April 2007 - Accordion player, Madrid, Spain
April was my accordion month.
In Madrid I saw the Russian above, who has been playing the streets of Madrid for money during over 25 years. Still, he hardly spoke any Spanish, so further communication was difficult.
In Amsterdam, the accordion is the main instrument in traditional folk music, still played in many a bar in the Jordaan district.
In Colombia it is an extremely popular instrument. In the late 1800's a shipment of accordions was raided on its way to a German community. Of course the villains did not know how to use the instrument, so they started experimenting from scratch and have a quite different way of using the accordion than the Europeans do. It became the main instrument in the Vallenato (means born in Valle, but also baby whale), the traditional music originating in Valledupar, near the Colombian Carribean coast. This is where one of Colombia's biggest events of the year, the 'Festival de la leyenda de la Vallenata' is held every April. Especially in the lower classes, Vallenato is by far the most popular music both in Colombia and Venezuela, and when traveling through these countries it is impossible to avoid it in any bus or taxi you ride.
Vallenato sample (Ay Hombe)
Other Photos
of the Month:
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
SITE
The
'photo of the month' is not meant as something pretentious, it is not
even chosen by any jury. It could be an advertising photo I did, or a
photo for a magazine or record cover. Something telling you of a journey
I made or the city I'm in. Or a snapshot of my girlfriend. The only criterium
it has to meet is that it was made in the last month. And that I believe
it is worth bothering you with...
I am very sorry for the not-very-personal tone and character of this mail
- you may or may not remember me, we might have met in some sleazy bar
in some part of the earth and exchanged emails, we might be colleagues
or best friends, or just share an interest in photography. We might have
worked or even lived together in the past.
Of course, if you would not like to receive any more mails just let me
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And if you know of other people that might like to receive it please let
me know as well...
Thanks for your time and hope you are well!