Carlé Costa

Zamba en Berlin, Salamanca

The Zamba is generally considered the 'love dance' from the folk music of north-West Argentina. It is a kind of ritual which seems to be a love dance for doves. For me, the Zamba speaks about the hills and forests, which are a part of my life, and a part of my dreams. 'De un sueño lejano y bello, viday, soy peregrino - of a far and beautiful dream, viday, I am a pilgrim', said Atahualpa Yupanqui. With a such a delicate and elegant economy of words, Yupanqui was able to describe the deep nostalgia inherent in this music. I composed Zamba en Berlín in the 'mood' of a Zamba, to catch its atmosphere, the waves of its movements; but, not strictly adhering to its form or dance choreography. At the very end of the piece a Vidala is introduced, a song originating from the same northwest region, but closer to its Indian sources than the Zamba. Salamanca means much more than a name in Spanish of a famous university town. In Argentina it means the place where dancers and musicians receive special knowledge and power from the forces of evil. In this sense there exists a sort of hierarchy of the so called 'salamanqueros'. However, there is also quite another meaning to the word, generally less known, a meaning concerning neither 'power' nor 'evil'. For some other country folk of Argentina, Salamanca is the 'spirit of nature', which manifests itself equally through all animals, plants, winds, nights, daylight, stars, seasons and tides, with no hierarchy, the dance of life's mystery ... this is what I mean: Salamanca, baila el monte!