The SOU Music Department will host guest percussionist Joel Alberto Garza for an evening of musical storytelling “Platero y you para el percussionista-narrador” on Wednesday, January 15, at the Southern Oregon University Music Recital Hall in Ashland.
Presented by the Oregon Center for the Arts at Southern Oregon University, the concert will begin at 7:30 p.m., in-person and a free live-stream here: https://youtube.com/live/3RKS32XR0S4?feature=share
Garza is a visionary percussionist whose work uniquely bridges Western and Latino cultures, and his compositions range from orchestral and chamber percussion to theater and poetry/spoken word. He will perform music while telling the story of Platero - the sliver haired donkey in Spanish. English subtitles will be available on the big screen for non-Spanish speakers to more fully understand the story.
The performance is based on prose written in 1914 by Nobel Laureate Juan Ramón Jiménez.
Jimenez’ book “Platero y yo,” is a story about a silver haired donkey name Platero and his owner and explores the themes of nature, death, empathy and love. The musical arrangements are derived from Italian composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco's 1960 melologue, originally written for guitar and narrator titled: Platero y yo, Op. 190.
SOU's Professor of Music, Artist in Residence, and Director of Percussion Studies Terry Longshore met Garza several years ago through a mutual colleague. Longshore performed at Western Oregon University in 2023 and invited Garza to come and perform in Ashland.
“I've seen some of his performances on video and in person and have been very impressed. I thought this program would be very special to present here at SOU," Longshore said.
While in Ashland, Garza will also provide a master class for the SOU Percussion Studio and present a Spanish-language class to SOU Spanish classes.
Garza has also created an animated video series in Spanish about his work Link to "Platero y yo" video series. Each video features Garza speaking the story and playing vibraphone through the eight movements: I. Platero, VIII. Amistad, IX. La Luna, V. El Pozo, XXIl. La Muerte, XVIII. La Arrulladoro, X. Juegos del Anochecer.
“On the surface, "Platero y yo" is simply a set of children’s poems and to most who do not know of its lore, that might be enough. However, if one is to dive deeper into the work and its effect on not only the world of literature, but of music as well, what is found at its core is something much more satisfying," Garza said.
"True to this day, 'Platero y yo’ is a staple of literature, taught throughout schools in Spain and highly regarded around the world for its tonal juxtaposition as well as its sharp yet delicate lyrical prose. Its clashing of themes, ranging between satirical and political subtleties, nostalgic and existential meditations, and seasonal metamorphosis are what set "Platero y yo" apart from other poetic prose, helping it withstands the test of time. These are some of the factors that drew Castelnuovo-Tedesco to compose in symbiosis with Jiménez’s material. These same factors, along with the creative decisions Castelnuovo-Tedesco made with his composition, are what influenced me in myperformative and compositional processes with the work,” Garza said.
The musical storytelling concert will run about an hour.
Tickets are available in-person at the OCA Box Office Tuesday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., on the SOU campus. General admission is $15 per person/$10 for seniors, free for all SOU students, faculty, and staff. Use promotional code: PLATERO for discounted tickets online here https://sou.universitytickets.com or call the OCA Box Office at (541) 552-6348.