From Paraguayan expatriate (and German resident)
Oscar Benito comes
The Paraguayan Harp, an album of music for the Indian harp. Having done a good deal of touring throughout Europe on all scales (from major concerts and competitions to cruise ship performance), the next logical step is to do some recording. This is exactly what
Benito has been doing through ARC, and this album is another of his endeavors. His works are largely traditional ones, selecting here and there from the guarania tradition as well as from the more popular polkas. The sound of the harp is quite bright, with the focus on more upbeat works fitting quite well with the resounding qualities of the wood. The arpeggios that
Benito is capable of are astounding, but the real treat for the listener is the combination of the more simple techniques on the harp with his soft vocals. The playing and the singing are both relatively non-virtuosic, but it's a pleasant little romp through a noteworthy tradition of music. The South American harp is well represented on the world music market, but the specific composition styles of the guarania form aren't terribly common to find. The inclusion of the form makes this album worth a listen by itself. The playing is an added bonus. ~ Adam Greenberg