Platero y yo para percusion y narrador: Storytelling for the Speaking Percussionist

“Platero y yo para percusion y narrador” is a series of arrangements for the speaking percussionist. Originally a set of children’s poems written by Spanish poet Juan Ramon Jimenez which were then taken and accompanied with guitar miniatures by Italian composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, “Platero y yo” finds itself touching on themes of love, death, and the spiritual. Tedesco’s version was originally intended as a duet (guitar & narrator) however, after having submerged myself into Tedesco/Jimenez’s material over the past half-decade, I’ve found a deep ardor performing it as a solo percussionist/narrator.

The two movements will be presented side-by-side with an animated video accompaniment by Hannah Lutz, as well as an English translation.

Mvmts:
I. “Platero” – An introduction to Platero, the donkey, and his loving owner, the narrator. (3 min)
V. “El Pozo/The Well” – Platero and the narrator come across a deep, sonorous well. (3 min)