Tag: Orquesta de Felipe Valdés

Another tune by Felipe Valdés.

The cornet in this tune can be heard more clearly and prominently. At times it even seems to lapse into mild improvisations over the melody.

Recorded in Havana, Cuba on March 6, 1907.
Released as Victor 68022.

Credits:
Felipe Valdés – bandleader, cornet
Unknown Artists – violins (3), clarinets (2), trombone, contrabajo, saxophone, guiro, and timbales.

Side A of this record can be heard here:
https://youtu.be/zJJHqvEpW2k

Something quite interesting that I pulled out of the non-jazz deep freeze archive over the weekend – a 12″ Victor containing some early Cuban Danzón from the Orquesta de Felipe Valdés.

Valdés, a cornetist, formed the orchestra in 1899. According to Cuban music historian Cristobal Diaz-Ayala, Valdés “recorded more danzons than any other típica in the twentieth century.” He recorded over 300 sides in total.

In his doctoral thesis on Valdés and the role of the Cornet, Gerardo Garcia Mata goes into detail on the structure and sound of danzón at the time – which showcased a violin and clarinet as the “prominent melodic voices”.

Starting in 1907, Valdés began to integrate the cornet to a larger degree into his compositions and arrangements. In this 1907 recording, the cornet begins by playing with the ensemble, then lays out for the B section and returning A section. It is only at 1:10 at the start of the C section that we hear the cornet take the melodic spotlight, which it moves in and out of for the remainder of the tune.

Dr. Mata writes that this formative period marked a growing confidence by Valdés in his abilities – and that subsequent works see the “increased presence” of his cornet.

Recorded in Havana, Cuba on March 6, 1907.
Released as Victor 68022.

Credits:
Felipe Valdés – bandleader, cornet
Unknown Artists – violins (3), clarinets (2), trombone, contrabajo, saxophone, guiro, and timbales.

“Felipe Valdes And The Role Of The Cornet In The Cuban Orquesta Típica”
by Gerardo Garcia Mata – can be found here:
https://uh-ir.tdl.org/items/b8380db2-97ef-4f66-ae7a-82ddc5b28a0e/full

Side B of this record can be heard here:
https://youtu.be/qCVEv4IVqBk