Official Blog

Redirecting

2010-03-18T15:19:00.003-04:00

We'll be the first to admit that we're not the most avid bloggers but that doesn't mean we don't care!

We have a new, more active blog about Sol y Canto, 'Sabor y Memoria,' food, etc. here: http://www.microfundo.org/group/saborymemoria/forum/topics/recipe-salsa-medibena

Please come over and participate!

¡Gracias!
-Sol y Canto

Recipe for SALSA MEDIBEÑA by Brian Amador

2010-03-09T18:59:00.006-05:00

RECIPE ~ RECETA

Enjoy! ¡Qué la gocen!

Here's Brian's recipe for our family's favorite dish:

Salsa Medibeña

by Brian Amador

1 lb. ground dark meat turkey

2 ripe plantains

1 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes

1 large onion, chopped

6 cloves garlic, minced

1 pinch white pepper

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 c. white wine

1 T. fresh rosemary

Salt to taste

Olive oil

Heat olive oil over medium heat and add onion. Cut ends off of plantains, make a slit lengthwise in the skin, and peel. Quarter plantains lengthwise, then chop into approx. 1/2” dice. When onion begins to brown, add plantains and cook 2-3 minutes more. Add turkey; when almost cooked through, add garlic, cook 1 minute more, and add the rest of the ingredients. Lower heat and simmer until done, 10 minutes or more. Serve with pasta.

Check out the video of "Fas fud" (Fast Food)!

2009-11-11T10:57:00.003-05:00

Here it is at last! We created a video of the first song from the suite, with still photos, video and English translation.

Sabor y Memoria demo song almost complete

2009-10-06T14:51:00.001-04:00

Our first demo track for Sabor y Memoria is almost done! We're recording Rosi's vox tracks tomorrow. Stay tuned, we will be posting it for you to take a listen to very soon!

Working on demo for SABOR Y MEMORIA

2009-10-02T13:15:00.002-04:00

We've been hard at work this week recording a demo in my itty-bitty home studio. Got real live violin, sax, flute, guitar & keyboard, plus some MIDI instruments. Great performances. Still need to get Rosi's vocals recorded. I'm also working on finishing the composition of several pieces in the suite. Finally got a start on the song about tamales!

SABOR Y MEMORIA (Flavor and Memory): A Musical Feast in Seven Courses

2009-07-21T12:38:00.007-04:00

Scheduled for a premiere in February, 2010, our next big work will be a suite for Sol y Canto and a string quartet based on one of our favorite topics: FOOD! Every movement of the suite will be a “dish” in an imaginary meal, with short “entremeses” (appetizers) interspersed in between. Each of the movements will be in a different rhythm, from many regions in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the lyrics will explore many aspects of food, such as:

• Real, local, healthy food
• Traditional and improvisatory cooking
• Food and cultural identification
• Sustainable agriculture
• The joy of cooking
• Hunger
• The power of an aroma to evoke a memory
• And of course, CHOCOLATE!

We’d like to involve you, our audience, in this project as much as possible. No, you don’t need to write the music – I’ll take care of that. But we would love to get your input. Starting soon, we’ll be posting periodically on topics related to the seven movements of the suite, and we'd like you to send us your photos, recipes, memories, musings and ideas pertaining to those topics. Start getting those recipes and photos handy, and stay tuned! ¡Buen provecho!

Preview and Intro to "Sabor y Memoria: A Musical Feast in Seven Courses" with Composer Brian Amador. Filmed @ MacDowell Artist Colony, NH

2009-03-17T14:00:00.006-04:00

Notes from the MacDowell Artist Colony

2009-03-12T09:58:00.001-04:00

Notes from the MacDowell Artist Colony, Peterborough, NH

2/26/09

My third full day here – I arrived Monday around noon and spent most of the afternoon getting settled in. I’m working in the Irving Fine studio, named for the prolific American composer who died at the age of 47. Barbara Harlow, who works in the Resident Director’s office, lent me a short video created by local children with guidance from some MacDowell fellows, entitled “The Ghost of Irving Fine”. Very cute movie, but I haven’t run into Irving yet.

Everything I’ve been told about how amazing a place this is is true. The setting is beautiful and tranquil, the staff are really friendly, and they all seem to be very good at what they do. They really go out of their way to make sure the artists have everything they need, and the food is delicious! We eat breakfast and in the dining hall, not on a strict schedule but everyone coming in when they’re ready, then the artists go to their studios. I can spend all day there working, and lunch is brought to my door in a little basket! How cool is that? At 6:30 pm, all the artists have dinner together. Evenings people socialize, check e-mail, go back to work more in their studios, whatever.

I’m starting to get into a working rhythm. I’ve actually been getting up earlier than I usually do at home. This week I’ve been working on the two movements of my suite that I had already started before I came, the opening song and one about vegetables – Cosas Verdes (Green Things), plus I’ve begun work on the final movement, which is about chocolate. I’ve been listening to Villa-Lobos string quartets for inspiration; it’s given me a lot of ideas about textures and melodic movement in quartet writing.

Sabor y Memoria

2009-03-11T10:21:00.003-04:00

Welcome To Sol y Canto's Official Blog!

2009-03-09T23:30:00.000-04:00

Hola a todos!

Thank you for reading our blog! We started this blog to provide a more interactive relationship with our fans! Here, we will be updating you with the latest on Sol y Canto, such as upcoming concerts and events in which we will be involved. We will soon be uploading photos and videos of the band, so stay tuned for those!

Also, please leave any comments and questions! We love hearing from our fans and we would really appreciate your feedback.