Efrén Echeverría
Encyclopedia
'Efren Echeverria is a musician
guitarist, composer, and compiler Paraguay
.
.
Self-taught, he leaves mark on his peculiar way of running the guitar, traits and tapping at the same time, without using specific techniques or methods of guitar Scholars. In addition to his own technique, "Kamba'i" uses a personal pitch of the instrument, which allows the strings to produce a higher tone when sounding in the air.
Soon Efren takes over the serenades of the place, always pushing the guitar and sometimes up the violin or accordion with buttons. His repertoire covered everything that the public from the area knew could appreciate.
The musician worked as employee in the area of Curuguaty
by the year 1950. In 1960 he settled in the city of Asuncion
, capital of Paraguay
.
In the 70's, he came to participate in the emerging music festivals and television. In those days he began to arouse interest in the capital for his original compositions and his special way of tapping and ripping the guitar simultaneously.
Agustín Barboza
Herminio Gimenez
, Demetrio Ortiz Emiliano R. Fernandez and Jose Asuncion Flores.
and Felipe Sosa
.
. The workers remained unpaid for three months of sacrificing work. Thus the musician and other colleagues decided to travel to Asuncion
to manage the recovery of 7,500 Guarani which the corporation owed to him. He never managed to recover the money, but Kamba'í, who had brought the guitar, managed to live a few months in an abandoned truck in the city of Villa Morra
and went out to the streets from Asuncion to spread his music.
, who by then was temporarily separated from her musical partner Andres Saldivar Basin. It was then when Efren became part of the group of Vargas Colmán with harpist Edmundo "Nenito" Medina and others. In parallel, he presented a radio program on Radio Ñandutí. Some time later, he accompanied the musician Severo Nunez Benitez and his group “Los Jilgeros” who made radio programs for Radio Paraguay, Chaco Boreal Station and the National Radio. With them he toured to Argentina
and Brazil
.
It was at the Pettengil family home, in the city of Itaguá, where he met the musician and composer Eladio Martinez "El Grande", whom he would fill another rich stage of experience at festivals and on television.
Kamba'í has worked on other duties to support his family. For several years was a doorman of the Ministry of Health and for a long time he had the same job as a security guard during the night at a television company.
An important site of the Cabildo is the gallery with a photograph of them so to pay tribute to the life of the great artistic personalities of Paraguay
.
This time were distinguished: Efren Echeverria. Guitarist, composer and compiler.
, who handed Honors consisting of gold medals and monetary contribution for both artists.
The words were flattering and honored the figure of both men. They were named "Living Human Treasures" through a project presented last year by the cultural sponsor Mario Garcia Siani, the United Nations for Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).
The guitarist Efren Echeverria said that despite the cold weather, he was very happy. "I was in heaven at that time and it is the first time I do this kind of recognition in my country. And the best thing is that everything is done while I am alive and that encourages me to continue, because I see that my work is valued. It is a great thing for me and I thank them all for this recognition. I never imagined this could happen. But I am sure that what they told me is true, because I know what I am worth and what I do with the guitar, because it took me a long time and it is unique. So far I have not found someone who plays guitar like I do and keep that in mind. I did not study and learned to play on my own, "said the guitarist.
On the particular tuning of his guitar to play its songs, the artist said that he tuned it in G, meaning that in the first three ropes and in the final ones he tuned in this note with the respective chord. “My brother taught me that pitch, Catalino Echeverria, because he saw a musician who played well in Puerto Casado, where he worked producing tannin. The sound was recorded in his mind and told me this, which I have ever forgotten. Then I tried it and I liked it "He said.
The musician joined numerous folk groups, although it is now recognized and admired for his solo interpretation of the Paraguayan folk music.
He has compiled dozens of compositions he has heard since childhood and that for professional ethics and honesty he has not registered in his name. Elias has recorded discs so far four long-term discs and included them in many of these popular grounds next to the popular creations: Yagua'í care and Ryguazú Cocore.
In the 70's was when he made many music festivals and on television so that more was to tap and ripping guitar.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
guitarist, composer, and compiler Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
.
Self-taught of remarkable style
Efren Echeverria, artistically nicknamed "Kamba'i", is one of the most popular performers and creators of the guitar in ParaguayParaguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
.
Self-taught, he leaves mark on his peculiar way of running the guitar, traits and tapping at the same time, without using specific techniques or methods of guitar Scholars. In addition to his own technique, "Kamba'i" uses a personal pitch of the instrument, which allows the strings to produce a higher tone when sounding in the air.
Childhood and Youth
When Efren was nine years old, a neighbor, Eusebio Cantero, taught him the first chords on guitar. With him, he learned the authentic pieces of folk repertoire of anonymous authors. Thus, from an early age, Paraguayan music became familiar to him; therefore to own a guitar became a passionate desire of his childhood. And not a long time passed until the desired instrument came to his life. Already in his teens, Echeverria became part of the act placed in any "Musiqueada" (musical parties) that was done in his homeland.Soon Efren takes over the serenades of the place, always pushing the guitar and sometimes up the violin or accordion with buttons. His repertoire covered everything that the public from the area knew could appreciate.
First Steps
As the young Efren Echeverria understood, he could not survive with music as a single work, he was an employee and was able get the best notes from the musical instruments; there was no tayï (a typical tree from Paraguay) that could resist to his blunt axe.The musician worked as employee in the area of Curuguaty
Curuguaty
Curuguaty is a city in the Canindeyú Department of Paraguay, that was the 4th capital of Paraguay during the War against the Triple Alliance.-Toponimy:...
by the year 1950. In 1960 he settled in the city of Asuncion
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
, capital of Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
.
In the 70's, he came to participate in the emerging music festivals and television. In those days he began to arouse interest in the capital for his original compositions and his special way of tapping and ripping the guitar simultaneously.
Trajectory
The name of this musician is among the great composers of popular music, among which one can summon Mauricio Cardozo OcampoMauricio Cardozo Ocampo
Mauricio Cardozo Ocampo was the main reference of the so called “golden generation” of the Paraguayan popular music and a strict studious of the Paraguayan folk music.-Biography:...
Agustín Barboza
Agustín Barboza
Agustín Pío Barboza was a Paraguayan singer and composer.-Childhood and youth:Barboza was born in Asunción, Paraguay. In his adolescence , he went to Buenos Aires to work as a seaman aboard the Mixu, a ship flying the Argentine flag. Alternating his work of seaman with musical activities, he met...
Herminio Gimenez
Herminio Giménez
-Life:At the early age of 11 he was already part of the Paraguarí music band and two years later he was hired to be part of the Asunción marching band. While at the marching band he made his first successful song, a polca named Jasy Morotí, in 1918. He was the first person to record Paraguayan...
, Demetrio Ortiz Emiliano R. Fernandez and Jose Asuncion Flores.
A very personal style
Kamba'í Echeverria says that his unique style of simultaneous strumming and marking arose from the need to act alone, especially in the serenades, to accommodate the budgets of his hometown and as a product of admiration for the great guitar as concertmasters Cayo Sila GodoyCayo Sila Godoy
-Childhood and Youth:Cayo Sila Godoy was born in Villarrica Paraguay on December 4, 1919. His mother and his uncles were talented musicians who exposed him at an early age to the piano, violin, mandolin, harp and tropical guitar...
and Felipe Sosa
Felipe Sosa
He was a guitar player, composer and guitar Paraguayan teacher.He was born in 1945, in Caazapá, city of the department with the same name in Paraguay.-Childhood and Youth:...
.
Unpaid accounts and migration to Asuncion
A multinational colonizer arrived at Efren Echeverria’s hometown and he joined the staff of employees for turning trees of the land acquired. Soon problems arose for the logging company in the forests of Capi'ibary and Villa CuruguatyCuruguaty
Curuguaty is a city in the Canindeyú Department of Paraguay, that was the 4th capital of Paraguay during the War against the Triple Alliance.-Toponimy:...
. The workers remained unpaid for three months of sacrificing work. Thus the musician and other colleagues decided to travel to Asuncion
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
to manage the recovery of 7,500 Guarani which the corporation owed to him. He never managed to recover the money, but Kamba'í, who had brought the guitar, managed to live a few months in an abandoned truck in the city of Villa Morra
Villa Morra
Villa Morra is a neighbourhood of Asunción, the capital of Paraguay. It has a population of 4114 people. The name "Villa Morra" comes from the family name of one of the first owners of the Asunción Tramways company, Mr. Franciso Morra....
and went out to the streets from Asuncion to spread his music.
Meeting with professional musicians
Near the truck that Efren adopted as the first refuge in Asuncion, lived the musician Ramon Vargas ColmanRamón Vargas Colman
Ramon Vargas Colman was born in the village of Tebicuarymí, a town close to Caballero, Department of Paraguarí, Paraguay, March 3, 1925 then Tebicuarymí belonged to the Department of Guairá....
, who by then was temporarily separated from her musical partner Andres Saldivar Basin. It was then when Efren became part of the group of Vargas Colmán with harpist Edmundo "Nenito" Medina and others. In parallel, he presented a radio program on Radio Ñandutí. Some time later, he accompanied the musician Severo Nunez Benitez and his group “Los Jilgeros” who made radio programs for Radio Paraguay, Chaco Boreal Station and the National Radio. With them he toured to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
It was at the Pettengil family home, in the city of Itaguá, where he met the musician and composer Eladio Martinez "El Grande", whom he would fill another rich stage of experience at festivals and on television.
Kamba'í has worked on other duties to support his family. For several years was a doorman of the Ministry of Health and for a long time he had the same job as a security guard during the night at a television company.
Distinctions
The "Cultural Center of the Republic El Cabildo" awarded Efren Echeverria the prize "Masters of art" in the category of music in 2007. He shared this high distinction with Ramiro Dominguez in literature, Carlos Colombino in visual arts, Reina Menchaca in dance and Carlos Gomez in theatre.Master of Arts
The distinction "Masters of Art" is a recognition of prominent artists and intellectuals in cultural management and promotion of artistic events. The choice rests with a jury composed of advisers from the Center.An important site of the Cabildo is the gallery with a photograph of them so to pay tribute to the life of the great artistic personalities of Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
.
This time were distinguished: Efren Echeverria. Guitarist, composer and compiler.
Tributes received
Efren `Kamba` i `Echeverria and singer and composer Quemil Yambay, have been honored to receive life in a well-deserved tribute to the appellation of" Living Human Treasures ", in a massive act performed at the Teatro Municipal. The event was organized by the Paraguayan National Commission for Cooperation with the UnescoUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, who handed Honors consisting of gold medals and monetary contribution for both artists.
The words were flattering and honored the figure of both men. They were named "Living Human Treasures" through a project presented last year by the cultural sponsor Mario Garcia Siani, the United Nations for Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).
The guitarist Efren Echeverria said that despite the cold weather, he was very happy. "I was in heaven at that time and it is the first time I do this kind of recognition in my country. And the best thing is that everything is done while I am alive and that encourages me to continue, because I see that my work is valued. It is a great thing for me and I thank them all for this recognition. I never imagined this could happen. But I am sure that what they told me is true, because I know what I am worth and what I do with the guitar, because it took me a long time and it is unique. So far I have not found someone who plays guitar like I do and keep that in mind. I did not study and learned to play on my own, "said the guitarist.
On the particular tuning of his guitar to play its songs, the artist said that he tuned it in G, meaning that in the first three ropes and in the final ones he tuned in this note with the respective chord. “My brother taught me that pitch, Catalino Echeverria, because he saw a musician who played well in Puerto Casado, where he worked producing tannin. The sound was recorded in his mind and told me this, which I have ever forgotten. Then I tried it and I liked it "He said.
Works
The composer created many works for guitar. Some recreate sounds of animals with great fidelity. These include:- "Ruguasu Kokoro."
- "Yaguai Kare."
- "Itaverá."
- "Guata yeruti."
- "Taita Jose."
- "Belénpe guare."
- "Vaka ra'y chapelo", among others.
The musician joined numerous folk groups, although it is now recognized and admired for his solo interpretation of the Paraguayan folk music.
He has compiled dozens of compositions he has heard since childhood and that for professional ethics and honesty he has not registered in his name. Elias has recorded discs so far four long-term discs and included them in many of these popular grounds next to the popular creations: Yagua'í care and Ryguazú Cocore.
In the 70's was when he made many music festivals and on television so that more was to tap and ripping guitar.