "La Cholita," a song whose first-person lyrics describe a young mestiza's daily life and her daily struggles to take care of her ever-growing brood.

Heartbreak and longing are the themes of "La Chapolera" and "Sufro Quierendote," which appear here as a soft medley whose simple arrangement allows the listener to pay close attention to her voice, which bears close resemblance to Mexican-American singer Lila Downs (another classically trained vocalist dedicated to traditional music).

June marks the Winter harvest in several South American countries. In many communities, farmers eat, drink and dance in honor of St. John The Evangelist and St. Peter (the latter is the patron saint of fishermen in the Roman Catholic calendar). The music is always lively, and the dance is similar to the square dance performed in the U.S. An example of this is "Llano Grande," an upbeat number whose lyrics describe the party mood of the revelers eager to dance the night away.

Musica Colombiana Andina comes in a cool package that includes a detailed biography of the artist, lyrics and instruments, with text in English, French, German and Spanish - leaving no excuse for those who complain that they can't understand what is going on. Let's hope that this release motivates her to tour the U.S. in the near future. - Ernest Barteldes

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2009/01/sonidos_y_mas_niriyeth.php
- Houston Press - Blogs

NIYIRETH – MUSICA COLOMBIANA ANDINA

NIYIRETH Alarcón is a conservatory-trained mezzo who has dedicated herself to popularising the music of the high Andes. Some of her infectious rhythms arrived from Cuba, some were brought over by slaves from Africa, and others by Europeans who brought the waltz, which evolved into the "pasillo" ("small step") which became the basis for a song tradition. The prime instruments are two variants on the lute – the tiple (a Colombian adaptation of the Spanish guitar) and the bandola (descended from the Italian mandolin). What gives this music its particular quality is the percussion on the fringes, notably the esterilla – a row of cane sticks woven together like a place-mat – and the chucho, the rainstick. Why should a handful of seeds sliding past rows of little sticks inside a hollow tube sound so magical? No point in asking why – just enjoy the frisson.

MICHAEL CHURCH

http://living.scotsman.com/music/Album-reviews-Glenn-Tilbrook-.5000211.jp - The Scotsman

March 2009

By Laurence Mitchell

In this issue: A tone poem from Norway, Andean music from Colombia, a dance music from Mali, a Klezmatics best-of, and...Afro-Polish?!


Musica Colombiana Andina
Niyireth Alarcón
We say: Andean music from southern Colombia, no poncho required

This new release from the UK–based Arc Music label showcases the talents of Colombian Niyireth Alarcón, a professionally trained singer with a pure honeyed tone. Alarcón has been performing and winning awards in her native Colombia for over 15 years and recording for the past ten, although this is her first major international release.

While this is authentic Andean music, those expecting trilling pan–pipes and bomba–thumping along the lines of "El Condor Pasa" may be disappointed as this collection contains a wide range of styles from southern Colombia, none of which seem to require the compulsory wearing of a poncho. The songs, which also steer well clear of the familiar vallenata and salsa rhythms we tend to associate with Colombia, instead showcase lesser known styles like bambuco, which has its distant roots in Africa, the waltz–time pasillo, and danza, an Andean folk rhythm related to Cuban habanera. The single exception to this is the inclusion of an Andean huayno, "Ojos de cielo", as a closing track, which will be more familiar territory to those of the pan–pipe persuasion.

The songs deal with mestiza daily life in the Huila Department region of southern Colombia that Alarcón calls home. Songs like "Mi tierra del Huila" and "Bésame Morenita" are anthems to beautiful women and gorgeous landscapes, while others, like "Alpargatas de mi tierra", praise indigenous culture and achievement.

The musical accompaniment, which shows a relaxed virtuosity, is performed on guitar, bass and traditional stringed instruments that include charango, the 12–string tiple and 16–string bandolo. Quena flute and traditional percussion complete the line–up. Alarcón's voice is warm and emotive throughout, her classical training demonstrating excellent technique while remaining homespun and true to it roots.

http://www.perceptivetravel.com/issues/0309/music.html
- Perceptive Travel

Scènes

Niyireth (Colombie)


Niyireth Alarcon : chant

Juan Carlos Montes Garcia : tiple

Sandro Eligio Toro Uribe : guitare

Cette chanteuse colombienne a été découverte par Miquèu Montanaro lors d’une résidence à Medellin en 2005. D’aucuns ont pu la découvrir lors de la création Suite colombiana l’année dernière. Cette fois, la native de Cali fait le déplacement pour nous présenter son propre répertoire, en l’occurrence des compositions et des adaptations de poètes latin-américains sur des musiques de danses traditionnelles (passillos, cumbias, porros).

17h00 - la Fraternelle

http://www.musiquesdumonde.fr/25-au-27-mai-2007-10eme-edition,434 - Spectacles et Musiques du Monde

Posté par ethnotempos le 12/11/2006 11:30:24 (265 lectures)

On l'attendait depuis des mois, il sort enfin. Le très beau coffret OTRAMAR réunit 7 CD inédits où MONTANARO est accompagné de nombreux musiciens : Laurence Bourdin, Amanda Gardone, El Maoussilia, Fabrice Gaudé, Serge Pesce, Estelle Amsellem, Niyireth Alarcon, Tereza Zuluaga, Alan Vitous, trio Très, Luis Fernando Villa, Jaibanà… c'est un long voyage outremer...
Site: www.compagnie-montanaro.com

http://www.rythmes-croises.org/ethnotempos/modules/news/article.php?storyid=24 - ETHNOTEMPOS - Musiques ethniques d'Aujour'hui