Top Banner
caveinspiredmusic.com RECORDINGS IN NATURAL CAVES SPAIN _____________________________________ Cova de'n Xoroi Isle of Minorca, Balearic Isles RIC-ES1 Japan 2005 LIVE AT THE COVA RIC Smooth Jazz Instrumental Cave Pic Cover Selections: 1. Miracles 2:29/ 2. Duffin’ Round – 5:54/ 3. You Got It All 5:03/ 4. 3 on the B 6:49/ 5. Land of Nod 8:03/ 6. The Tin Drum 6:03/ 7. LA COVA 2:07/ 8. The Minx 5:12/ 9. Spooky 7:07 10. Fire Eater 4:49 Perf: THE NEW MASTERSOUNDS Eddie Roberts (guitar) Bob Birch (organ) Pete Shand (bass) Simon Allen (drums) Prod. Co: P-Vine Records; Tokyo Rec. Loc: La Cova d'en Xoroi, Menorca Rec. Date: August 26-27, 2005 Time: (See above) A. Japanese CD: LIVE AT THE COVA (PC-RE) P-Vine PCD-23744 B. American Reissue CD: LIVE AT THE COVA (PC-RE) 3 on the B (No Cat. No.) (2006) Notes: The discotheque club “La Cova” (the Catalan word for cave), occupies a natural cave in the cliffs along the southern coast of Minorca in the Balearic Islands, Spain. The cave, Cova d’en Xoroi, near Porter, located halfway down the sheer littoral cliffs, is reached by a stairway. It consists of several rooms, two of which have dance floors. This group released another CD album in 2005, entitled “This Is What We Do,” which includes an earlier studio version of the cave-inspired piece, “La Cova,” plus several other selections which are also on this album (see under Jazz Music Fusion). Ref: Anon. 2014, The New Mastersounds, Live at La Cova CD, Product Description, Amazon The New Mastersounds, Bio, Wikipedia The New Mastersounds, Live at the Cova CD, Discogs _____________________________________________________ Cova do Rei Cintolo Mondoñedo, Galicia RIC-ES2 Spain 2003
15

RECORDINGS IN NATURAL CAVES - … · studio version of the cave-inspired piece, ... slightly different notes in English ... (LE CHANT DES PIERRES)

Jun 30, 2018

Download

Documents

hoangdang
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Page 1: RECORDINGS IN NATURAL CAVES - … · studio version of the cave-inspired piece, ... slightly different notes in English ... (LE CHANT DES PIERRES)

caveinspiredmusic.com

RECORDINGS IN NATURAL CAVES

SPAIN

_____________________________________ Cova de'n Xoroi Isle of Minorca, Balearic Isles

RIC-ES1 Japan 2005

LIVE AT THE COVA RIC – Smooth Jazz – Instrumental – Cave Pic Cover

Selections: 1. Miracles – 2:29/ 2. Duffin’ Round – 5:54/ 3. You Got It All – 5:03/ 4. 3 on the B – 6:49/ 5. Land of Nod – 8:03/ 6. The Tin Drum – 6:03/ 7. LA COVA – 2:07/ 8. The Minx – 5:12/ 9. Spooky – 7:07 10. Fire Eater – 4:49

Perf: THE NEW MASTERSOUNDS Eddie Roberts (guitar) Bob Birch (organ) Pete Shand (bass) Simon Allen (drums) Prod. Co: P-Vine Records; Tokyo Rec. Loc: La Cova d'en Xoroi, Menorca Rec. Date: August 26-27, 2005 Time: (See above) A. Japanese CD: LIVE AT THE COVA (PC-RE)

P-Vine PCD-23744 B. American Reissue CD: LIVE AT THE COVA (PC-RE)

3 on the B (No Cat. No.) (2006) Notes: The discotheque club “La Cova” (the Catalan word for cave), occupies a natural cave in the cliffs along the southern coast of Minorca in the Balearic Islands, Spain. The cave, Cova d’en Xoroi, near Porter, located halfway down the sheer littoral cliffs, is reached by a stairway. It consists of several rooms, two of which have dance floors. This group released another CD album in 2005, entitled “This Is What We Do,” which includes an earlier studio version of the cave-inspired piece, “La Cova,” plus several other selections which are also on this album (see under Jazz Music – Fusion). Ref: Anon. 2014, The New Mastersounds, Live at La Cova CD, Product Description, Amazon The New Mastersounds, Bio, Wikipedia The New Mastersounds, Live at the Cova CD, Discogs

_____________________________________________________

Cova do Rei Cintolo Mondoñedo, Galicia RIC-ES2 Spain 2003

Page 2: RECORDINGS IN NATURAL CAVES - … · studio version of the cave-inspired piece, ... slightly different notes in English ... (LE CHANT DES PIERRES)

AS COVAS DO REI CINTOLO * (THE CAVERN DANCE) RIC – World – Celtic – Traditional – Instrumental – Speleolithophonic Comp: (Traditional) Arr: Carlos Núñez, Pancho Álvarez, & Xurxo Núñez Rts: (SACEM)

Perf: Carlos NÚÑEZ (recorder)

Xurxo Núñez (bodhran, drums, timbales, percussion, guitars, keyboards, vibraphone, & stalactites or speleolithophone) Pancho Álvarez (bouzouki, electric guitar) Begoña Riobó (fiddle) Paloma Trigás & Sara Pérez (violins) José Vera (bass) Bagad Ronsed Mor Lokoal Mendon & Kevrenn Altré Auray (bagpipes & Breton bombard) Prod: Jacques Bernard Prod. Co: Label Productions Liner Notes: Carlos Núñez Time: 3:34 A. Original Spanish CD: ALMAS DE FISTERRA

Sony SM 5110229 (Tk 10) B. French CD: FINISTERRE: THE END OF THE EARTH (2003) Saint George SAN 512404 2 (Tk 10 – Titled: THE CAVERN DANCE) C. American CD: FINISTERRE: THE END OF THE EARTH (2003) Sony Music 5124042 (Tk 10 – Titled: THE CAVERN DANCE) Notes: A fine piece of traditional Celtic music, originally a Breton 2/4 Notes: Cova do Rei Cintolo is the longest cave in Galicia; in 1994 it was 6.5 kilometers long. Located in Argomoso near the town of Mondoñedo in northwestern Spain, this cave is gated but can be visited on organized tours. The Spanish liner notes tell the story – “Escondidas en las montañas de Mondoñeda, en plena “Galicia britoniese,” se encuetran estas fascinantes cuevas aún no exploradas en su totalidad por el hombre “actual.” Decía D. Alvaro Cunqueiro que los habitantes de sus alrededores aseguraban que allí vivía el Rei Cintolo que, según muchos, no era otro que el mismísimo rey Arturo. Adentrándonos en ellas, a cuatro horas de viaje hacia el centro de la tierra, descubrimos espacios tan sugerentes y literarios como la “Sala de los Apóstoles,” la de “Valle Inclán,” con sus estalactitas en forma de enormes barbas, o el peligroso “Laberinto de Augustias” que lleva hasta la “Sala de Organos,” una verdadera catedral interrestre. Hasta allí bajamos mi hermano Xurxo y yo, junto a un grupo de amigos espeleólogos, para grabar el

sonido de sus enormes estalactitas que aquí podéis escuchar. Al tocar este “an dro,” que es una célebre danza bretona, las resonancias de la flauta junto a éstas eran sobrecogedoras y parecían poder despertar a los antiquos habitantes de las cuevas y asistir a nuestra llameda en forma de extraños ecos.” [Hidden in the mountains of Mondoneda, in the middle of “Breton Galicia,” one finds these fascinating caves still not entirely explored by men “of today.” Alvaro Cunqueiro said that the residents of the surrounding area affirmed that there had lived King Cintolo, who many argued was none other than King Arthur himself. When we entered this cave, four hours journey to the center of the earth, we discovered spaces so very suggestive and literary such as “The Room of the Apostles” or “The Inclan Valley,” with its stalactites in the form of enormous beards, or the hazardous “Labyrinth of Augustus,” which lead to the “Organ Room,” a veritable cathedral inside the earth. There we descended, my brother Xurxo and I, together with a group of caving friends, to record the sound of the enormous stalactites that one can listen to here. When one tapped this “an dro,” which is a famous

Page 3: RECORDINGS IN NATURAL CAVES - … · studio version of the cave-inspired piece, ... slightly different notes in English ... (LE CHANT DES PIERRES)

Breton dance, the resonances of the flute along with this were breathtaking and it seemed that we could awaken those ancient inhabitants of the cave to attend our call in the form of strange echoes.] The American and French releases of this CD renamed the piece “The Cavern Dance” and provided slightly different notes in English -- “I have played this ”an dro” all over the world. It is the most popular Breton dance and I have seen audiences dancing to it in Japan, Australia, Italy, US… Somehow I feel this mysterious tune can be danced in any place and in any time… even in a cave inhabited in prehistoric times. I recorded the stalactites sounds inside Galicia’s biggest cave. Legends say that it was the home of King Arthur and his troops who were disguised as crows. I had to walk inside it for hours with some speleologists friends, but it was worth it when we arrived to what they called the Organ Hall and my brother started playing rhythms on the impressive stalactites. I couldn’t help remembering this time that kept everyone down there dancing!” (Liner notes) The 2005 map of the cave system is by the Grupo Espeleologico Universidad Laboral de la Coruña, recopied from a 1978-1979 map. The Sala de Organos is the big room located to the south of the main entrance (indicated here by a red arrow).

The original Spanish liner notes are a bit misleading when they imply that this piece was recorded in the cave. Carlos says that he was in the cave with his brother and a group of caving friends and he recorded Xurxo playing on the stalactites in the Organ Room. When combining his Spanish and English texts it becomes clear that Carlos played this piece on flute together with his brother on speleolithophone (stalactite percussion) and they heard the resonances and people danced, but he never says they recorded the instrumental music there in the cave. The personnel credits for this piece lists nine musicians as having participated in the recording: Xurxo plays five different percussion instruments (including guitar, keyboards, & vibraphone) and some of the other musicians play two instruments. All of this clearly shows that the recording was made in a studio on different tracks and later mixed using the stalactite percussion that was recorded in the cave. See under World Music – Spain – Celtic – As Covas do Rei Cintolo Ref: Anon. 2009, Cova do Rei Cintolo, Data & Maps (in Spanish), turismoenxebre Anon. 2013, Leyendas gallegas: A Cova de Rei Cintolo (in Spanish), wordpress

Carlos Nuñez, Biography (in Spanish), es.wikipedia Carlos Nuñez, Finisterre: The End of the Earth CD, discogs Carlos Nuñez, As Covas do Rei Cintolo (3:45) YouTube (◄COMPLETE AUDIO-VIDEO SAMPLE) Diaz Prieto, Manuel, Las 30 cavidades gallegas más significativas, Subterránea, n. 2, Oct. 1994, p. 19, 26-27 Duckeck, Jocken 2011, Cova do Rei Cintolo, Spanish Show Caves, ShowCaves

Núñez, Carlos 2003, Liner notes for this CD

_____________________________________________________

Page 4: RECORDINGS IN NATURAL CAVES - … · studio version of the cave-inspired piece, ... slightly different notes in English ... (LE CHANT DES PIERRES)

Cueva de Altamira Santillana del Mar, Cantabria

RIC-ES3 France 2001

EL CANTO DE LAS PIEDRAS * (LE CHANT DES PIERRES) (SONG OF THE STONES) RIC – Contemporary – Experimental – Speleolithophonic – Film Music – Vocal & Instrumental – Cave Pic Cover

Selections: 1. SORTILEGIO DE LAS SOMBRAS [Bewitching Shadows] – 3:14/ 2. EL CANTO DE LAS PIEDRAS [Song of the Stones] - Part 1: TRANCE – 1:09/ 3. HUELLA [Hand-print] – 0:57/ 4. ANIMA – 2:10/ 5. MANOS ROJOS, MANOS NEGRAS [Red Hands, Black Hands] – 1:31/ 6. EL CANTO DE LAS PIEDRAS – Part 2: VIAGE [Journey] – 2:26/ 7. RENACIMENTO [Born Again] – 2:26/ 8. EL CANTO DE LAS PIEDRAS – Part 3: VISION – 2:29/ 9. FERTILIDAD [Fertility] – 1:20/ 10. LA LLAMADO DE LOS ANTEPASADOS [Call of the Ancestors] – 3:50/ 11. INICIACION [Initiation] – 1:12/ 12. EL CANTO DE LAS PIEDRAS – Part 4: VUELTA [Return] – 3:22/ 13. EL PODER DEL OCRE [The Power of Ochre] – 1:58/ 14. DANZA DEL HOMBRE-BISONTE [Dance of the Bull-Man] – 2:05/ 15. RAICES DEL TIEMPO [Origins of Time] – 4:11/ 16. MURMULLO DE VIDA [Invisible Presences] – 4:12

Comp: (Music improvised by musicians) Rts: (SACEM)

Perf: François CLAERHOUT (lithophones, rhombus, whistles, & Jew's harp) Philippe Claerhout (lithophones & synthesizer) Thierry MORENO (lithophones, rhombus, whistles, wooden drum, & Jew's harp) Philippe Rougé (lithophones) Michael Geyre (lithophones) Boris LELONG (lithophones & rhombus) Joon CLAUDIO (lithophones, flute, whistles, &

Jew's harp) [Shaman – from Henri Lecomte's recordings] Prod. Co: Le Chant des Pierres Sacrées; Villeneuve sur Lot,

France Rec. Eng: François Claerhout & Boris Lelong Liner Notes: (?) (Spanish trans.: William Sanz & English trans.: Paul Keulers & Guillaume Sindicq) Time: (See above) CD: EL CANTO DE LAS PIEDRAS – LE CHANT DES PIERRES – SONG OF THE STONES

LCDPS 01 (Tks 1-16) Notes: This is speleolithophonic music especially composed and performed in caves for a 16-minute Spanish documentary film, El Sueño del chamán – The Shaman’s Dream, released in 2001 with English subtitles. Most of the 16 tracks on this album of "prehistoric music" were recorded in the Grotte de Pech-Merle in France. But apparently some unspecified tracks were also recorded at Cueva de Altamira in Cantabria. These speleolithophonic music pieces were certainly not recorded in the Paleolithic art cave or at least not where the cave paintings are situated. Most likely it was recorded in the nearby Nueva Cueva, which is a small formation cave about 100m from the famous cave. This New Cave was discovered in 1928 while quarrying for stone to be used for the new road to the cave. For details about each selection see under Contemporary Art Music – Speleolithophonic Music – El Canto

de las piedras. Ref: XII Alfonso, El Canto de las piedras – Le Chant des pierres – Song of the Stones CD, Review in English & French, musearecords Cueva de Altamira, Description (in Spanish) Wikipedia & (in English) Wikipedia Obermaier, O. 1928, Las Cuevas de Altamira, Patronato Nacional del Turismo, Madrid, 24p.

_____________________________________________________

Page 5: RECORDINGS IN NATURAL CAVES - … · studio version of the cave-inspired piece, ... slightly different notes in English ... (LE CHANT DES PIERRES)

Cueva del Castillo Puente Viesgo, Cantabria

RIC-ES4 France 2001

EL CANTO DE LAS PIEDRAS * (LE CHANT DES PIERRES) (SONG OF THE STONES) RIC – Contemporary – Experimental – Speleolithophonic –

Film Music – Vocal & Instrumental – Cave Pic Cover

Selections: (See above entry) Perf: (See above entry) Prod. Co: Le Chant des Pierres Sacrées;

Villeneuve sur Lot, France Rec. Eng: François Claerhout & Boris Lelong Time: (See above entry) CD: EL CANTO DE LAS PIEDRAS – LE CHANT DES PIERRES – SONG OF THE STONES (PC-RE)

LCDPS 01 (Tks 1-16)

Notes: Most of the 16 tracks on this album of "prehistoric music" were recorded in the Grotte de Pech-Merle in France. But apparently some unspecified tracks were also recorded at Cueva del Castillo in Cantabria. Once again it is unlikely that they recorded in the Cueva del Castillo or at least not anywhere near the cave paintings. It is far more likely that they played their lithophonic music on calcite draperies in the nearby Cueva de las Monedas, which has fewer paintings and also a suitable ribbon drapery. Both caves are part of what is called the Cuevas del Monte Castillo (see map). The Paleolithic negative hand print on the cover of this CD is in the Cueva del Castillo. There are more than 50 negative hand prints in this cave. For details about each selection see under Contemporary Art Music – Speleolithophonic Music – El Canto

de las piedras. Ref: El Castello Cave, Paleolithic Art, unican.es Cueva del Castello, Info (in Spanish), cuevasturisticas.es Cueva de las Monedas, Info (in Spanish), asturnatura Grotte de Castello, Info (in French), Wikipedia Gutiérrez Saez, José Luis & Ceballos, José María 1995, Visita Puente Viesgo y las Cuevas del Monte Castello, Editorial Everest S.A., León, 71p. Riancho Pena, Alfredo & Ceballos del Moral, José ca.2003, Puente Viesgo – Its Prehistoric Caves & Nearby Sights, Editorial Escudo de Oro, Barcelona, 36p.

_____________________________________________________ Cueva dels Coloms Canyamel, Mallorca, Balearic Islands

Page 6: RECORDINGS IN NATURAL CAVES - … · studio version of the cave-inspired piece, ... slightly different notes in English ... (LE CHANT DES PIERRES)

RIC-ES5 Germany 1990

THE-VOICE-OF-CAVE RIC – Nature Sounds Prod: Michael Weisser Prod. Co: Deutsche Austrophon; Diepholz Rec. Eng: Michael Weisser Rec. Loc: Canyamel, Mallorca Time: 6:50 (6:19) A. German CD: OCEAN

Software IC 710.088 (Tk 8) A. Russian CD: OCEAN (2000)

Landy Star Music LS-3559 (Tk 8) Notes: On the back cover of the liner notes is this message “Dedicated to the Waves of Canyamel” and Canyamel is on the northeast coast of Mallorca, not far from the show cave Cuevas de Artà. Field checking along the rocky coast at Canyamel, about 500m east of the beach at Hotel Castell Royal, I found this nice marine cave at the Embarcadero del Rey. Bearing north northwest, it was 7m wide and 6m high at the entrance and looked to be over 10m long. However, there were no waves that day. Nearby was a wide natural arch in weathered limestone and a small sucking hole that ebbed and flowed, making some noise, due to its connection with the sea under the coastal apron. The photo shows a nylon Tarzan rope hanging down in front of the cave entrance and in the distance the natural arch. On this album that combines natural sounds of the ocean and sea gulls with synthesizer and acoustic music, this last selection is just the sound of small waves occasionally crashing and echoing inside a sea cave with the continuous sound of larger waves breaking on the shore outside. The same "soundenvironment" track is used for the intro or the closing of several other pieces on this album. Ref: Garau, Climent 2005, Las cuevas de Artà, Edicions Documenta Balear, Photo, (pl. 4) Martinez, Mercedes 2015, Personal communication, June 16, 2015, Hotel Castell Royal, Canyamel, Majorca Software, Ocean CD, Amazon.fr Software, Ocean CD, Discogs

_____________________________________________________ Cuevas del Drach Porto Cristo, Isle of Majorca

RIC-ES6 Germany 2003

CUEVAS DEL DRACH (UNTER PALMEN SIND HÖHLEN) * RIC – Nature Sounds – Spoken Word

Perf: (Tourists and Cave Guide) Prod. Co: Medien Vertrieb; Karlsruhe Rec. Eng: Michael Meyer Liner Notes: (8-page booklet in German & English) Time: 4:33 1. CD: 100% PURE MALLORCA Wea (Warner) (?) (Tk 9) 2. CD: 100% PURE MALLORCA – THE SOUND OF

THE ISLAND (ca.2005) Pure Orbit (?) (Tk 9)

Notes: The subtitle here means “under the palm trees are caves.” This is simply a recording of sounds of tourists in the cave, the guide, and a bit of the concert at Lake Martel. The German liner notes describe the track – “Die ersten Stufen sind noch trocken, dann wird der Abstieg rutschig. Stalagmiten und Stalaktiten begrüssen die zahlende Schar. Dumpf wird es und Wasser tropft von der Decke. Man schlängelt sich durch wirre Gänge bis zur grossen Halle: Lautsprecher erklären vielsprachig, irgendwo erklingt Musik – Applaus verhallt.”

Page 7: RECORDINGS IN NATURAL CAVES - … · studio version of the cave-inspired piece, ... slightly different notes in English ... (LE CHANT DES PIERRES)

The English text is neither an exact nor very accurate translation – “The descent starts getting slippery. Stalactites are welcoming the many people. Sounds are muted and water is dripping from the ceiling. Meandering isles (sic) towards the huge hall. Loudspeaker (sic) are explaining everything in many different languages. Somewhere music starts playing. The applause dies.” What is actually heard are murmurs, people talking and coughing, different languages especially German, echoing voices, kids yelling, water drops, and what sounds like running water. The loud speaker introduces something in Spanish and German then music can be heard in the distance. Someone nearby in the audience speaks in Spanish. There is no applause just more crowd sounds and then all fades.

The only photo showing lots of people in the cave that could be found dates to around 1945. The second photo shows the Lake Martel and the boats used during the concert. Ref: 100% Pure Mallorca CD, Amazon.de Capó Valls de Padrinas, Juan ; P.B. et al. 1930, Las Cuevas del Drach, Palma de Mallorca, p. 36-37, 53, 109-110, & 138 Cuevas del Drach, Website, (in Spanish) cuevasdrach & (in English), cuevasdrach Ducheck, Jochen 2012, Cuevas del Drach, showcaves Ferrer Gibert, Pedro & Costa Ferrer, José 1945, Las Cuevas de Arta y de Manacor, Galerías Costa, Palma de Mallorca, p. 46

_____________________________________________________ Cueva de Nerja Nerja, Malaga

RIC-ES7 Spain ca.1965

CAMPANAS DE LA CUEVA DE NERJA RIC – Speleolithophonic – World – Popular – Vocal & Instrumental – Cave Pic Cover

Selections: Side One – 1. INTRODUCCION (Campanas de Nerja [Bells of Nerja]) – 0:54/ 2. Evocacion de la Malagueña (Pavón) – 2 :43 Side Two – 1. Vengo de los Montes – Verdiales (Dúrcal) – 2 :16/ 2. Malagueña Grande del Mellizo (Pavón) – 2:28 Rts: (SGAE)

Perf: Rocío DÚRCAL (vocal)

Arturo PAVÓN (piano) (with orchestra) Sponsor: Patronato de la Cueva de Nerja Prod. Co: Manuel Rubio y Cía. Time: (See above) EP: CAMPANAS DE LA CUEVA DE NERJA (PC-RE)

Philips 436 318 PE (mono) Spec: 7" 45rpm (EP) (Sides 1 & 2) Notes: A world-class show cave near Malaga that holds a music festival every year, Festival Internacional de Música y Danza, with concerts featuring major artists in the field of classical music, ballet, and world music. The magnificent Sala de la Cascada (or Sala del Ballet) is a huge chamber, 25m high and 30m wide, where the raised stage (54m²) stands in front of an enormous calcite flowstone and drapery display. Temporary stainless steel bleachers with seating for over 1,000 spectators have been set up overlooking the stage. The first selection Campanas de Nerja (Bells of Nerja) is speleolithophonic music played on calcite draperies somewhere in the cave; a familiar tune followed by bell-like tones tolling out 6 o’clock. However the other selections were probably recorded in a studio, that is, the two piano and orchestra pieces and the flamenco song with claquettes.

Page 8: RECORDINGS IN NATURAL CAVES - … · studio version of the cave-inspired piece, ... slightly different notes in English ... (LE CHANT DES PIERRES)

The EP cover photo is a view of the Sala de los Fantasmas (Chamber of Ghosts). The other photos show (on lt.) the Orquesta Filarmónica de Malaga in 2006 (photo by Guerrero) and (on rt.) Cristina Hoyos in 1995 (photo by A. Sanchildrián). Ref: Aono. 2013, Historia del Festival, Fundación Cueva de Nerja, (in Spanish) cuevadenerja & (in English) cuevadenerja Cueva de Nerja, Info (in Spanish) Wikipedia & Caves of Nerja, Info (in English), Wikipedia Durán, Juan José & Carrasco, Francisco 1994, Cueva de Nerja (The Nerja Cave), Fundación Cueva de Nerja, 24p. Garces, Ricardo; Fueste, Miguel; Rodriguez Martin, Maria et al. 1977, La Cueva de Nerja (The Cave of Nerja), Graficas San Andres S.A., Malaga, 118p. Ortega Rodriguez, Eduardo ; Garces, Ricardo et al. 1971, La Cave de Nerja, (in French), Nerja, Malaga,181p. Rocío Dúrcal, Bio, Wikipedia

_____________________________________________________ Cueva de los Verdes & Jameos del Agua Arrieta, Isle of Lanzarote, Canary Islands

RIC-ES8 Spain 1996

VII FESTIVAL DE MUSICA VISUAL DE LANZAROTE * RIC – Classical – Orchestral – Vocal – Cave Pic Cover

Selections: 1. Cello Chi (S. Hopkins) – 11:29/ 2. Future heat (T. Gurtu) – 13:38/ 3. Nove Alberti (H. Budd) – 6:31/ Marion Brown (Sweet Earth Flying) (H. Budd) – 3:05/ 4. Radio Tarifa (Juan Arteche & Javier Bergia) – 9:35/ 5. Very, Very Good (M. Ziegler) – 8:57/ 6. Star Path, We, the Navigators – Maui, Tu, and Hiro Play the Ocean Drum – Tangia Takes Ten to Tango (S. Scott) – 11:11

Perf: Sarah HOPKINS; Trilok GURTU; Harold BUDD; FINIS AFRICAE; Matthias ZIEGLER; & Stephen SCOTT Prod. Co: Festival de Musica Visual Rec. Co: Digitrón Studios Rec. Eng: Román Grau Rec. Date: Oct. 10-19, 1996 M. ZIEGLER Time: (See above) CD: VII FESTIVAL DE MUSICA VISUAL DE LANZAROTE (PC-RE) Festival de Musica Visual (No cat. no.) (Tks 1 - 6) Notes: A concert organized by the Cabildo de Lanzarote that took place in the Concert Hall of the Cueva de los Verdes and in the lava tube Auditorio of the Jameos del Agua from Oct. 10 to 19, 1996. Curiously the title of track 4 is Radio Tarifa which is the name of a fusion world music group who recorded a cave-inspired flamenco piece in 1996 (see under World Music – Spain – Flamenco Music – Las Cuevas). The Cueva de los Verdes is a lava tube show cave that occupies a segment of a larger lava tube system that is over 6 km long and has 21 jameos (pukas or collapse hole entrances) along its length (see map).

Page 9: RECORDINGS IN NATURAL CAVES - … · studio version of the cave-inspired piece, ... slightly different notes in English ... (LE CHANT DES PIERRES)

J. A. Artiche FINIS AFRICAE Marcus The Concert Hall is located some distance inside the cave and it has seating for up to 500 people (photo on left). The floor is level here and the raised stage is placed either at the far end or to one side in the middle of the seating.

Further downflow is another show cave, Jameos del Agua, another segment of this same lave tube. Here one can enter by two different pukas, first Jameo Chico, where a restaurant with lush vegetation has a small stage where live musical entertainment is provided during the evening meals. Continuing down to a lake and traversing along its edge one reaches a second larger stage area where folkloric dances and concerts are held. After progressing further west one comes out into the second puka where there is a large oval swimming pool. At the western end of this is the upflow extension of the cave, Jameo Grande, which has been transformed into a large concert hall, Auditorio, with terraced steps for seating sloping down to a large stage (photo on right). Due to some small ceiling collapse this concert hall has now been closed. All the tasteful alterations in the Jameos del Agua were designed by the famous native architect César Manrique.

Page 10: RECORDINGS IN NATURAL CAVES - … · studio version of the cave-inspired piece, ... slightly different notes in English ... (LE CHANT DES PIERRES)

There was also a cassette entitled, VII Festival de música visual de Lanzarote that was released in 1996, which included seven tracks, six of which were by artists on this CD and one by Anour Brahem. All of these tracks were different from those here. The cassette uses the same cover photo as the CD. However, it is not known if these selections were recorded in the caves. A contemporary coral and chamber orchestra, Coral Polifónica San Genés, performed a magnificent suite for two guitars and polyphonic choral singers, Suite de las Montañas del Fuego, at a concert in the Auditorio of the Jameos del Agua in 1990. This was later recorded in a studio and released around 2001. (See under Contemporary Art Music – Lyric & Choral – Suite de las Montañas del Fuego. Ref: Anon. n.d., Jameos del agua (Lago) - Lanzarote, (in Spanish & English), flickr Aguilar, Alejandro 2017, Personal Communication, Area de Cultura, Cabildo de Lanzarote, Arricife, 20 Jan. 2017 Bravo, Telesforo 1964, El volcán y el malpais de la Corona, La “Cueva de los Verdes” y los “Jameos,” Arrecife, 31p. La Cueva de los Verdes, Visitar el Centro (in Spanish), centroturisticos & Visiting the Centre (in English), centro Cueva de los Verdes, Info, Wikipedia Jameos del Agua, Visitar el Centro (in Spanish), centroturisticos & Visiting the Centre (in English), centro Lorenzo, Lidia & Porteros, Jesús A. 1996, La exploracion del piano a través de Stephen Scott, La Voz Diario de Lanzarote, 19 Oct. 1996, p. 14 Twelfth Visual Music Fezstival if Lanzarote, Officina del Festival, Lanzarote VII Festival de Musica Visual de Lanzarote, Octubre 1996, Program Booklet

_____________________________________________________ Cueva de los Verdes Arrieta, Isle of Lanzarote, Canary Islands

RIC-ES9 Spain 1995

THE LANZAROTE CONCERT * RIC – Contemporary – Electro Acoustic – Instrumental – Cave Pic Cover

Selections: CD 1 – 1. Roots – 26:45/ 2. Anderswelt 1 [Another World 1] – 17:00/ 3. Anderswelt 2 [Another World 2] – 27:10 CD 2 – 1. Tattva Viveka – 20:30/ 2. Celtic Moon – 21:15/ 3. Truth Insight – 18:15/ 4. Ham el Khior – 11:35

Comp: Mathias GRASSOW

Perf: Mathias GRASSOW (synthesizer, keyboards, percussion, & voice)

Rudiger Gleisberg (Disc 2 – Tk 2 – guitar) Klaus Wiese (singing bowls) Prod. Co: NO-CD Rekords; Madrid Rec. Date: 18 Oct. 1994 Time: (See above) CD: THE LAZAROTE CONCERT (PC-RE)

NO-CD CDNO 12 (2XCDs) (Disc 1 – Tks 1 to 3 & Disc 2 – Tks 4 to 7)

Notes: A concert organized by the Cabildo de Lanzarote that took place in the Concert Hall of the Cueva de los Verdes as part of the V Festival de Musica Visual. These recordings were made 8 days after the Enrique Mateu concert, but released two years before. The tray card photo montage here shows Grassow observing his concert in the cave. “Mathias Grassow is one of the true pioneers and long-time practitioners of electronic ambience and electronic minimalism. He has become widely recognized as ‘the King of the Ambient Drone’ and folks often compare his soundscapes to ‘organized refrigerator hum.’ They mean that as a compliment.” (Brenholts 2013) When asked what constitutes a good live performance, Mathias answered – “In this kind of music it’s very important, to have a nice place to play – not normal locations, but more places like a church, caves (remember my ‘Lanzarote concerts’) and open-airs.” (Grassow 2012) Mathias Grassow also composed an entire album of ambient music inspired by the two lava tube show caves of the Malpais de la Corona: Cuevas de las Verdes and Jameo del Agua. For more information about this CD, “Lanzarote Spirits,” see under Contemporary Art Music – Electronic.

Page 11: RECORDINGS IN NATURAL CAVES - … · studio version of the cave-inspired piece, ... slightly different notes in English ... (LE CHANT DES PIERRES)

Ref: Brentholts, Jim 2013, Mathias Grassow, Biography, Allmusic Grassow, Mathias 2012, 15 Questions to Mathias Grassow, Interview by Tobias Fischer, tokafi Mathias Grassow, Biography, Official Website, mathias-grasow.de Mathias Grassow, Biography, Wikipedia Mathias Grassow, The Lanzarote Concert CD, Amazon.fr (◄AUDIO SAMPLES) Mathias Grassow, The Lanzarote Concert CD, Discogs V Festival de Musica Visual de Lanzarote, 15-22 Octubre 1994, Program Booklet, p. 12-13

________________________________ RIC-ES10 Spain 1996

LANCELOT * RIC – Contemporary – Electro Acoustic – Instrumental

Selections: 1. Lancelot – 7:33/ 2. Yaiza – 4:02/ 3. Petit Papa Noël/ 4. El Cometa – 6:03/ 5. Mirador del Rio – 3:23/ 6. Primero el interior – 5:54/ 7. CUEVA DE LOS VERDES: FORMACIÓN – 10:21/ 8. CUEVA DE LOS VERDES: SEDIMENTACIÓN – 5:19/ 9. CUEVA DE LOS VERDES: JAMEOS – 4:02

Comp: Enrique MATEU

Perf: Enrique MATEU (synthesizer) Prod. Co: Gofio Records Rec. Date: 10 Oct. 1994 Time: (See above) CD: LANCELOT

Gofio (?) (Tks 1 to 9) Notes: A concert organized by the Cabildo de Lanzarote that took place in the Concert Hall of the Cueva de los Verdes as part of the V Festival de Musica Visual. Three of the pieces were inspired by the lava tube cave itself All three pieces could once be heard in their entirety at the Enrique Mateu official Website, but his site is now under reconstruction. The CD was also removed from the Allmusic Website. Regarding track 8: Sedimentación – This piece is badly titled for there is no “sedimentation” in a volcanic lava tube. For a discussion of these cave-inspired pieces see under Contemporary Art Music – Electronic – Cueva de los Verdes, etc. Ref: Enrique Mateu, Bio & Discography (in Spanish), Wikipedia Enrique Mateu, Lancelot CD, lastfm.fr V Festival de Musica Visual de Lanzarote, 15-22 Octubre 1994, Program Booklet, p. 10-11

_____________________________________________________

NOT RECORDED IN CAVES

Cuevas del Drach Porto Cristo, Isle of Majorca

RIC-ES11 Spain 1962

MALLORCA – CUEVAS – CAVES – GROTTES NOTRIC – Classical – Instrumental – Cave Pic Cover Selections: Side One – 1. Alborada (Caballero)/ 2. Estudio en "MI" Mayor, Op.10,No.3 (Chopin) Side Two – 1. Barcarola (Offenbach)/ 2. Largo (Händel)

Perf: ORQUESTA DE CAMARA SOLISTAS DE BARCELONA Domingo Segu (oboe solo) José Trotta (cello solo)

Page 12: RECORDINGS IN NATURAL CAVES - … · studio version of the cave-inspired piece, ... slightly different notes in English ... (LE CHANT DES PIERRES)

Cond: Domingo Ponsa Prod. Co: Discos Columbia S.A.; San Sebastian Time: EP: MALLORCA – CUEVAS – CAVES – GROTTES (PC-RE)

Columbia SCGE-80500 7" 45rpm (EP) (Sides 1 & 2)

Notes: The Cuevas del Drach (Dragon Caves) at Porto Cristo on the island of Majorca in Spain is famous for the live underground concerts, which are presented daily for the tourists. A large space with a 500 seating capacity (in 1976) slants down to the edge of Lake Martel (first crossed by E.A. Martel in 1896). The cover photo shows a photo of the Sala de las Imágenes (Hall of Images) (with the cheap, phony colored lighting), which is in the nearby Cuevas dels Hams. The Lago Martel and the Cúpula Moragues constitute one chamber that measures 140m (155m according to Martel) long, 70m (12m according to Martel) wide, and with a ceiling height of 16 to 18m above the lake’s surface. (Capó 1930) Writing about a concert on Lake Martel in September 1929, Juan Capó Valls de Padrinas says – “La sonata de Grieg, de Mendelsson, de Chopin… aletean en esta cavidad tan dulcemente… Las barcas orladas con centenares de pequeñas luces semejan maravillosas naves que nadie conduce… Y van mostrándote toda la immensidad de ese mar único en el mundo… Y en tanto la música vibra en todo, en el agua dormida, en la roca, en el aire, en ta propio corazón…“ (Capó 1930)

[The sonatas of Grieg, Mendelssohn, and Chopin ... tremble so sweetly in this cavity... The boats fringed with hundreds of tiny lights resemble the wonderful crafts that someone rows ... And they show you all the immensity of this sea unique in the world ... And the music resounds everywhere, in the sleepy water, on the rocks, in the air, in your own heart …] And another writer, P.B., adds – “Lástima,exclamé, al regresar de tan deliciosa jornada, que los excursionistas aficionados al arte musical al visitar las famosas Cuevas no puedan también gozar a sus anchas de tales conciertos o audiciones celebradas en el encantado lago Martel que, a decir de un técnico de nuestros días, es el recinto que tal vez reuna

mejores condiciones acústicas ; así la visita a las Cuevas del Drach subiría de valor y sería del todo ideal.“ (Capó 1930) [Too bad, I cried, returning from such a magnificent day, that hikers and musical art lovers that visit the famous caves cannot also enjoy at home such concerts and auditions held on the enchanted lake Martel. Go tell a technician of today, this is a space that maybe provides the best acoustic conditions, thus a visit to the Caves of Drach would increase in appeal and all would be quite perfect.] The photo (on left) shows a pianist and two violinists being rowed on Lake Martel during the concert. Today the show begins with the illumination of various sections of the lake, which is surrounded and overhung with numerous formations. Three gondola-type boats, each lit with a string of small lights, approach from the end of the lake on the right, pass in front of the audience, and enter the lake chamber off to the right. A small orchestra consisting of violin, cello, and a small pump organ occupies one of the gondolas and they play selections of classical music, mostly Chopin, Händel, and Offenbach. However, it needs to be said, that these boat concerts are entirely faked. The classical music is piped through loud speakers while musicians make a pretense of actually playing their instruments. They only have to get the fingering right at the very beginning of the concert; after that the boat goes around the rock buttress and the musicians are out of sight from the audience for the rest of the “concert.” I had always suspected this fakery and it has been confirmed by my caving friends in Majorca, Miquel Trias and Joan Ramon, members of the Speleo Club Mallorca. (Trias 2015) Once in a while live concerts are actually held in the cave, where musicians play on the small stage on the shore of Lake Martel just in front of the grandstands. The photo on the right shows the

Page 13: RECORDINGS IN NATURAL CAVES - … · studio version of the cave-inspired piece, ... slightly different notes in English ... (LE CHANT DES PIERRES)

singer Jaume Anglada during a concert there in July 2015. (Obrador 2015) This disc is probably meant to be considered as a recording of one of these “cave concerts” because it includes the compositions that are performed “live” in the cave. But the chamber orchestra here is far too large and the quality of the sound immediately reveals it as a studio recording. At one time this disc may have been sold at the postcard stand inside the original entrance of the Cuevas del Drach where the tourists then exited the cave. But mostly this disc was sold at the numerous souvenir shops near the harbor in Porto Cristo. Ref: Capó Valls de Padrinas, Juan ; P.B. et al. 1930, Las Cuevas del Drach, Palma de Mallorca, p. 36-37, 53, 109-110, & 138 Cuevas del Drach, Website, (in Spanish) cuevasdrach & (in English), cuevasdrach Ducheck, Jochen 2012, Cuevas del Drach, showcaves Obrador, T. 2015, Las cuevas del Drach dan musho juego, Diario de Mallorca, 10 Julio 2015 Trias, Miquel & Ramon, Joan 2015, Personal communication, June 11, 2015, Alcúdia, Majorca, Spain

________________________________ RIC-ES12 Spain 1967

MALLORCA Y SUS CUEVAS NOTRIC – Classical – Instrumental – Cave Pic Cover Selections: Side One – 1. Barcarola (Offenbach)/ 2. Largo (Händel) Side Two – 1. Tristesse (Chopin)/ 2. Alborada (Caballero) Arr: Miguel Aller

Perf: (Unknown Orchestra) Prod. Co: Discos Fonal; Palma de Mallorca Liner Notes: (?) Time: 1. EP: MALLORCA Y SUS CUEVAS (PC-RE)

Fonal RA-002 7" 45rpm (EP) (Sides 1 & 2)

2. Reissue EP: MALLORCA Y SUS CUEVAS ca.1974 Fonal RA-002 B 7" 45rpm (EP) (Sides 1 & 2)

Notes: Another disc with the same compositions, which are performed for the cave concerts in the Cuevas del Drach. The four pieces are presented on this disc in a different order than on the precedent disc and they are played by a different, smaller chamber orchestra at a slower tempo. Again this is a misleading cave recording, which was obviously made in a studio. The liner notes tell us – “The beautiful spectacle of light, colour and art seen by every visitor to these Mallorcan caves…” – all of which indicates that this EP is meant as a souvenir of all the show caves in

Mallorca and not specifically the Cuevas del Drach. The only difference between these two issues was the change of cave photos on the EP jacket cover and the different cover photos were all taken in the nearby Cuevas dels Hams. The map of the cave here dates to 1945. All the sections of the cave to the right of the red line, Cueva Negra & Cueva Blanca, are not visited today. Lago [Lake] Miramar, later renamed Lago Martel in honor of its discoverer, is labeled properly and the present-day exit of the commercial tour is indicated with an arrow in the upper portion to the left of the red line. Today the visitors enter at the other end of the cave in the Sala Luis Armand (named after Martel’s colleague) and eventually arrive at the Cúpula Moragues (shown on the map at the southeast end of Lake Martel). Here

Page 14: RECORDINGS IN NATURAL CAVES - … · studio version of the cave-inspired piece, ... slightly different notes in English ... (LE CHANT DES PIERRES)

grandstands have been installed on the sloping floor for the audience to attend the classical music “concert” as described above. Ref: Cuarteto De Cuerda Mallorca, Mallorca – Grottes – Cuevas EP, Discogs Ferrer Gibert, Pedro & Costa Ferrer, José 1945, Las Cuevas de Arta y de Manacor, Galerías Costa, Palma de Mallorca, p. 31

From Bob et Bobette – Les fantomes musiciens, 1981 – Drawing by Willy Vandersteen modified by DB

________________________________ RIC-ES13 Spain 1978

MALLORCA – CUEVAS – CAVES – GROTTES NOTRIC – Classical – Instrumental – Cave Pic Cover Selections: Side One – 1. Tristesse (Chopin) – 2:30/ 2. Barcarola (Offenbach) – 1:52 Side Two – 1. Reverie (Schumann) – 2:07/ 2. Claro de luna (Beethoven) – 2:45 Arr: Miguel Aller

Perf: (Unknown Orchestra) Cond: (?) Prod. Co: Discos Maller S.A.; Palma de Mallorca Time: (See above) EP: MALLORCA – CUEVAS – CAVES – GROTTES (PC-RE)

Maller RA-002 7" 45rpm (EP) (Sides 1 & 2)

Notes: Yet another EP of classical music recorded in the studio, this time including two pieces already released plus two unreleased pieces; all arranged by Miguel Aller. The text and layout on the back cover of this EP is identical to the reissue EP on the Fonal label (see precedent entry). A different show cave photo has been used for the cover, yet another taken in the Cuevas dels Hams, this time the Paraíso perdito de Milton [Milton’s Paradise Lost]. In the 1970s this disc was sold at the numerous souvenir shops near the harbor in Porto Cristo.

________________________________

Page 15: RECORDINGS IN NATURAL CAVES - … · studio version of the cave-inspired piece, ... slightly different notes in English ... (LE CHANT DES PIERRES)

RIC-ES14 Spain 1979

CUEVAS DEL DRACH NOTRIC – Classical – Popular – Instrumental – Cave Pic Cover Selections: Side One – 1. Aires bohemios (P. de Saraste) – 2:23/ 2. Barcarola (J. Offenbach) – 2:42/ 3. Serenata (Schubert) – 4:14/ 4. Tristesse (Chopin) – 3:11/ 5. Largo (G. F. Händel) – 3:03/ 6. Alborada (M. F. Caballero) – 2:59 Side Two – 1. Boleros mallorquines (Popular)/ 2. Parado de Valldemosa (Popular)/ 3. Jota pagesa (Popular)/ 4. Una rosa en cada galta (Popular)/ 5. Jota de pagesia (B. Calatayud)/ 6. Copeo de mutanya (Popular)/ 7. Mateixa de na Maria (Popular)

Perf: (Different Orchestras) Prod. Co: Cardisc S.A.; Barcelona & Dial Discos; Madrid Time: (See above) & (Side 2 - Total) 18:47 1. LP: CUEVAS DEL DRACH (PC-RE)

Cardisc D-2042 12” 33rpm (stereo) (Sides 1 & 2)

2. Reissue LP: CUEVAS DEL DRACH (1986) (PC-RE) Dial 54.9349 12” 33rpm (Sides 1 & 2)

Notes: An LP where side one is devoted to providing the different classical music pieces that are played over the sound system during the so-called live concerts in the Cuevas del Drach. Side two is entirely devoted to selections of Spanish popular music from Majorca and elsewhere. None of this music was recorded in the cave. Ref: Howes, Chis 1997, Personal communication, Chaux-de-Fonds

________________________________ RIC-ES15 Spain 1994

LA MÚSICA DE LAS CUEVAS DEL DRACH NOTRIC – Classical – Instrumental – Cave Pic Cover Selections: 1. Tristesse (Chopin) – 5:08/ 2. Barcarole (Offenbach) – 3:20/ 3. Adagio (Albinoni) – 7:56/ 4. Alborada (Caballero) – 3:01/ 5. Canon (Pachelbel) – 5:42/ 6. Air from Suite for Orchestra (Bach) – 5:46/ 7. Serenade (Schubert) – 4:31/ 8. Menut (L. Boccherini) – 3:35/ 9. Rondo (Mozart) – 3:27/ 10. Largo (Händel) – 2:39/ 11. Allegro from “Faust” (Gounod) – 2:37/ 12. Largo (Händel) – 5:32/ 13. Plaisir d’amour (popular) – 2:46

Perf: (11 Different Orchestras) Prod. Co: Open Records S.L.; Barcelona Time: (See above) Total 56:06 CD: LA MÚSICA DE LAS CUEVAS DEL DRACH (PC-RE)

Open CD 2034 (Tk 1 – 13) Notes: Another disc devoted to providing the different classical music pieces that are performed during the concerts in the Cuevas del Drach. Nine different orchestras perform here, ranging from the Pro Musica Symphony Orchestra to the Munich Symphonic Orchestra to the London Symphony Orchestra. Obviously none of this music was recorded in the cave. The cover photo is of the formations at the Mar de Venecia (The Venetian Sea) in the nearby Cueva del Hams. Ref: La Musica de las Cuevas del Drach CD, Discogs La Musica de las Cuevas del Drach CD, melodig (◄AUDIO SAMPLES)

caveinspiredmusic.com