|
|
|
||||||||
[main page| films| compact discs | espanol | your comments ]
THE EXOTIC SUITE OF THE AMERICAS
In 1962, when he was 44 years old, Perez Prado recorded what is considered one of his masterpieces. The recording
was made in a studio located in New York City. That studio is now a discotheque.
The Exotic Suite of the Americas has seven movements:
1. Theme of the Two Worlds (opening movement)
2. Amoha
3. Criollo
4. Theme of the two Worlds (transition movement)
5. Uamanna Africana
6. Blues in C Major
7. The Theme of the Two World (closing movement)
When this recording reached the music market, the majority of Perez Prado's fans did not comprehend it. The reason
is that this production is not a mambo. Musicologist criticized it because it was difficult to understand.
My interpretation of this production is that he was trying to bring a musical balance between the two worlds that
is between the capitalistic world and the socialistic world. Perez Prado dedicated this production to John F. Kennedy
as an appreciation of Perez Prado to the effort of JFK to bring down Fidel Castro. John F. Kennedy publicly acknowledged
that he was a fan of Perez Prado.
On one hand you have the socialistic world represented at the time by Cuba (with the backing of Russia) and the
capitalistic world represented by the USA. The recording was made on April 16, 1962, which is exactly one year
after the invasion of Cuba by mercenaries backed by the USA. This invasion was called the Bay of Pigs fiasco because
it was a total failure. It is known that the CIA, with the unofficial approval of the Kennedy administration, financed
the Bay of Pigs invasion.
Perez Prado who was anti-Castro at least recognized the effort of the JFK administration and dedicated this production
to John F. Kennedy. The Cuban Exile community also applauded the JFK effort.
The Theme of the two Worlds represents the harmony between East and West that is between Russia and the USA. The
other movements in this production are a representation of the musical contribution of the Afro-Cubans people to
the music of the world. But, notice that he included a Blue in C Major, because he was a jazz enthusiast and he
recognized that the Afro-Americans also contributed to the music of the world.
On April 17, 1961, one day after the invasion, Fidel Castro proclaimed victory over the invaders. The prisoners
of that war were traded later for farm equipment. Later on there was another confrontation between Nikita Krushev
and John F. Kennedy over the construction of Russian missile silos in Cuba. All missiles were pointing to the USA.
This struggle placed Cuba again in the world politics. There was a naval blockade to prevent more ships coming
in or out of Cuba in support of the missile construction efforts.
But wait, this is not the end of the story related to the Exotic Suite of the Americas. When Che Guevara was killed
in Bolivia in 1967 his body was flown to Cuba. In October of that year Fidel Castro called for a rally to mourn
the death of Che Guevara. More than 100,000 sympathizers attended. In the distressing silence, Castro delivered
one of his long speech eulogizing Che Guevara. A poem was also read. Just then and in an impromptu the Theme of
the two Worlds was played through the powerful loudspeakers. Later it was learned that a famous Cuban movie director
was responsible for playing the theme. His name was Mr. Santiago Alvarez. He took a lot of heat for playing this
theme. When people inquire him why did he did it? His answer was that "the tune is the best musical expression
to eulogize Che Guevara." "This tune has a lot of emotion and conveyance of the funeral tone of the day."
He was so convinced that what he did was right that he again selected the Theme of the Two World when he made the
movie about Che Guevara.
If you think that Cuba was the only one that made a movie about Che Guevara, you are wrong. Hollywood made also
a movie dedicated to Che Guevara and Omar Sharif played the role of Che and Jack Palance play the role of Fidel
Castro. Mr. Alvarez told his critic that "whether the composition was of Perez Prado or not the tune is the
best musical selection in memory of Che Guevara." When you listen to the Theme of the Two World you will be
convinced that its tone is more funeral than a mambo. Before he died Mr. Alvarez responded publicly "Perez
Prado is a musician irrelevant to the Cuban Revolution. His activity ground is the USA, which is our enemy. But,
the tune is a musical expression and music has no frontiers." "No other music fits my movie better."
If you go to Cuba and play the tune to any Cuban and then ask "What is this?" The response is "
Esa es la Sinfonia del Che Guevara." In other words, "that is the Symphony of Che Guevara."
So, now the Theme of the two Worlds is now cherished by the Cuban people as a composition from a Cuban for Cuba.
(Wow!)
All of this was happening without the knowledge of Perez Prado. When he learned about the situation just described
and asked what was his opinion he really jumped from his seat, but chose to keep his mouth shut. When pressed again,
he said, "Let the politician do politics and musician do music." "Music and Politics are like oil
and vinegar, they don't mix."