Lucía Pulido and Erik Friedlander
The Western Front,
Vancouver, B.C.
April 23, 2005
Review by Catherine MacLennan
“I began work on this project with the idea of writing music for voice and cello without the use of any text. In early incarnations of the project I was struck by how much I missed the drama and intensity of words. I realized my choice was limiting Lucia in her fine ability as storyteller and a passionate communicator. I turned to the poetry of Columbia, her birthplace, and found exceptionally moving poetry that inspired me as it also freed Lucía to bring all her warmth and intensity to the music. This is our first performance as a duo.” - Erik Friedlander
Performing together as a duo, as a part of Western Front’s “New Music Spring 2005” series, both Pulido and Friedlander have extensive and varied backgrounds in jazz, traditional, pop and chamber music. Their project together consists of voice (Pulido) and cello (Friedlander) performing Columbian traditional/folk songs, poetry and cello improvs. The elements of their diverse musical backgrounds were showcased in the performance – Pulido’s warm and passionate singing blended effectively with Friedlander’s musical versatility. Pulido sang vigorous renditions of Columbian folk songs then moved into a slower but still expressive tone for the poetry. Friedlander’s cello danced along with the traditional songs, and extended the meditation, or the pain of the poetry, as on De Lo Que Soy (On What I Am).
The poetry of the selected Columbian poets (Jorge Gaitán Durán, Raál Henao, María Mercedes Carranza, Raúl Gómez Jattin and Auelio Arturo), gives voice to a country dealing with death and violence, individuals dealing with suffering, heartache and pain - a poetry that “is the only companion/get used to its knives/because it’s the only one” (Raúl Gómez Jattin); a “poetry that helps you to live.”. Freidlander’s fluid playing complemented Pulido’s distinctive heartfelt singing, going from a Latin beat, to a freer jazz to expressionist improvisation as the words of the poets were brought to life in a new musical context.
ELEGIA – ELEGY
By Maria Mercedes Carranza
I was walking looking at the sky
and I fell on my nose.
Now my whole body is bleeding.
My knees, the air, my memories.
My skirt was torn
and I lost my earrings, my reason.
Is there not in the soul
a different way
to live the end of love?
©Translated by Nicolás Suescún, 2004
© Maria Mercedes Carranza
From: Amor y desamor y otros poemas
Edritorial Norma, Bogatá, 1995
Lucía Pulido: http://www.luciapulido.com
Erik Friedlander: http://www.erikfriedlander.com/