Venezuelan Fiesta (album)

Infobox Album
Name = Venezuelan Fiesta
Type = studio
Artist = Aldemaro Romero and his Salon Orchestra


Released = 1956
Recorded = 1956
Genre = Folk-Classical
Length =
Label = RCA
Producer = Aldemaro Romero
Reviews =
Last album = Dinner in Caracas
This album = Venezuelan Fiesta
Next album = Dinner in Colombia

"Venezuelan Fiesta " is the name of a 33-RPM LP album by Venezuelan composer/arranger/conductor Aldemaro Romero, released in 1956 (see 1956 in music), under contract with RCA Victor.

This was the second Romero's album with RCA Victor, featuring popular Venezuelan pieces, and the release of the joropo Venezuelan Fiesta, continuing with the modernization of Venezuelan folk music, upgrading it from folk instrumentations to full modern orchestral versions, and making it palatable to international audiences.

Album information

At the back cover of the album, is review with this words: cquote| Every country has music that is its own heritage and an expression of its people.

The music of Venezuela is represented here in forms typical of the entire country and of its various geographical sections. It is essentially Spanish, but its African elements are apparent in its rhythm and use of percussion.

Joropo — The national dance of Venezuela is a happy dance performed in jig-like movements in 3/4 tempo. To add rhythm and excitement the dancers attach maracas to their feet.

Valse — Played in 3/4 tempo, this is the Venezuelan waltz. Sometimes the melody as well as the rhythm is accentuated by figures borrowed from the joropo.

Valse-Joropo — Obviously a combination of the waltz and the joropo. The joropo form is dominant.

Canción — This is the ballad form of Venezuela.

Merengue — This is the African-Venezuelan music, played 2/4 tempo with a percussion accompaniment.

Polo — A typical dance rhythm from the state of Falcón. Written in 3/4 tempo, it is similar to the joropo.

"Heard in this album:"

Side 1

*Las Bellas Noches de Maiquetía — "Valse Venezolano" ("The Beautiful Nights of Maiquetía"). This composition by Pedro Arcila Ponte was inspired by the beauty of the nights of Maiquetía, a seaport near La Guaira.

*Brisas del Zulia — "Valse" ("Breezes of Zulia"). This is a musical tribute to Lake Maracaibo, written by Amable Espina.

*Geranio — "Valse" ("Geranium"). Written by one of Venezuela's foremost composers, Pedro Elías Gutiérrez, who also wrote the famous joropo "Alma Llanera". The Vienna style is predominant.

*Marisela — "Joropo". This is a joropo written by S. Díaz Peña. It is a great standard.

*Quejas del alma — "Valse" ("Anguish"). A romantic waltz.

*Juliana — "Valse". This is one of the best examples of this type of music.

Side 2

*Venezuelan Fiesta — "Joropo". The title song of this album, written by Aldemaro Romero.

*Amalia — "Valse-Joropo". A very famous valse-joropo written by Francisco de Paula Aguirre and Leoncio Martínez "Leo".

*El Cari-Cari — "Joropo". One of the standard favorites of the country, written by R. A.

*Tu Partida — "Canción" ("Farewell"). This sad farewell to a beloved woman was written by Augusto Brandt.

*El Cumaco de San Juan — "Merengue". A typical merengue from Caracas.

*El Polo Coriano — "Polo". An outstanding example of this type of music.

Track listing

Miscellanea

*The pictures of Aldemaro Romero on the cover of the album, were taken during the actual recording session at the New York City studio of RCA Victor.
*At the review of the album, Aldemaro Romero has the nickname of Al Romero.

See also

*Venezuela
*Aldemaro Romero
*Venezuelan music