To Gonzalo Godoy

In the beginning was music

He came in May, 1931

To a town of lonely streets,

Near the temple of

 “Our Lady of Sicalpa". 

 

There, where the humming birds kiss the barley,

 where the sheep duets with the wind, 

where the breeze weaves totora reeds. 

There, where the sun paints carpets in the field, 

where the moon hides in the lagoon, 

where the sacramental breads live in the stars. 

There, where the incense smoke and eucalyptus firewood smoke commune.

 

His grandfather was a "Chapel Master",

his mother and aunts: "Singers of the Church",

his father, a trumpeter and band director,

his toy, the harmonium of the town temple.

 

From his mother’s womb

 he was caressed by litanies, 

"Sung Masses", Christmas carols, 

the "retreta", the "albazo", by serenades, 

by the flight of doves, and by the signing rain.

 

He was born a musician,

grew up a musician,

he became a musician,

he gifted music,

taught music,

composed music,

recorded music...

He conjugated the noun music,

forwards, as well as with setbacks

 

His grandfather taught him to fly

and his wings grew and grew...

its Andean trill resonates,

in condors and macaws.

 

And harmony came,

with the name of Rosa

and ten songs adorn

the table in his house.

 

With his accordion

he runs through staffs.

"thirty-second notes" and "eighth-notes",

jump at parties.

"quarter notes", "whole notes”,

are heard in the temple.

"Half notes" hide

in Mount Chimborazo,

Young people run after "sixty-fourth notes".

 

His accordion,

has "tongues of fire",

he also speaks the language of children.

He is a boy,

he plays with his fingers!

jump "little thumb",

whistle " Mr. pinky",

the "index finger" sings,

the "ring finger" sleeps...

 

I discovered his secret!

He has "two hearts"!

one lives between the fingers,

hence the magic,

style and generosity.

In every song played,

heart and soul are present,

present are the perfumes of his grandfather,

present are the secrets of Pachamama,

and the soft whimper of the Andean landscape.

 

Gonzalo Godoy:

weaves carpets of sounds,

molds pitchers of arpeggios,

sculpt flowers with rhythms

and melts skies of harmony.

 

And this way

playing...

in his musical mission,

inadvertently,

he sowed

his fruit

and transcended.

 

Mario Godoy Aguirre

Silver Spring, MD. 30 - XII -1999

​

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"retreta": Open air concert

"albazo": Here the term is being used to refer to- a serenate with a popular band.