The Spanish Cello
Even though it might still be some time before the world gets back to normal, I can't help but feel optimistic at the beginning of this new year. TAPEO, my new tapas-inspired CD of Spanish and Hispanic music with pianist Philip Chiu, is due out on January 22, just under 2 weeks away! To celebrate, all month long I'll be sharing some of the stories behind the album.
Recently, I've been thinking a lot about where ideas come from, what causes the spark that leads you on a path towards creation. In the case of TAPEO, the answer has always been incredibly clear. The album is inextricably linked to the instrument that I recorded it on — the ca. 1769 Spanish cello attributed to Joannes Guillami of Barcelona, nicknamed "El Tiburón" (The Shark).
If I hadn't been playing on this cello, this CD wouldn't exist. But more than that, I wouldn't even have the relationship with Spanish culture that I do now.
When I was loaned the Guillami in fall 2018, I knew very little about Spain and its culture. I had only been once on quick trip to Barcelona, and hadn't even been particularly fond the city. My biggest takeaway was that I loved Spanish tapas and how cheap Spanish wine was (it's no coincidence that TAPEO is named after the first tapas bar I ever went to!).
When I next went to Barcelona it was with the Guillami on my shoulders. Bringing this instrument back to the place it had been crafted 250 years ago made everything feel different. The air was imbued with something mystical as I walked down the street in the Gothic quarter that used to house Guillami's shop. The narrow passages which had before seemed to me so oppressive and claustrophobic, were now buzzing with excitement and drenched in history.
It's hard for me to state to what extent I owe my relationship with Spain to this instrument. Since I received it, every time I travelled to Europe for concerts I would tack on a couple days in the sun-soaked Iberian peninsula. I saw flamenco dancing in Madrid, ate paella in Valencia, and visited the great cellist Pablo Casals' home near Barcelona. I was meeting Spanish people who told me stories about their country, of how it had been shaped by a long history of mixing of Christian, Jewish, and Islamic cultures. I learned that tapas (which means "to cover") were originally meant to go over your wine glass to keep the flies out. I started buying up any piece of Spanish cello music I could find in stores.
Soon my interested extended beyond Spain to the influence of it's former empire. As a Canadian, I was shocked to learn that at one point, even part of Canada had been under Spanish possession. I started talking to people in America about Hispanic American culture and music, visited Pablo Casals' home and the conservatory he helped create in Puerto Rico, and learned of the missions all along the coast of California. Mexico and South America have become some of the places I'm most excited to visit next.
This isn't actually the first time I've drawn inspiration from the instrument I'm playing. When I had the ca. 1696 "Bonjour" Stradivarius on loan, I did extensive research into its history, making new discoveries about past owners and presenting concerts based on the music that historically would've been performed on it.
What was different about the Guillami is that like the vast majority of string instruments, it didn't have much history to trace. Instead it led me to discover a country and a culture that now — even as a Canadian who doesn't speak a word of Spanish — I’m learning to appreciate just as much as my own.
Choosing to play Spanish music on a Spanish cello is really not revolutionary, it's just a good programming decision. For me TAPEO had to be about more than that, it had to bring together and draw from the experiences, adventures, and discoveries that the Guillami, my musical companion, had inspired.
My greatest joy would be that by listening to TAPEO, you get a musical taste of the different flavours and facets of Spanish culture, similar to how they're experienced during a night at a tapas bar. If nothing else, if like me you're looking outside at a blanket of snow on the ground, perhaps closing your eyes and listening to some Spanish music will help transport you momentarily to someplace a bit warmer.
TAPEO is available for pre-order on iTunes, and you can already listen to some of the tracks! If you'd like to purchase a physical copy, sign up to my mailing list below, they'll be on sale on my website after the official release.
In the spirit of the times, Phil and I will be doing a virtual album launch on Jan 24 presented by Pontiac Enchanté, a great chamber music series run by our friend Carson Becke just outside of Ottawa. We'd love to see you there! Click here for more info.
See you next week for more stories from TAPEO!