La Paloma | Sebastián Iradier | NUS Guitar Ensemble

La Paloma, performed by NUS Guitar Ensemble at Kaleidoscope, held at University Cultural Centre, Singapore, on 9th March 2019.

Composed by Sebastián Iradier
Arranged by Andrew Forrest
Conducted by Robert Casteels

La Paloma,​ or “the dove”, was written by Spanish composer Sebastián Iradier in the 1850s. The popularity of this song encircles the globe - having inspired more than a thousand arrangements, adaptations and covers, and attaining quasi-folk-song status in many regions, ​La Paloma​ is one of the most-recorded pieces in the history of music - a wedding song in some cultures and a funeral song in others. Elvis Presley’s “No More” might be the most familiar version of ​La Paloma​ for English-speaking audiences of today.

In this guitar rendition, the alto guitars sing a passionate tune, not unlike the warm embrace of a lover. The soft, gentle bassline depicts palm trees swaying gently in the background, while the sul tasto technique used by the altos produces a warm, rounded tone that reminds one of a beautiful summer romance. As the sweet, dreamy melody is reprised, its sustained notes are emphasised with tremolo to evoke a sense of nostalgia.
About us 🎸
NUS Guitar Ensemble (GENUS) is a student-run guitar ensemble located in the National University of Singapore, and a member of NUS Centre For the Arts. With a nearly 40-year-long history, the group boasts a wide repertoire ranging from major classical works to Japanese anime themes. In accordance with the Niibori method, GENUS utilises a set of guitars with varying pitches to produce an orchestral effect. For more information on us and our family of Niibori guitars, do check out our social media: NUSGuitarEnsemble on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. We’ve recently concluded our 2019 annual concert, Kaleidoscope, a celebration of our vibrant musical culture and the diversity of the pieces we’ve performed over the years - find videos from Kaleidoscope and all our past concerts on our YouTube channel! ✨

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