Que Viva El Son Montuno - Orquesta Novel | Marco Motroni: Music I Like 4/22/25

In what was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done in my life, I was able to pay a great tribute to my Abuelo. Marco Alberto Motroni (I am the third if you can believe that) - a Cuban immigrant - was part of a Latin salsa band named Orquesta Tipica Novel from the 60s to the 80s in NYC. They toured Latin America and released more than a dozen albums over the course of this time, being signed by numerous record labels including the famed Fania Records. I have had the opportunity to listen to many of their songs (as I write this, now an employed man ~7 months after this concert, I am actually on a quest to listen to every song they have put out. I listen to one song per day in the morning, as I am walking or sometimes running to the train station), and naturally, I have grown to have my favorites. This concert meant that I could perform all of them! I did make some sacrifices for diversity, though. The first song, Que Viva El Son Montuno, is my second favorite song of theirs. Interestingly enough, it is actually one of the only songs that has two distinct recordings: each emblematic of a different time in Novel's history. The first time was on an album called "Super Tipica" released in the 70s. It features a strong percussion section holding down the fort and an upright bass. A few years later, in their album titled after the song, they recorded a new version of the song with an electric bass, the addition of the trumpet and trombone, and of course, better sound quality. My abuelo was only the lead singer on the old version, so of course I prefer that version, but they are both amazing in their own ways. I have come up with a version that combines the two. I hope you enjoy!


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This clip was taken from my senior independent study aptly titled "Music I Like": performed at Middlebury College's Robison Hall on 4/22/25.

Here are some general notes that were included in the concert program:
Charanga:
The most personal music genre I have selected for tonight is the Cuban music. My abuelo (also named Marco Alberto Motroni) was in a Cuban music group named Orquesta Tipica Novel from the 1960s – 1980s in New York City. Novel was a fixture in the charanga scene (traditional Cuban ensemble featuring flute and violin), and I am very proud that we will be performing my favorite “Novel” songs live tonight! I have selected my two favorite pieces of his (“Que Viva el Son Montuno” and “No Me Regañes”) as well as “Salud, Dinero y Amor” which is a nice change of pace and has gained immense popularity from Cuban music fans online.
Read more about my abuelo’s life from the people who knew and loved him at www.motroni.com