By Willie Gordon Suting
The best music lets us journey to special moments in our lives. And it need not be lyrics that could bring forth memories. Melodies are charming as they speak more to the heart. We glide along with its rhythms letting it free ourselves.
Feten Feten Duo, who performed at U Soso Tham Auditorium recently, showed that communicativeness is essential to the power of art. They made the audience sing, hum and whistle like them bringing a smile to everyone. Inspired by folk music of rural Spain, the duo weaved rustic tunes. There was a verisimilitude to the life of rural folk.
The members, Diego Galaz and Jorge Arribas, had a natural elasticity playing different types of musical instruments. Arribas was magnificent on the accordion weaving dreamy melodies. Galaz’s violin seemed to speak a haunting sadness which later altered to a joyful crescendo. The tunes were redolent of the humbleness and simplicity of rural life as the audience visualised sceneries of Spain in their minds. The music spoke of the beauty of nature and dance rhythms of Spanish tunes. It had a laid-back feel that is rare to find in other genres. Every chord progression by the duo was approached with scrupulousness and care.
There was a give and take of energies as the duo made the audience sing along. They made them hum and whistle also telling them to wave their hands to tunes. There was an intimate connection felt between the artistes and the audience as they journeyed together with the rhythms.
The compositions had a verve and playfulness to them. The tunes were never overwrought or sounding technical. They were intelligible and accessible with their purity. There was a characteristic spiritual feel to the duo’s music as it touched the hearts of the audience. There was a cheer from everyone as they applauded with joy.
The duo showcased their versatility even more by producing musical sounds out of a saw, sweeping brush, frying pan, spoons and a camping stool. This at first amused the audience, but with the beautiful sounds produced they felt like witnessing real musical instruments. There was an unconventionality in the duo’s approach as they made best use of daily household objects. There was a quirkiness in the way they composed the tunes rich with humour and light heartedness. In between the tunes, Galaz made the audience laugh with his self-depreciating jokes.
Speaking to Sunday Shillong, Arribas explained that during World War II in Europe, poverty-stricken Spaniards in the countryside had no musical instruments to entertain themselves with. They hence made use of household objects producing sounds out of them.
Formed in 2008, Feten Feten Duo has come a long way having performed in countries like America, Argentina, Costa Rica, Austria, Belgium and Tunisia. Arribas describes his band’s music as “connecting with the innocence of childhood”.
The saw produced sounds of waves and cries of seagulls and the soaring wind. The sound of the accordion felt like witnessing rural Spanish people dancing in a country club. There was the trumpet violin made in 1910 that had a mellow longing sound, an antique among the many instruments played.
Feten Feten Duo also fuses folk music rhythms from different countries like Africa, France and Italy. They compose a rich amalgamation of the different cultures they come in contact with. “We take music from different parts of the world,” says Galaz.
The duo is originally from the town of Burgos in Spain and has released three albums so far — Cantables, Bailables and Feten Feten. “We adapt traditional music to contemporary times,” says Galaz. The duo’s aim is to spread awareness on the richness of Spain’s folk music with the world. They desire to honour this form thereby spreading a message about their roots.
“Shillong audience was just amazing! We never knew it would turn out this good,” says Arribas.
When asked about future collaborations with Indian folk musicians, the duo replied that they would very much like to be part of it. “Of course, we would like to fuse some Indian folk music sounds as well with help from Indian artistes,” says Galaz.
The concert was organised by the Indian Council For Cultural Relations in collaboration with the Department of Arts and Culture.