Quidam Pilgrim
Encyclopedia
Quidam Pilgrim is a Cuban based musical duet formed in 2005 by vocalist Adela Rivas Cruz (Santiago de Cuba, 1988) and keyboardist Félix Muñiz Penedo (Santiago de Cuba, 1985). Their music fuses elements of celtic, new age music
, alternative rock
and afro-Cuban music frequently making use of harmonised vocal melodies against orchestral backgrounds.
Two months later they were nominated for the Cuerda Viva Awards in the categories of Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Demo.
In March 2007 they performed a version of the song Halls of the Interpreter in the national theater of Havana, incorporating new jazz
elements and including the interpretation of the violinist and jazz composer Marta Duarte along with the Camerata Vocale Sine Nomine, the event was televised nationwide and their performance re-aired due to audience request.
Same year in July they performed at the third International Festival Caiman Rock in Havana.
Clips of the music have been used several times on radio and TV spots.
" by John Bunyan
, with each song referring to a scene in the Pilgrim’s journey.
1. Walker (the beginning of the pilgrimage to the Celestial City)
2. The Counsel (the encounter with Mr. Worldly Wiseman)
3. Halls of the Interpreter (the visit to the House of the Interpreter )
4. Redemption (the cross and the Sepulchre)
5. The Summit (the climbing of the Hill Difficulty, the path called “Danger" and the road of "Destruction")
6. Palace (House Beautiful atop the Hill Difficulty)
7. Apollyon (the battle against Apollyon in the Valley of Humiliation)
8. Aquelarre (the Valley of the Shadow of Death, visualized as a Witches' Sabbath)
9. Faithful (the encounter with Faithful and Faithful’s death)
10. The River (the River of the Water of Life)
11. Delectable Mountains (the Delectable Mountains
and the shepherds' guidance)
12. El Rio de los Muertos (referring to the River of Death)
13. Mount Zion (the arrival to the Celestial City)
The language in their songs may vary from English
, Latin
, and occasionally Spanish
.
The arrangements may include multi-tracking
vocals, synthesizers, drums, distored guitars, afro-Cuban percussion, acoustic guitars, Indian or South American percussion instruments and orchestral backgrounds which were provided by the Esteban Salas Chamber Orchestra.
The band's musical influences include Jean Michel Jarre
, Pink Floyd
, Karl Jenkins
, Celtic music, Cuban folk music
, Baroque and Renaissance music
.
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
, alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
and afro-Cuban music frequently making use of harmonised vocal melodies against orchestral backgrounds.
Band history
After almost two years of studio work, Quidam Pilgrim had its debut on the national Cuban television space: "Cuerda Viva" in November 2006 under the name of "Pilgrim".Two months later they were nominated for the Cuerda Viva Awards in the categories of Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Demo.
In March 2007 they performed a version of the song Halls of the Interpreter in the national theater of Havana, incorporating new jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
elements and including the interpretation of the violinist and jazz composer Marta Duarte along with the Camerata Vocale Sine Nomine, the event was televised nationwide and their performance re-aired due to audience request.
Same year in July they performed at the third International Festival Caiman Rock in Havana.
Clips of the music have been used several times on radio and TV spots.
Discography
The band's first work has been a musical setting of the classic "The Pilgrim's ProgressThe Pilgrim's Progress
The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come is a Christian allegory written by John Bunyan and published in February, 1678. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of religious English literature, has been translated into more than 200 languages, and has never been...
" by John Bunyan
John Bunyan
John Bunyan was an English Christian writer and preacher, famous for writing The Pilgrim's Progress. Though he was a Reformed Baptist, in the Church of England he is remembered with a Lesser Festival on 30 August, and on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church on 29 August.-Life:In 1628,...
, with each song referring to a scene in the Pilgrim’s journey.
1. Walker (the beginning of the pilgrimage to the Celestial City)
2. The Counsel (the encounter with Mr. Worldly Wiseman)
3. Halls of the Interpreter (the visit to the House of the Interpreter )
4. Redemption (the cross and the Sepulchre)
5. The Summit (the climbing of the Hill Difficulty, the path called “Danger" and the road of "Destruction")
6. Palace (House Beautiful atop the Hill Difficulty)
7. Apollyon (the battle against Apollyon in the Valley of Humiliation)
8. Aquelarre (the Valley of the Shadow of Death, visualized as a Witches' Sabbath)
9. Faithful (the encounter with Faithful and Faithful’s death)
10. The River (the River of the Water of Life)
11. Delectable Mountains (the Delectable Mountains
Delectable Mountains
The Delectable Mountains are one of the rest havens for the pilgrims travelling to the Celestial City in John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress. Christian is shown them from the House Beautiful, and he sees "a most pleasant Mountainous Country, beautified with Woods, Vineyards, Fruits of all sorts;...
and the shepherds' guidance)
12. El Rio de los Muertos (referring to the River of Death)
13. Mount Zion (the arrival to the Celestial City)
Music
The music is composed by both Adela and Félix, with lyrics written by Adela.The language in their songs may vary from English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, and occasionally Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
.
The arrangements may include multi-tracking
Multitrack recording
Multitrack recording is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources to create a cohesive whole...
vocals, synthesizers, drums, distored guitars, afro-Cuban percussion, acoustic guitars, Indian or South American percussion instruments and orchestral backgrounds which were provided by the Esteban Salas Chamber Orchestra.
The band's musical influences include Jean Michel Jarre
Jean Michel Jarre
Jean Michel André Jarre is a French composer, performer and music producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient and New Age genres, and known as an organiser of outdoor spectacles of his music featuring lights, laser displays, and fireworks.Jarre was raised in Lyon by his mother and...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, Karl Jenkins
Karl Jenkins
-Other works:*Adiemus: Live — live versions of Adiemus music*Palladio *Eloise *Imagined Oceans *The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace...
, Celtic music, Cuban folk music
Cuban folk music
Cuban folk music is very diverse and has been influenced by Spanish people, slaves from Africa and the remaining indigenous population of the Caribbean.- Classification of genres :...
, Baroque and Renaissance music
Renaissance music
Renaissance music is European music written during the Renaissance. Defining the beginning of the musical era is difficult, given that its defining characteristics were adopted only gradually; musicologists have placed its beginnings from as early as 1300 to as late as the 1470s.Literally meaning...
.
Critical reception
Various critics have pointed to the high artistic value in Quidam Pilgrim's work who have founded it not only uncommon but surprising, pointing that it breaks with many Cuban cultural stereotypes, adding a particular hue of universality in the Cuban music panorama, defining their performances as a dose of daring and virtuosity.External links
- http://www.quidampilgrim.com Quidam Pilgrim Official Website
- http://www.myspace.com/quidampilgrim Quidam Pilgrim Official Myspace Page