Mariano Gonzalez Master Harpist from Paraguay

Standing Rock Cultural Arts' "Around the World" Music Series presents the third virtual concert of its 2022 season, featuring master Paraguayan harpist Mariano Gonzalez Ramirez, who is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In this virtual concert, Gonzalez will introduce listeners to the rich and scintillating sounds of the Paraguayan harp, whose centuries-old tradition is a blend of Spanish and Guaraní cultural influences.
About the artist:
Mariano Gonzalez was born into a gaucho (cowboy) family in Buena Vista, southern Paraguay, where the beautiful plains seemed to stretch forever. He was raised among a prolific family that maintained a multi-generational tradition of harpists.
Showing an interest in music since childhood, Gonzalez began learning the Paraguayan harp at the early age of 5, playing on an instrument he inherited from his father Fortuozo Gonzalez, which had previously belonged to his grandfather. There are now more than 20 harpists among Gonzalez's extended family, many of them performing professionally as well, such as his younger brother Gabriel Gonzalez.
After private tutoring at the Ministry of National Defense's Department of Art and Cultural Center in Asunción, Paraguay's capital city, Gonzalez began formal studies at the National Conservatory of Music in Asunción. His ability as a gifted harpist became evident when he joined a concert tour as a member of the group "The Messengers of Paraguay," which represented the music of his country at the World Music Festival in Tokyo, Japan.
Also at this time, Gonzalez performed the composition for Paraguayan harp entitled "Cascada" (Waterfall) by Digno Garcia, sponsored by NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation). He also took part in a UNESCO live recording in Tokyo, Japan.
Following this, he represented Paraguay at the Mediterranean World Festival in Lisbon and the Folk Festival In Cosquín, Argentina, and gave an extended European concert tour with performances in Switzerland, France, Italy, and Spain.
Gonzalez made a major contribution when he succeeded in redesigning the Paraguayan harp in a way that allows for chromatic adjustments. This innovation enabled him to extend his playing into the jazz, popular, and semi-classical fields, in addition to his native South American repertoire. As a result, he was able to participate in the annual Festival Internacional de Jazz de Asunción, where this new, rich harmonic styling firmly established his reputation as a multi-idiom harpist.
Among his most special performances was a 1999 performance with The Paraguayan Bohemians for the royal wedding ceremony of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones in London, England. One of his next greatest achievements was his 2002 performance at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage in Washington, D.C., where the audience of more than 2,000 awarded him three standing ovations. In 2004 he was featured as a member of the Bob Rozario Ensemble, recording "The Christmas Song" as sung by Dennis Bono and former Nevada Lieutenant Governnor Lorraine T. Hunt, with all proceeds benefiting the Foundation for Positively Kids. Since 2002 Gonzalez has performed regularly around the U.S. with the legendary entertainer Tony Orlando; in these performances he plays the traditional Paraguayan piece "Pájaro Campana" as well as "Malagueña," dazzling the audience by playing two harps simultaneously.
He has released three solo CDs: "Camino a Buena Vista," "Music Forever," and "¡Viva Paraguay!"
Concert hall performances:
● Festival Paraguaype, Central Bank Theatre, Asunción, Paraguay
● Special guest, National Symphony Orchestra, Asunción, Paraguay
● 2002 - Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Washington D.C.
● 2005 - Carnegie Hall, New York City
● 2012 - Kennedy Center and Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (representing the state of Nevada for the annual "Homegrown: Music of America" Folklife Program Associate in the Nevada Arts Council)
● 2018 - Teatro Colón, Bogotá, Colombia, "V Encuentro Internacional Maestros del Arpa"
● 2019 - Festival of World Sacred Music, Fez, Morocco
● 2019 "World Vibrations," Winchester Cultural Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
Mariano Gonzalez Ramirez website:
web.archive.or...
www.afmenterta...
/ marianogonzalez.harp
/ paraguayanharpist
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Established in 2015, the "Around the World" Music Series is a concert series presenting outstanding musicians from diverse cultures in an intimate setting.
The series is an initiative of Standing Rock Cultural Arts, and is curated by ethnomusicologist David Badagnani.
The series is made possible by the support of Drs. Terry E. and Sara Stone Miller and the Ohio Arts Council.
Standing Rock Cultural Arts Facebook page:
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Standing Rock Cultural Arts official site:
www.standingro...
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[@dmmalkin]

Mariano, your playing is magnificent!!! It calms me down and helps me see the joy of life that God has created!!

[@albertonavarro1782]

UN VERDADERO REGALO AUDITIVO Y VISUAL. ES MÚSICA CELESTIAL.

[@mamuarrua9888]

Que orgullo !!! Excelente como siempre Maestro!!! Nantendéi ni jota la eréva, che mbo py'a rory rohendúvo!!!

[@veronicaa.ocamposl.9176]

Que emoción disfrutar de la música que nace del don que Dios le dio. Saludos desde Ponta Porã

[@moonliveentertainment5634]

Wonderful as always Mariano Gonzalez😊

[@angelaugustorafaelramirez8834]

Maravillosamente Fenomenal mi tío querido Mariano González.!!! Saludos desde Paraguay 🇵🇾 De parte de tu sobrino Rafael Ramírez, tu primo Javier Ramírez y toda la familia.!!!👏🏻👏🏻

[@domingoraul3369]

Que señoría de señor!!!

[@Quboingie]

Absolutely beautiful! Muchísimas gracias for sharing your culture and personal history along with your beautiful music. I like Karaí Fortú very much. I feel very lucky to have come across you on KZbin. I've seen several videos of your playing and loved them all. I wish I was your neighbour so I could listen to you practice and play regularly. 🙂You make me want to buy a harp and become instantly good at playing it! ;-)

[@moonliveentertainment5634]

Fantastic “Tren Lechero” performing 🤩

[@amadeomonges271]

Nantendei la nde ñeé pero che gustá etereí la nde mbopú.Mariano sos verdaderamente maestro de maestros,sos un campeón

[@MsYotuve]

Magnificent! La música y las Danzas Paraguayas son bellisimas.

[@guillermolarregui2604]

excellent Maestro!

[@kapelu1008]

Múy bién tío Mariano😅👍🇵🇾

[@JuniorPaula-v2j]

Sonho de consumo uma dessas harpas😮

[@dbadagna]

This is the 1967 Rolling Stones song featuring Paraguayan harp music, which Mariano Gonzalez mentions in this video (starting at 1 minute, 4 seconds): v=efZpAhbZAhI

[@StandingRockCulturalArts]

Is that supposed to be a link?

[@dbadagna]

@@StandingRockCulturalArts Yes, KZbin generally removes comments containing full URLs, so this is the final part of a KZbin video link. All one needs to do is copy and paste the part starting with the "v" into any KZbin video link (substituting the portion I have posted for the portion in the original link).

[@joaosciarpelletti199]

Um. Ótimo. Profissional.

[@guillermocanseco3395]

Un verdadero Maestro!!

[@guillermolarregui7129]

Amazing artist

[@georgeclinton3657]

What is the song at 1:00:30?

[@MariaChiquinquiraMartinez]

De las Arpas traidas por los europeos, unas de caracter religioso, otras para el solaz de la aristocracia florecieron cinco estilos a saber: Arpa mexicana,arpa chilena, arpa andina, arpa venezolana y arpa paraguaya ;la que presenta mayor variedad es el arpa mexicana que tiene 8 tipos , la venezolana presenta tres tipos.Se diferencian en los sistemas constructivos,formas, tamaños, numero de cuerdas,afinaciones, repertorios, historias, y tradiciones propias.

[@lindabaker8238]

🙂 𝓟Ř𝔬𝓂𝔬𝐒ϻ

[@oscarfernandoperezsarmient1036]

Mejor el arpa o el ingles ?