Félix Pérez Cardozo (20 November 1908 – 9 June 1952) was a

Paraguay Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay, is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the Argentina–Paraguay border, south and southwest, Brazil to the Brazil–Paraguay border, east and northeast, and Boli ...

harpist The harp is a stringed musical instrument that has individual string (music), strings running at an angle to its sound board (music), soundboard; the strings are plucked with the fingers. Harps can be made and played in various ways, standing ...

and composer. He was born in the countryside where he learned to play the harp. He played in bands in

Asunción Asunción (, ) is the capital and the largest city of Paraguay. The city stands on the eastern bank of the Paraguay River, almost at the confluence of this river with the Pilcomayo River. The Paraguay River and the Bay of Asunción in the north ...

and

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, controlled by the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− glob ...

before forming his own group in 1945. He gained wide public recognition and enjoyed huge fame in Buenos Aires and throughout the

Río de la Plata The Río de la Plata (; ), also called the River Plate or La Plata River in English, is the estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River at Punta Gorda, Colonia, Punta Gorda. It empties into the Atlantic Ocean and ...

area. A thirty-six string harp was his brainchild, when he asked Epifanio Lopez to build one for his song, "Pájaro campana" (The Bell Bird).

Early life

Pérez Cardozo was born in the small town of Hy'aty in the state of Guairá, the son of Teodoro Pérez and Cándida Rosa Cardozo.

Career

As is common among musicians of the Paraguayan countryside, Pérez Cardozo learned how to play the harp from other harpists, without seeking tutelage from any one master. He was part of a paradigmatic trio, along with Ampelio Villalba and Diosnel Chase, consisting of one harp and two guitars. He received support from the poet Pedro José Carlés, with whom he traveled to the Paraguayan capital,

, in 1928. At that time, they played at folk music festivals organized by Aristóbulo "Nonón" Domínguez in the "Teatro Granados", as well as in night clubs. In 1931, Pérez Cardozo and his band left for

Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...

, where most of his artistic career took place. They were the first of a long list of Paraguayan musicians that would find success in the Argentine capital for more than half a century. In a short period of time, the individualistic style of Pérez Cardozo's interpretations of various compositions quickly gained him wide public recognition. He was a member of several bands until he formed his own group in 1945. He enjoyed huge fame in Buenos Aires and throughout all

area. In 1949, Pérez Cardozo asked Epifanio López to design a diatonic harp with additional strings, which would allow Pérez Cardozo to play his composition ''Pájaro campana'' (The Bell Bird), one of Paraguay's most famous folk songs. This thirty-six-string harp would become the most popular harp configuration.

Personal life

Pérez Cardozo married Argentinian, Victoria Sanchez, with whom he had three children.

Death and legacy

Pérez Cardozo died on June 9, 1952, in

Atahualpa Yupanqui Atahualpa Yupanqui (; born Héctor Roberto Chavero Aramburu; 31 January 1908 – 23 May 1992) was an Argentine- Spanish singer, songwriter, guitarist, and writer. He is considered one of the most important Argentine folk musicians of the 20th cen ...

, a fundamental icon of inspirational folk music and poetry in this century in Argentina, sang "Canción del arpa dormida" in his honor (set to music by

Herminio Giménez Herminio Giménez (February 20, 1905 – July 6, 1991) was a Paraguayan composer. Life At the early age of 11 he was already part of the Paraguarí Department, Paraguarí music band and two years later he was hired to be part of the Asunción ...

). In 1957, his hometown of Hy'aty was renamed Félix Pérez Cardozo, in his honour. A street in Mendoza is also named for him. Perez Cardozo has been described as Paraguay's "most influential harpist-composer" and one of " o of the most famous arpistas from Paraguay". The thirty-six-string harp that he designed has since become the most popular harp configuration.

Works

Pérez Cardozo wrote music for various verses of distinguished poets such as: * Víctor Montórfano ("Tetagua sapukái", a true anthem in which "grito del pueblo" (the shout of the people) claims better days for Paraguay) * Antonio Ortiz Mayans ("Burrerita", "Pasionaria", "Puntanita", "Asunceña" y "Taperé") * ("Rosa"), Rigoberto Fontao Meza ("El arriero"), Andrés Pereira ("Mariposa mi") * the Argentine Hilario Cuadros ("Los sesenta granaderos", known throughout Argentina as a very popular Anthem); also * the most important poet of Paraguayan history Emiliano R. Fernández, whose piece is seen as a pillar of Paraguayan epic music due to the rhythmic power, melodic beauty and patriotic content of the following texts ("1º de Marzo", "Che la reina (Ahama che china)", and the lovable song ("Oda pasional", "Oñondiveminte"), ("Desde la selva" y "Primavera"). Likewise "Caaguy ryakua", "Isla Pukú", the recompilation of "Jaha che ndive", "Lui ryevu", "Misiones". Among Pérez Cardozo's greatest harp compositions are: *"Angela Rosa" *"Carreta guýpe", (debajo de la carreta) *"Che vallemi Hyaty" *"Che vallemi Yaguarón" *"El sueño de Angelita" *"En tí hallé consuelo" *"El Tren Lechero" *"Guyra campana" also known as "Pájaro campana" *"Jataity" *"Llegada" *"Los 60 Granaderos" *"Mi despedida" *"Pájaro campana" (The Bell Bird), described as "one of his most celebrated concert pieces" also known as "Guyra campana"

References

Bibliography

* Diccionario Biográfico "FORJADORES DEL PARAGUAY", Primera Edición Enero de 2000. Distribuidora Quevedo de Ediciones. Buenos Aires, Argentina. *Lorenzo Manlio Paris (2008) "Félix Perez Cardozo, su vida y su música" Editorial ServiLibro, Asunción, Paraguay *Luis Szaran (2007) Diccionario de la Música Paraguaya" Edicción de la Jesuitenmission, Nuremberg, Germany
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perez Cardozo, Felix Paraguayan harpists 1908 births 1952 deaths People from Guairá Department Paraguayan composers Paraguayan expatriates in Argentina