Recycled Orchestra of Cateura

Recycled Orchestra of Cateura
Orchestra
Native name Orquesta de Instrumentos Reciclados de Cateura
Short name Recycled Orchestra
Founded 2006 (2006)
Location Cateura, Paraguay
Website www.recycledorchestracateura.com

The Recycled Orchestra of Cateura (Spanish: Orquesta de Instrumentos Reciclados de Cateura), also known as the Recycled Orchestra, is an orchestra composed of children from the shanty town of Cateura, Paraguay, who play musical instruments made from scrap materials collected from the adjacent landfill site. Formed in 2006, the orchestra has performed internationally, including performances with Stevie Wonder and American heavy metal bands Metallica and Megadeth.[1]

History

The Recycled Orchestra of Cateura was formed in 2006 by Favio Chavez,[2] an environmental engineer, and uses musical instruments made by local carpenter Nicolas 'Cola' Gomez from recovered materials.[1]

Paraguayan executive film producer Alejandra Amarilla worked with a team of filmmakers to record a short video about the Recycled Orchestra with the intention of raising enough money via Kickstarter to make a full-length documentary;[1] the crowdfunding campaign was successful and eventually resulted in the movie Landfill Harmonic.[3] The film was shortlisted for the Environmental Award at the 2015 Sheffield Doc/Fest documentary festival,[4] where it won a special mention.[5]

In the meantime, the original video attracted international attention; in May 2013 the Recycled Orchestra was one of the winning laureates of the Prince Claus Awards, which are given to "individuals, groups and organisations whose cultural actions have a positive impact on the development of their societies". The award's citation stated,

"[It is] a youth orchestra that is transforming lives. It is unique in its ingenious use of humble local resources and a beacon of pride and hope for the local community. […] Orquesta de Instrumentos Reciclados Cateura is honoured for bringing music and joy to many people; for their innovative and communal collaboration in using the resources at hand to create possibilities and transcend their difficult circumstances; for engendering self-esteem, community pride and social cohesion through musical expression; and for showing that culture is a human necessity and that material poverty need not be an obstacle to a life rich in culture."[6]

In August 2013 the Recycled Orchestra joined Megadeth for a performance of "Symphony of Destruction"[7] and in March 2014 it played with Metallica in Bogotá, Colombia.[8] Also in 2014, the orchestra recorded with Basement Jaxx, appearing on the band's track "Power to the People".[9]

In September 2016, NPR's Anastasia Tsioulcas described the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura's instruments as including:

"[violins made from] cans, wooden spoons and bent forks. One of the ensemble's cellos uses an oil drum for its body. String pegs are created from detritus like old cooking utensils and even the heel of a worn-out women's shoe. Drum heads are made from old X-ray film, held in place with copious amounts of packing tape. Fifteen-year-old Tobias Armoa plays a saxophone made out of a drainpipe, melted copper, coins, spoon handles, cans and bottle caps."[1]

The Recycled Orchestra is the subject of an illustrated children's book, Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay.[10] In January 2017, the Recycled Orchestra was the subject of a BBC Radio Four documentary by Wyre Davies.[11][12]

Legacy

Following the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura's success, founder Favio Chavez told The Guardian, "The idea is now available for anyone. This is something that could be replicated in any part of the world where they have similar circumstances. It can be an inspiration for music to be part of the community where there are not the resources".[13] Similar musical organizations have been formed in countries including Brazil, Burundi, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, and Spain.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Tsioulcas, Anastasia (14 September 2016). "From Trash To Triumph: The Recycled Orchestra". NPR. Washington, D. C. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  2. ↑ "Landfill Harmonic: The Recycled Orchestra: making music on a landfill site". Classic FM. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  3. ↑ "Landfill Harmonic". Landfill Harmonica. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  4. ↑ Mathiesen, Karl (5 June 2015). "Sheep, Mexican farmers and Shinto priests vie for green film award". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  5. ↑ Rosser, Michael (10 June 2015). "'Syrian Love Story' wins Sheffield Doc/Fest prize". Screen International. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  6. ↑ "Report from the 2013 Prince Claus Awards Committee, May 2013" (PDF). Prince Claus Fund. May 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  7. ↑ "Megadeth Joined by 'Recycled Orchestra' for Performance of 'Symphony of Destruction' (Video)". Megadeth. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  8. ↑ "16 Mar 2014: Bogotá, Colombia: Parque Simón Bolívar". metallica.com. 16 March 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  9. ↑ Junto (Media notes). Basement Jaxx. Atlantic Jaxx Recordings Ltd. 2014. PIASL138CD.
  10. ↑ Hood, Susan (3 May 2016). Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay. Illustrated by Sally Wern Comport. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978-1481430951.
  11. ↑ Presenter: Wyre Davies; Producer: Martin Williams (31 January 2017). "Tunes from the Trash". Seriously…. BBC. BBC Radio Four. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  12. ↑ Chisholm, Kate (11 February 2017). "A masterclass in radio reporting – Plus: the South American orchestra that turns trash into tunes". The Spectator. London. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  13. 1 2 Mathiesen, Karl (13 July 2015). "The junk orchestra: making music out of a landfill". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
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