Dinner in Colombia

Some countries of the vast Latin South — Bolivia, Guatemala, Paraguay — keep tradition vibrantly alive. In others — Argentina, Cuba, Mexico — the spirit of our times has been felt more strongly. But Colombia has been following both trails in a very happy balance for many years. Let's take for instance, its capital city, Bogotá, perched high (8660 feet) on the plateau of the same name in the easter branch of the Andes and surrounded by still higher mountains. Practically isolated because of the difficulty in reaching it by earlier means of transportation, Bogotá remained far from the pulse of contemporary life until the advent of aviation. Thus it managed to preserve that charm of the past so characteristically its own. The predominant aspects of its culture are the warm hospitality and the exquisite manners of its people, the careful way in which they have preserved the purity of their language and their practice of the pleasant art of conversation. The slow, gracious rhythm of life enabled the people to dedicate themselves to poetry and to literature, the arts and sciences, in general. No wonder Bogotá has been called "The Athens of Ibero-America!".

For comparison, we have only to observe other large cities of the country — Cali, Medellin, Cartagena, Barranquilla — located by the sea, or in the interior, but nearer the crossroads of the world. Here existence has proceeded in direct contact with the life of the moment. And so has kept pace with the innovations of modern life.

The music of Colombia of both these strains, but before the listener can have even a faint understanding of what this generous land has to offer, he must consider the many other elements which find reflections in its music. He must imagine the variation of climate and vegetation which results from the extremes of terrain — the great rivers, vast plains, fertile valleys, imposing chains of mountains and mysterious jungle regions. He must remember the Colombia's noble Indian ancestry has merged with the best of the Spanish influence and that there is a great historical and religious tradition. Most of all, he must not forget that Colombia is a land of bull fights, beautiful women, orchids and emeralds.

All these aspects find reflection in the musical impressions of Aldemaro Romero and his Salon Orchestra. We may let our imagination fly through the unlimited spaces of the dream world and enjoy the typically majestic Pasillo Flores Negras (probably the best known of the Colombian Pasillos), Tiplecito de Mi Vida, or the nostalgic Guabina Chiquinquireña — all so delightfully nineteenth century. Coming closer to the music of our day, we find manifestations of African flavor in the lively Porro Santa Marta or the happy Pachito E-ché.