DVD Review: "Paraguay According to Agustin Barrios"

by Dr. Matthew Warnock.

Paraguay According to Agustin Barrios features eight pieces performed by the internationally recognized guitarist and Paraguayan-born Berta Rojas. The performances are presented alongside biographical descriptions of significant moments in the life and career of Agustin Barrios (1885-1944). The pieces chosen for the film represent the diversity of this guitarist and prolific composer, who penned over 300 compositions during his lifetime, many of which are considered essential learning for any modern classical player. Each piece is filmed in a different Paraguayan setting, including an old train station, city streets, a luthier's workshop and a hillside forest. With a high, though tasteful, production value, diverse selection of pieces, and a masterful performance by Rojas, the DVD provides an educational and entertaining look at one of Paraguay's most prolific and historically important guitarist and composer.

Each of the eight pieces on the DVD is set up with an audio commentary by Rojas, in both English and Spanish, wherein she provides historical information and personal stories from Barrios' life. After each introduction Rojas then performs the pieces in a different visual setting that is related to the story of that particular composition, or time in Barrios' life. These settings provide a visual tour of Barrios' life, and that of Paraguay itself, as they showcase the people, cities and countrysides of the South American nation. For example, Rojas introduces the first piece by describing the circumstances of Barrios' death and the musical legacy that he left behind. The piece she has chosen to represent this moment is "Las Abejas" and the performance is set in a small restaurant where a bartender is cleaning glasses and Rojas is performing the piece as entertainment for the diners. As the tune progresses, the music she is reading is blown off the stand by a gust of wind and taken up into the sky, symbolizing the everlasting quality of Barrios' music and the contribution he has made to the classical guitar heritage of South America and beyond. It is this use of symbolism throughout the disc, as well as the high production value of the project, that helps lift this DVD above the level of a documentary or concert performance. The mixture of both is not only enlightening and educational, it is also visually and captivating and a pleasure to listen to.

Listen to samples from the album Cielo Abierto by Berta Rojas:

The other seven pieces on the DVD are presented in a similar manner and are a well chosen representation of Barrio's ample catalogue. Rojas has included several of the guitarist's more popular compositions, including "Julia Florida," which accompanies a series of Paraguayans holding a guitar in different national settings, and "La Catedral," which Rojas performs in a beautiful outdoor setting that fully captures the majesty of the Paraguayan countryside. Aside from these famous pieces, Rojas has also included several lesser known, though still masterful, works such as "Caazapá," which is used to describe Barrios' time as a student and is set in an old train station, and "Un Sueño En La Floresta" which features Rojas performing at the foot of a forest waterfall and is one of the visual highlights of the film.

While there are many fascinating moments on the DVD, both in the commentary and in the performances, one of the most memorable is the presentation of the final piece of the disc, "Ùltimo Canto." Rojas' spoken introduction describes an event that took place shortly before Barrios' death in 1944. In the account, Barrios answers a knock on his door one evening and is met by an elderly beggar asking for money. Though Barrios has nothing to give the poor woman, he channels the emotions he felt during this chance meeting into his work "Ùltimo Canto." Rojas herself channels these strong personal emotions as she delivers a masterful interpretation of the piece that is set in front of a lit building on a Paraguayan city night. Again, it is moments like this that make the DVD both entertaining and educational.

Aside from the visual and historical aspects of the DVD, the main focus is Rojas' performance of Barrios' works. As a performer, Rojas ranks among the top players of the day as she is both technically proficient and emotionally expressive on every piece. Her deep connection to the music of Barrios, and personal connection to the country of Paraguay, rings through every note and chord she plays. These are not simply new interpretations of historically significant pieces; they are a tribute to a country and to one of that country's most important and beloved musicians. Rojas not only performs each piece with the utmost respect for the composer, she also brings an understanding of Paraguay, its history and its people, to each interpretation. This is one of the main reasons the music on the DVD is so powerful - the interconnectivity of the composer, the country, its people and the performer.

Paraguay According to Agustin Barrios is a heartfelt tribute to one of the Paraguay's most famous composers by one of its most accomplished performers. Rojas' performance on the disc is as stunning as the settings are visually compelling. The production value is first rate, the biographical information is educationally interesting and the music chosen provides a diverse representation of Barrios' output.

Related Links
Berta Rojas
Paraguay According To Agustin Barrios on Amazon.com
More classical guitar DVDs

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