I'm fairly new to the community and there's a lot happening. The recent fork to Hive to build a better future in decentralization and the continued escalation of COVID-19 is affecting all of our lives.
Its at times like these where I find myself looking for small pieces of comfort that remind me of who I am.
This little song by Ponce has comforted me many times throughout my life and I have always found solace from hearing it. I wanted to share myself playing it today in the hopes that it too may comfort you a little in this time of uncertainty and trouble.
Manuel M. Ponce - Estrellita
Mexican composer, Ponce, wrote Estrellita, one of two Mexican songs, in 1912. The melody is believed to be an old Mexican folk tune and it is put to Ponce's own lyrics. It would become known world wide after Jascha Heifetz arranged it for violin and piano for one of his upcoming concerts and its usage in the film "They Shall Have Music".
Ponce's Lyrics
Little star of the distant sky,
you see my pain,
you know my anguish.
Come down and tell me
if he loves me a little,
because I cannot live without his love.
You are my star, my beacon of love!
You know that soon I shall die.
Come down and tell me
if he loves me a little,
because I cannot live without his love.
Transcribing it for cello was not that bad, I just had to lower everything down an octave. Finding the right mood and sound world for it was much harder. I wanted a sound that had a sense of poignancy that emanated the lyrics. A voice that yearned for something that could not be. I took it at a slightly slower tempo than the violin arrangement in order to find that sound, sacrificing a little bit of the brilliance that a star may have.
I've been quietly observing the on-goings of the split communities between Hive/Steem and I've come to appreciate the tight-knit community that has been created here. I've always thought of an artist as the product of a community. Without the support and inspiration given by those around, an artist is nothing. I hope that I can provide Hive with an artistic voice that expresses the beliefs of this community. If there are any songs/pieces you would like me to play feel free to drop me a message.
