Susana Baca - Maria Lando

This is the first song from the compilation "The Soul of Black Perú" that gathers an amazing group of afro-peruvian music artists compiled by David Byrne (the ex-lead singer of the well known rock band Talking Heads). In a way the compilation works for an introduction to black/creole music that emerged during the Colonial Period wich combines basically African, Spanish and Andean influences.

This is the song that led to Bacas international fame, the song begins with a description of the early morning hours in a small town of Perú:

"The dawn breaks like a statue
Like a winged statue spreading across the city
And the noon rings, a bell made of water
A golden singing bell that keeps us from feeling alone"

The rest of the song talks about a servant girl named María Landó, for whom "there is no dawn", "there is no noon", "there is only lack of sleep", "suffering", "and work for others". In general describes the way slaves lived and worked on the sugar fields during the Colonial Period. The song was composed by Chabuca Granda, a noted Peruvian composer who Baca often mentions as one of her heroes and mentors.

This is the first of a couple of videos i intend to brought up for all of you lovers of traditional music, better known as world music. Enjoy!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Susana
• Baca
• Maria
• Lando
• The
• Soul
• of
• Black
• Peru
• Afro-Peruvian
• Music
• Peruvian
• Música
• Criolla
• Criollo
• Vals

[danielwaclaw]

This has to be one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. It really makes me want to learn Spanish so I can really start to get into the vast world of latin music.

[hnavarro]

hm yes you should.. it has some beautiful lyrics that she use to create in collaborations with poets.. but if you want a glimpse just read the text i did for this one on the information :) you might want to take a look of my page also.. there's another peruvian song i've uploaded some days ago and there's more to come ;)

[darkflower2]

AMAZING song, AMAZING artist.  Thank you for posting it!

[hnavarro]

no thank you! your comment means a lot :)

[darkflower2]

You're welcome!

I have an album called Afro Peruvian All-Stars on which this song can be heard, and I've been mesmerized since the very first time. The whole album is amazing, actually. Sometimes hard to locate (if you don't have it already), but well worth it if you can.

Now I'm off to see what other treasures you have! :-)

[hnavarro]

oh no i haven't heard of it i think.. i'll do some research ;)

oh of course just wait till i finished college season and i'm gonna put up everything i can.. actually my parents just came back from a trip to peru and brought a lot of peruvian music and i'm so into it.. beautiful stuff really :)

[mbala]

one of the most beautiful songs ever...powerful and earthy...

[dchurch5954]

This is one of my favorite songs on the album, it conveys so much passion and intimacy. Thank you for this post.

[littlelottie419]

ive been looking for this song for over year, then a few days ago i came across her name and it rang a bell finally :)

[Stoethoeve]

For those who dont speak spanish:

This song is about Maria.

She works her butt off.

Everyday and everynight.

Then she does it again while suffering and missing out on life.

Respect....

[dinincri]

Beatiful!

[rikolausa]

@CaritoLAtanita Somos seres humanos, podemos equivocarnos, los peruanos tenemos defectos y virtudes, como los italianos o los norteamericanos, busquemos las virtudes en los demas para poder convivir con ellos. Enfocarnos en los defectos, nos vuelve intolerantes.

[TheEngiel]

@CaritoLAtanita bueno, en eso tienes razón ;), pero depende, por ahora la mayoría de peruanos prefieren quedarse en Peru, por la crisis mundial; en especial, la europea. Y dile, casi obligalo, a que te lleve a Perú xD!... debes conocer el Perú, es el mejor país en America, tiene, todo lo que un continente no tiene ^^

[CaritoLAtanita]

@rikolausa Bueno, perdóname entonces, será que entendí mal lo que anteriormente habías escrito (cuenta también que el español es mi cuarto idioma).

Saludos desde Milán.

[rikolausa]

@CaritoLAtanita No me referia a Ti, sino a aquellas personas que estereotipan a un pais, por unos cuantos desadaptados. Hay todo tipo de peruanos, como hay todo tipo de italianos, aquellos que tienen un mundo pequeno, son aquellos que facilmente se desbocan. La cosa, no es contigo Carito, sino con algunos compatriotas mios y la gente que estereotipa a un pais. Saludos from Los Angeles, California.

[CaritoLAtanita]

@TheEngiel Es que acá hacen mucha plata, que allí no podrían hacer tan fácilmente...

Por ahora tengo planeado un viaje a Colombia, entonces el Perú vendrá más adelante (siempre si mi novio se decide a llevarme)

[CaritoLAtanita]

@rikolausa Mira que es la verdad...

También viví en Canadá y los peruanos que viven allí son buena gente (como todo el resto de los extranjeros que viven allí). No conoces las políticas de inmigración italianas, es algo muy largo y no se puedes explicar en dos palabras, entonces no puedes enteder lo que digo. No estoy estereotipando para nada.

Y no sería para nada ingorante decir que todos los políticos italianos son corruptos, pues, lamentablemente, es la verdad.