The Sounds of Puerto Vallarta
Flor Estrada - CD
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$14.99 |
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Flor was run over by a truck after she walked behind it and it reversed back knocking her over. She lost both her legs and was fitted with prostheses. While visiting Gabriela in Puerto Vallarta, I decided to use my free time to help this lovely girl. Little did I realize how much she was going to help me. |
| In my efforts to record the sights and sounds of Puerto Vallarta which I donated to raise funds to help the family, I was many times dragged out of my comfort zone. Like when I wanted to record some soldiers shouting "Viva Flor". The first soldier I asked refused point blank and I humbly left with my head bowed in defeat. Then a pickup drove by with a group of them and, at first I hesitated, but the thought of that beautiful smile and the joy I found when I visited Flor, drove me on to try again. It was comical. These strong, powerful soldiers acted like shy little boys once they agreed to my request. We had to go around the corner out of sight of anyone to do this little piece. Even then, I had to bark at them, "Uno, dos, tres... "Viva Flor." It was hilarious me ordering these soldiers! |
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I was so honoured to be invited to Flor's first outing after she received her prostheses It was way up the top of
a hill and she had to climb over 100 steps to reach the home of two friends.
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As well as doing an impromptu
interview with Flor, I recorded Flor, and her sisters Griselda and Aurora
singing at the party.
(They're all keenly listening to what I recorded) What a wonderful family. Such love! It was a privilege to be with them at Paso Ancho that afternoon. You can hear some snippetsof their joyfulness by clicking the buttons to the right. My most treasured moment was when I left, Aurora (the sister in yellow) just took my hand and lead me down the hill to catch my bus. It was so spontaneous and so beautiful. |
Audio Samples Full versions of all the audio samples on this page are on the cd.
Flor Interview
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$14.99
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Track |
Listing |
| 1. Cadence | 2. Ay Jalisco |
| 3. Mariachi | 4. La Bamba - Tony Marques |
| 5. Mass in The Cathedral of our Lady Guadalupe | 6. An Interview with Flor |
| 7. Biri Biri - sung by Griselda | 8. En el agua clara |
| 9. Elephante | 10 .Mariposa |
| 11. A Cacophony of Mariachi arrive in the cathedral | 12. Hoy Ten Miedo de Mi - Canto Nuevo |
| 13. Mariachi performing in restaurant. | 14. Peruvian Song at Zapatas |
| 15. Adios - end of Mass | 16. La Muchila Azule |
| 17. Guantanamera - Tony Marques | 18. Peruvian Song at Zapatas |
| 19. Solo le pido - Canto Nuevo | 20. Quiero Ser - schoolchildren |
| 21. Tocareno | 22. Sombrero - Tony Marques |
| 23. Ojala | 24. Flor Interview |
| 26. Procession / Viva Flor |
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Alvarro (Right and with friends) is listening to his song which I recorded. I was given an impromptu concert as I sat in a cafe eating. When I finished, I joined these young street urchins and, after a couple of songs paid them a little something.
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| On the rooftop restaurant of the
Hotel Encino where I was staying, I approached these two superb musicians
and asked them if they would play a couple of songs for Flor. They sat
down right at my table and serenaded me. "Ok Floresita" (little Flor) |
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 Ay Jalisco
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"I highly recommend ICDSoft.
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Quiero Ser |
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Viva Flor! |
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Got up very early one morning so I could get some schoolchildren to help me realize the ending which I had literally dreamed the night before for my cd. I wanted a "big finish" with lots of voices chanting "Viva Flor ! Viva Flor!" You can imagine my utter disappointment when I got to the school and received a very frosty reception from the principal who wouldn't allow me to record any chidren. It was with a heavy heart I walked to the post office to mail my postcards. As I was leaving the post office, my ears did a double take. Was that the sound of many children I could hear? It was ! Another school. Yeah !! I strode boldly forward and found a willing maestra (the lady in blue) to become my willing accomplice. She insisted that they also sing "Quiero Ser". What a beautiful "accident." My life is so wonderfully abundant with such serendipitous events. |
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In a restaurant on the Boardwalk called "Zapata's", I was treated to the unusual sounds of a Peruvian / Bolivian group with a huge array of panpipes and other traditional instruments. While they were playing this piece, an uncanny thing happened as you'll hear.
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During the
incredible Festival of the Virgin de Guadalupe in Puerto Vallarta,the
streets are just lined with thousands upon thousands of men, women and
children patiently moving forward at a snail's pace to pay their respects
and offer a gift to the Virgin. Inside this beautiful church all different
kinds of bands march in playing the same infectious tune. Some in a jazz
style,
others
Mariachi
Band like this
one,
mariachi. At one point
there is this amazing cacophony as one band is totally inside the church
and another is coming in too. What a sound!!! And if only you could see
the pride on the faces of these fine men as they sang this song. |
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Other titles available:
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Can you imagine 15 musicians recorded in a room measuring 12' x 12' !!! Recorded in Kampala, Uganda
Click on the photo to visit the website.
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Karigirwa Sandra Listening to this voice, you would never know that she was a victim of the Rwandan genocide. Sandra sings in French, Lugandan, Swahili and English. Everyone remarks upon the purity and clarity of this beautiful girl's voice.
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These are delightful Scottish
children's stories written by Margo Fallis and read by Gordon Nicol
with his rich, distinctive Scottish accent.
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Children of Uganda
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Watch the dances and listen to the songs of these wonderful, beautiful amazing orphans from Uganda who toured the US to raise funds for their orphanage. |
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Romantic poetry read with a rich, Scottish sexy accent
Click
here to listen.
" I was transported to a sweet little river
somewhere in a very green place as I listened to the words, and I almost
believed I was 20 again, and someone's truest love."
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