Some of the most popular exponents of the Peruvian vocal sound have been odd ones, indeed, and Yma Sumac (1922-2008) certainly fits that bill! The running joke is that she was secretly a Jewish woman (spell her name backwards), but she did have an exotic, uncanny tone to her voice (and an enormous range). Her mystique was perhaps abetted by costume work that hinted at a Hollywoodian take of Egyptian… This video makes me smile every time I watch/listen to it.
Yma Sumac: Virgen Del Sol
author: Gabriela Lena Frank
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A native Californian (born in Berkeley) of mixed Peruvian, Chinese, Lithuanian, and Jewish descent, Gabriela Lena Frank explores her multicultural heritage ardently through her compositions. Her pieces refract her studies of Latin American folklore, incorporating poetry, mythology, and native musical styles into a western classical framework uniquely her own. We are thrilled that Gabriela will curate and host NYFOS Next: Gabriela Lena Frank & Friends at National Sawdust on November 2. Get your tickets today!
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