A production by Rodrigo Romaní based on the work of the Galician poet Avilés de Taramancos.

Created from the poetical work of Avilés de Taramancos (who passed away ten years ago and was paid tribute to at the Day for Galician Literature 2003), 'Cantos Caucanos' is the discographical and scenic work from Rodrigo Romaní.

Xosé Anton Avilés was born in the village of Taramancos (Noia- A Coruña), from where he adopted his literary name. Born in 1935 in Coruña, Avilés de Taramancos was exiled to Columbia at the beginning of the sixties where he lived for twenty years. On returning to Galicia he became involved in the social, political and cultural life of the country. He held the position of president of the Association for Galician Writers and was Cultural Advisor for Noia.

His poetry includes: 'As moradías do vento' (1955), 'A frauta e o garamelo' (1958) 'O tempo no espello' (1962), 'Cantos Caucanos' (1985) and 'As torres no ar' (1989). In 1992 after his death his last work of poetry was published, 'Última fuxida a Harar'. Avilés de Taramancos also published the novel 'Crónica das Indias' (1992), as well as colaborating in numerous other publications which have been put together in a single volume.

For Rodrigo Romaní, fellow Galicain and personal friend of the poet, Taramancos «represents the high level that has been reached by twentieth century poetry, as well as possessing a personality that shines its own light on the poetical scenery of Galicia». For Romaní «the unmistakable elements of this scenery is music and colour. The music, in as much as its poetry has rhythm and cadence, refers us to musical themes. Colour, because the work is both fruit and victim of nostalgia of a journey that was born in Avilés as a consequence of his twenty year emmigration in Colombia. There he married, had three children and found that the country left a profound mark on his work, shining through in his originality and wide range of vocabulary».

The musical production 'Cantos Caucanos' translates Avilés de Taramancos double identity: la Cordillera of the Andes and the Ría of Noia, the Galician lyrics and the palet of Colombian forest colours. This album combines the diverse elements present in his previous album, 'Albeida', gathering the most musical of Avilés de Taramancos poetry: 'O tempo no espello', 'As torres no ár', 'Cantos Caucanos' y 'Última fuxida a Harar'.

The musicians who interpret this poetical recreation are professionals of the highest calibre with wide experience in the world of folk and jazz music. One of the most interesting parts of this discographical work is the recuperation of the voice of Avilés de Taramancos thanks to the restoration of a cassette taped in Cali at the beginning of the seventies. Here he is reciting one of his most emblematic poems and in this remasterisation is accompanied by the Galician Royal Philharmonic, conducted by Maximino Zumalave.

'Cantos Caucanos' is situated on the horizon of the rebirth in literary music, at that point where music and poetry become one, far from commerciality, formed from the hunt for a new language that does not forget its ties with the tradition of Galician lyrical-music.

Musicians: Rodrigo Romaní (harp, guitar, bass, bouzuki, requinta, ocarina, voice, key board and programaciones); María Arribe (voice ); Carlos Castro (percussion); Xabier Cederrón (violin); César Longa (accordian); Xaquín Xesteira (gaitas, percussion, voice); Anxo G. Pintos (zanfona); Real Filharmonía de Galicia, Maximino Zumalave, director.

Recorded in As Galesas. Albeida (Outes) in March, 2003. Technicians: Isaac Millán Lledó and Rodrigo Romaní. Mezclado in Casa de Tolos. Mañufe (Gondomar). Technician: Segundo Grandío, assistant: Esteban Amorín. Mastered by Segundo Grandio.