Search - Arriba, Gran Orquesta :: Pasodobles

The best pasodobles toreros in one CD

M. Sotil | Bronx, NY USA | 05/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording was first issued by the Montilla label in the mid 1950s on mono vinyl. This CD is a poor quality transfer of the original tracks for a total of 29 minutes. That said it is unlikely that you will find a better collection of pasodobles toreros (bullfight pasodobles) on one CD. The Gomez de Arriba band is hard to equal in musicianship and the arrangements (by Gomez de Arriba) are simply the best you are likely to find ever. Some of the pasodobles presented in this offering are well known, but others, such as "Galas Imperiales" and "Angelillo" have been sadly neglected. This CD brings together 4 of the greatest pasodobles toreros ever written and from the same author: Santiago Lope Gonzalo. These were premiered on the same day, a July 29th 1904, by the Banda Municipal de Valencia under the baton of Lope who also the founder of the band: "Gallito", "Dauder", "Angelillo" and "El Vito", dedicated to eponymous, unremarkable and largely forgotten toreros. Gallito, the dedicatee of the pasodoble that has since become arguably the national anthem of the bullfight, is not the great Gallito or Joselito that died in the horns of the bull Bailaor at Talavera de la Reina plaza in 1920 but his older brother (sorry for the confusion). If you are new to pasodobles, get this CD which should serve as the standard to measure all others. If you are not new to pasodobles, then you probably already have it."