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RECORDINGS IN NATURAL CAVES
SPAIN
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Cova do Rei Cintolo
Mondoñedo, Galicia
RIC-ES1 Spain 2003
AS COVAS DO REI CINTOLO *
(THE CAVERN DANCE)
RIC – World – Celtic – Traditional – Instrumental – Speleolithophonic
Comp: (Traditional)
Arr: Carlos Núñez, Pancho Álvarez, & Xurxo Núñez
Rts: (SACEM)
Perf: Carlos
NÚÑEZ (recorder)
Xurxo Núñez (bodhran, drums, timbales,
percussion, guitars, keyboards, vibraphone,
& stalactites or speleolithophone)
Pancho Álvarez (bouzouki, electric guitar)
Begoña Riobó (fiddle)
Paloma Trigás & Sara Pérez (violins)
José Vera (bass)
Bagad Ronsed Mor Lokoal Mendon
& Kevrenn Altré Auray (bagpipes & Breton bombard)
Prod: Jacques Bernard
Prod. Co: Label Productions
Liner Notes: Carlos Núñez
Time: 3:34
A. Original Spanish CD: ALMAS DE FISTERRA
Sony SM 5110229 (Tk 10)
B. French CD: FINISTERRE: THE END OF THE EARTH (2003)
Saint George SAN 512404 2 (Tk 10 – Titled: THE CAVERN DANCE)
C. American CD: FINISTERRE: THE END OF THE EARTH (2003)
Sony Music 5124042 (Tk 10 – Titled: THE CAVERN DANCE)
Notes: A fine piece of traditional Celtic music, originally a Breton 2/4
Notes: Cova do Rei Cintolo is the longest cave in Galicia; in 1994 it was 6.5 kilometers long. Located in
Argomoso near the town of Mondoñedo in northwestern Spain, this cave is gated but can be visited on
organized tours.
The Spanish liner notes tell the story – “Escondidas en las montañas de Mondoñeda, en plena “Galicia
britoniese,” se encuetran estas fascinantes cuevas aún no exploradas en su totalidad por el hombre
“actual.” Decía D. Alvaro Cunqueiro que los habitantes de sus alrededores aseguraban que allí vivía el Rei
Cintolo que, según muchos, no era otro que el mismísimo rey Arturo. Adentrándonos en ellas, a cuatro
horas de viaje hacia el centro de la tierra, descubrimos espacios tan sugerentes y literarios como la “Sala
de los Apóstoles,” la de “Valle Inclán,” con sus estalactitas en forma de enormes barbas, o el peligroso
“Laberinto de Augustias” que lleva hasta la “Sala de Organos,” una verdadera catedral interrestre.
Hasta allí bajamos mi hermano Xurxo y yo, junto a un grupo de amigos espeleólogos, para grabar el
sonido de sus enormes estalactitas que aquí podéis escuchar. Al tocar este “an dro,” que es una célebre
danza bretona, las resonancias de la flauta junto a éstas eran sobrecogedoras y parecían poder despertar
a los antiquos habitantes de las cuevas y asistir a nuestra llameda en forma de extraños ecos.”
[Hidden in the mountains of Mondoneda, in the middle of “Breton Galicia,” one finds these fascinating
caves still not entirely explored by men “of today.” Alvaro Cunqueiro said that the residents of the
surrounding area affirmed that there had lived King Cintolo, who many
argued was none other than King Arthur himself. When we entered
this cave, four hours journey to the center of the earth, we discovered
spaces so very suggestive and literary such as “The Room of the
Apostles” or “The Inclan Valley,” with its stalactites in the form of
enormous beards, or the hazardous “Labyrinth of Augustus,” which
lead to the “Organ Room,” a veritable cathedral inside the earth.
There we descended, my brother Xurxo and I, together with a group of
caving friends, to record the sound of the enormous stalactites that
one can listen to here. When one tapped this “an dro,” which is a
famous Breton dance, the resonances of the flute along with this were
breathtaking and it seemed that we could awaken those ancient
inhabitants of the cave to attend our call in the form of strange
echoes.]
The American and French releases of this CD renamed the piece “The
Cavern Dance” and provided slightly different notes in English -- “I
have played this ”an dro” all over the world. It is the most popular
Breton dance and I have seen audiences dancing to it in Japan,
Australia, Italy, US… Somehow I feel this mysterious tune can be
danced in any place and in any time… even in a cave inhabited in
prehistoric times. I recorded the stalactites sounds inside Galicia’s biggest cave. Legends say that it was
the home of King Arthur and his troops who were disguised as crows. I had to walk inside it for hours with
some speleologists friends, but it was worth it when we arrived to what they called the Organ Hall and my
brother started playing rhythms on the impressive stalactites. I couldn’t help remembering this time that
kept everyone down there dancing!” (Liner notes)
The 2005 map of the cave system is by the Grupo Espeleologico Universidad Laboral de la Coruña,
recopied from a 1978-1979 map. The Sala de Organos is the big room located to the south of the main
entrance (indicated here by a red arrow).
The original Spanish liner notes are a bit misleading when they imply that this piece was recorded in the
cave. Carlos says that he was in the cave with his brother and a group of caving friends and he recorded
Xurxo playing on the stalactites in the Organ Room. When combining his Spanish and English texts it
becomes clear that Carlos played this piece on flute together with his brother on speleolithophone
(stalactite percussion) and they heard the resonances and people danced, but he never says they recorded
the instrumental music there in the cave.
The personnel credits for this piece lists nine musicians as having participated in the recording: Xurxo plays
five different percussion instruments (including guitar, keyboards, & vibraphone) and some of the other
musicians play two instruments. All of this clearly shows that the recording was made in a studio on
different tracks and later mixed using the stalactite percussion that was recorded in the cave.
See under World Music – Spain – Celtic – As Covas do Rei Cintolo
Ref: Anon. 2009, Cova do Rei Cintolo, Data & Maps (in Spanish), turismoenxebre
Anon. 2013, Leyendas gallegas: A Cova de Rei Cintolo (in Spanish), wordpress
Carlos Nuñez, Biography (in Spanish), es.wikipedia
Carlos Nuñez, Finisterre: The End of the Earth CD, discogs
Carlos Nuñez, As Covas do Rei Cintolo (3:45) YouTube (◄COMPLETE AUDIO-VIDEO SAMPLE)
Diaz Prieto, Manuel, Las 30 cavidades gallegas más significativas, Subterránea, n. 2, Oct. 1994, p. 19, 26-27
Duckeck, Jocken 2011, Cova do Rei Cintolo, Spanish Show Caves, ShowCaves
Núñez, Carlos 2003, Liner notes for this CD
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Cueva de Altamira
Santillana del Mar, Cantabria
RIC-ES2 France 2001
EL CANTO DE LAS PIEDRAS *
(LE CHANT DES PIERRES)
(SONG OF THE STONES)
RIC – Contemporary – Experimental – Speleolithophonic – Film Music – Vocal & Instrumental – Cave Pic Cover
Selections:
1. SORTILEGIO DE LAS SOMBRAS [Bewitching Shadows] – 3:14/ 2. EL CANTO DE LAS PIEDRAS [Song
of the Stones] - Part 1: TRANCE – 1:09/ 3. HUELLA [Hand-print] – 0:57/ 4. ANIMA – 2:10/ 5. MANOS
ROJOS, MANOS NEGRAS [Red Hands, Black Hands] – 1:31/ 6. EL CANTO DE LAS PIEDRAS – Part 2:
VIAGE [Journey] – 2:26/ 7. RENACIMENTO [Born Again] – 2:26/ 8. EL CANTO DE LAS PIEDRAS – Part
3: VISION – 2:29/ 9. FERTILIDAD [Fertility] – 1:20/ 10. LA LLAMADO DE LOS ANTEPASADOS [Call of the
Ancestors] – 3:50/ 11. INICIACION [Initiation] – 1:12/ 12. EL CANTO DE LAS PIEDRAS – Part 4: VUELTA
[Return] – 3:22/ 13. EL PODER DEL OCRE [The Power of Ochre] – 1:58/ 14. DANZA DEL HOMBREBISONTE [Dance of the Bull-Man] – 2:05/ 15. RAICES DEL TIEMPO [Origins of Time] – 4:11/ 16.
MURMULLO DE VIDA [Invisible Presences] – 4:12
Comp: (Music improvised by musicians)
Rts: (SACEM)
Perf: François CLAERHOUT (lithophones, rhombus, whistles, & Jew's harp)
Philippe Claerhout (lithophones & synthesizer)
Thierry MORENO (lithophones, rhombus, whistles, wooden drum, & Jew's harp)
Philippe Rougé (lithophones)
Michael Geyre (lithophones)
Boris LELONG (lithophones & rhombus)
Joon CLAUDIO (lithophones, flute, whistles, &
Jew's harp)
[Shaman – from Henri Lecomte's recordings]
Prod. Co: Le Chant des Pierres Sacrées; Villeneuve sur Lot,
France
Rec. Eng: François Claerhout & Boris Lelong
Liner Notes: (?) (Spanish trans.: William Sanz &
English trans.: Paul Keulers & Guillaume Sindicq)
Time: (See above)
CD: EL CANTO DE LAS PIEDRAS – LE CHANT DES PIERRES – SONG OF THE STONES
LCDPS 01 (Tks 1-16)
Notes: This is speleolithophonic music especially composed and performed in caves for a 16-minute
Spanish documentary film, El Sueño del chamán – The Shaman’s Dream, released in 2001 with English
subtitles.
Most of the 16 tracks on this album of "prehistoric music" were recorded in the Grotte de Pech-Merle in
France. But apparently some unspecified tracks were also recorded at Cueva de Altamira in Cantabria.
These speleolithophonic music pieces were certainly not recorded in the Paleolithic art cave or at least not
where the cave paintings are situated. Most likely it was recorded in the nearby Nueva Cueva, which is a
small formation cave about 100m from the famous cave. This New Cave was discovered in 1928 while
quarrying for stone to be used for the new road to the cave.
For details about each selection see under Contemporary Art Music – Speleolithophonic Music – El Canto
de las piedras.
Ref: XII Alfonso, El Canto de las piedras – Le Chant des pierres – Song of the Stones CD, Review in English & French,
musearecords
Cueva de Altamira, Description (in Spanish) Wikipedia & (in English) Wikipedia
Obermaier, O. 1928, Las Cuevas de Altamira, Patronato Nacional del Turismo, Madrid, 24p.
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Cueva del Castillo
Puente Viesgo, Cantabria
RIC-ES3 France 2001
EL CANTO DE LAS PIEDRAS *
(LE CHANT DES PIERRES)
(SONG OF THE STONES)
RIC – Contemporary – Experimental – Speleolithophonic –
Film Music – Vocal & Instrumental – Cave Pic Cover
Selections: (See above entry)
Perf: (See above entry)
Prod. Co: Le Chant des Pierres Sacrées;
Villeneuve sur Lot, France
Rec. Eng: François Claerhout & Boris Lelong
Time: (See above entry)
CD: EL CANTO DE LAS PIEDRAS – LE CHANT DES PIERRES – SONG OF THE STONES
LCDPS 01 (Tks 1-16)
Notes: Most of the 16 tracks on this album of "prehistoric music" were recorded in the Grotte de PechMerle in France. But apparently some unspecified tracks were also recorded at Cueva del Castillo in
Cantabria.
Once again it is unlikely that they recorded in the Cueva del Castillo or at least not anywhere near the cave
paintings. It is far more likely that they played their lithophonic music on calcite draperies in the nearby
Cueva de las Monedas, which has fewer paintings and also a suitable ribbon drapery. Both caves are part
of what is called the Cuevas del Monte Castillo (see map).
The Paleolithic negative hand print on the cover of this CD is in the Cueva del Castillo. There are more
than 50 negative hand prints in this cave.
For details about each selection see under Contemporary Art Music – Speleolithophonic Music – El Canto
de las piedras.
Ref: El Castello Cave, Paleolithic Art, unican.es
Cueva del Castello, Info (in Spanish), cuevasturisticas.es
Cueva de las Monedas, Info (in Spanish), asturnatura
Grotte de Castello, Info (in French), Wikipedia
Gutiérrez Saez, José Luis & Ceballos, José María 1995, Visita Puente Viesgo y las Cuevas del Monte Castello,
Editorial Everest S.A., León, 71p.
Riancho Pena, Alfredo & Ceballos del Moral, José ca.2003, Puente Viesgo – Its Prehistoric Caves & Nearby Sights,
Editorial Escudo de Oro, Barcelona, 36p.
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Cueva dels Coloms
Canymel, Mallorca, Balearic Islands
RIC-ES4 Germany 1990
THE-VOICE-OF-CAVE
RIC – Nature Sounds
Prod: Michael Weisser
Prod. Co: Deutsche Austrophon; Diepholz
Rec. Eng: Michael Weisser
Rec. Loc: Canymel, Mallorca
Time: 6:50 (6:19)
A. German CD: OCEAN
Software IC 710.088 (Tk 8)
A. Russian CD: OCEAN (2000)
Landy Star Music LS-3559 (Tk 8)
Notes: On the back cover of the liner notes is this
message “Dedicated to the Waves of Canymel” and
Canymel is on the northeast coast of Mallorca, not
far from the show cave Cuevas de Artà.
Field checking along the rocky coast at Canymel, about 500m east of the beach at Hotel Castell Royal, I
found this nice marine cave at the Embarcadero del Rey. Bearing north northwest, it was 7m wide and 6m
high at the entrance and looked to be over 10m long. However, there were no waves that day. Nearby was
a wide natural arch in weathered limestone and a small sucking hole that ebbed and flowed, making some
noise, due to its connection with the sea under the coastal apron. The photo shows a nylon Tarzan rope
hanging down in front of the cave entrance and in the distance the natural arch.
On this album that combines natural sounds of the ocean and sea gulls with synthesizer and acoustic
music, this last selection is just the sound of small waves occasionally crashing and echoing inside a sea
cave with the continuous sound of larger waves breaking on the shore outside. The same
"soundenvironment" track is used for the intro or the closing of several other pieces on this album.
Ref: Garau, Climent 2005, Las cuevas de Artà, Edicions Documenta Balear, Photo, (pl. 4)
Martinez, Mercedes 2015, Personal communication, June 16, 2015, Hotel Castell Royal, Canymel, Majorca
Software, Ocean CD, Amazon.fr
Software, Ocean CD, Discogs
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Cuevas del Drach
Porto Cristo, Isle of Majorca
RIC-ES5 Germany 2003
CUEVAS DEL DRACH (UNTER PALMEN SIND HÖHLEN) *
RIC – Nature Sounds – Spoken Word
Perf: (Tourists and Cave Guide)
Prod. Co: Medien Vertrieb; Karlsruhe
Rec. Eng: Michael Meyer
Liner Notes: (8-page booklet in German & English)
Time: 4:33
1. CD: 100% PURE MALLORCA
Wea (Warner) (?) (Tk 9)
2. CD: 100% PURE MALLORCA – THE SOUND OF
THE ISLAND (ca.2005)
Pure Orbit (?) (Tk 9)
Notes: The subtitle here means “under the palm trees are caves.” This is simply a recording of sounds of
tourists in the cave, the guide, and a bit of the concert at Lake Martel.
The German liner notes describe the track – “Die ersten Stufen sind noch trocken, dann wird der Abstieg
rutschig. Stalagmiten und Stalaktiten begrüssen die zahlende Schar. Dumpf wird es und Wasser tropft von
der Decke. Man schlängelt sich durch wirre Gänge bis zur grossen Halle: Lautsprecher erklären
vielsprachig, irgendwo erklingt Musik – Applaus verhallt.”
The English text is neither an exact nor very accurate translation –
“The descent starts getting slippery. Stalactites are welcoming the
many people. Sounds are muted and water is dripping from the
ceiling. Meandering isles (sic) towards the huge hall. Loudspeaker
(sic) are explaining everything in many different languages.
Somewhere music starts playing. The applause dies.”
What is actually heard are murmurs, people talking and coughing,
different languages especially German, echoing voices, kids yelling,
water drops, and what sounds like running water. The loud speaker
introduces something in Spanish and German then music can be
heard in the distance. Someone nearby in the audience speaks in
Spanish. There is no applause just more crowd sounds and then all
fades.
The only photo showing lots of people in the cave that could be found dates to around 1945. The second
photo shows the Lake Martel and the boats used during the concert.
Ref: 100% Pure Mallorca CD, Amazon.de
Capó Valls de Padrinas, Juan ; P.B. et al. 1930, Las Cuevas del Drach, Palma de Mallorca, p. 36-37, 53, 109-110,
& 138
Cuevas del Drach, Website, (in Spanish) cuevasdrach & (in English), cuevasdrach
Ducheck, Jochen 2012, Cuevas del Drach, showcaves
Ferrer Gibert, Pedro & Costa Ferrer, José 1945, Las Cuevas de Arta y de Manacor, Galerías Costa, Palma de
Mallorca, p. 46
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Cueva de Nerja
Nerja, Malaga
RIC-ES6 Spain ca.1965
CAMPANAS DE LA CUEVA DE NERJA
RIC – Speleolithophonic – World – Popular – Vocal & Instrumental – Cave
Pic Cover
Selections:
Side One – 1. INTRODUCCION (Campanas de Nerja [Bells of Nerja]) – 0:54/ 2. Evocacion de la
Malagueña (Pavón) – 2 :43
Side Two – 1. Vengo de los Montes – Verdiales (Dúrcal) – 2 :16/ 2. Malagueña Grande del Mellizo
(Pavón) – 2:28
Rts: (SGAE)
Perf: Rocío DÚRCAL (vocal)
Arturo PAVÓN (piano)
(with orchestra)
Sponsor: Patronato de la Cueva de Nerja
Prod. Co: Manuel Rubio y Cía.
Time: (See above)
EP: CAMPANAS DE LA CUEVA DE NERJA
Philips 436 318 PE (mono)
Spec: 7" 45rpm (EP) (Sides 1 & 2)
Notes: A world-class show cave near Malaga that holds a music festival every year, Festival Internacional
de Música y Danza, with concerts featuring major artists in the field of classical music, ballet, and world
music.
The magnificent Sala de la Cascada (or Sala del Ballet) is a huge chamber, 25m high and 30m wide,
where the raised stage (54m²) stands in front of an enormous calcite flowstone and drapery display.
Temporary stainless steel bleachers with seating for over 1,000 spectators have been set up overlooking
the stage.
The first selection Campanas de Nerja (Bells of Nerja) is speleolithophonic music played on calcite
draperies somewhere in the cave; a familiar tune followed by bell-like tones tolling out 6 o’clock. However
the other selections were probably recorded in a studio, that is, the two piano and orchestra pieces and the
flamenco song with claquettes.
The EP cover photo is a view of the Sala de los Fantasmas (Chamber of Ghosts). The other photos show
(on lt.) the Orquesta Filarmónica de Malaga in 2006 (photo by Guerrero) and (on rt.) Cristina Hoyos in 1995
(photo by A. Sanchildrián).
Ref: Aono. 2013, Historia del Festival, Fundación Cueva de Nerja, (in Spanish) cuevadenerja & (in English)
cuevadenerja
Cueva de Nerja, Info (in Spanish) Wikipedia & Caves of Nerja, Info (in English), Wikipedia
Durán, Juan José & Carrasco, Francisco 1994, Cueva de Nerja (The Nerja Cave), Fundación Cueva de Nerja, 24p.
Garces, Ricardo; Fueste, Miguel; Rodriguez Martin, Maria et al. 1977, La Cueva de Nerja (The Cave of Nerja),
Graficas San Andres S.A., Malaga, 118p.
Ortega Rodriguez, Eduardo ; Garces, Ricardo et al. 1971, La Cave de Nerja, (in French), Nerja, Malaga,181p.
Rocío Dúrcal, Bio, Wikipedia
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Cueva de los Verdes & Jameos del Agua
Arrieta, Isle of Lanzarote, Canary Islands
RIC-ES7 Spain 1996
VII FESTIVAL DE MUSICA VISUAL DE LANZAROTE *
RIC – Classical – Orchestral – Vocal – Cave Pic Cover
Selections:
1. Cello Chi (S. Hopkins) – 11:29/ 2. Future heat (T. Gurtu) – 13:38/ 3. Nove Alberti (H. Budd) – 6:31/
Marion Brown (Sweet Earth Flying) (H. Budd) – 3:05/ 4. Radio Tarifa (Juan Arteche & Javier Bergia) – 9:35/
5. Very, Very Good (M. Ziegler) – 8:57/ 6. Star Path, We, the Navigators – Maui, Tu, and Hiro Play the
Ocean Drum – Tangia Takes Ten to Tango (S. Scott) – 11:11
Perf: Sarah HOPKINS; Trilok GURTU; Harold BUDD; FINIS AFRICAE; Matthias
ZIEGLER; & Stephen SCOTT
Prod. Co: Festival de Musica Visual
Rec. Co: Digitrón Studios
Rec. Eng: Román Grau
Rec. Date: Oct. 10-19, 1996
Time: (See above)
CD: VII FESTIVAL DE MUSICA VISUAL DE LANZAROTE
Festival de Musica Visual (No cat. no.)
(Tks 1 - 6)
Notes: A concert organized by the Cabildo de Lanzarote that took place in the Concert Hall of the Cueva
de los Verdes and in the lava tube Auditorio of the Jameos del Agua from Oct. 10 to 10, 1996.
Curiously the title of track 4 is Radio Tarifa which is the name of a fusion world music group who recorded
a cave-inspired flamenco piece in 1996 (see under World Music – Spain – Flamenco Music – Las Cuevas).
The Cueva de los Verdes is a lava tube show cave that occupies a segment of a larger lava tube system
that is over 6 km long and has 21 jameos (pukas or collapse hole entrances) along its length (see map).
The Concert Hall is located some distance inside the cave and it has seating for up to 500 people (photo on
left). The floor is level here and the raised stage is placed either at the far end or to one side in the middle
of the seating.
Further downflow is another show cave, Jameos del Agua, another segment of this same lave tube. Here
one can enter by two different pukas, first Jameo Chico, where a restaurant with lush vegetation has a
small stage where live musical entertainment is provided during the evening meals. Continuing down to a
lake and traversing along its edge one reaches a second larger stage area where folkloric dances and
concerts are held. After progressing further west one comes out into the second puka where there is a
large oval swimming pool. At the western end of this is the upflow extension of the cave, Jameo Grande,
which has been transformed into a large concert hall, Auditorio, with terraced steps for seating sloping
down to a large stage (photo on right). Due to some small ceiling collapse this concert hall has now been
closed. All the tasteful alterations in the Jameos del Agua were designed by the famous native architect
César Manrique.
There was also a cassette entitled, VII Festival de música visual de Lanzarote that was released in 1996,
which included seven tracks, six of which were by artists on this CD and one by Anour Brahem. All of these
tracks were different from those here. The cassette uses the same cover photo as the CD. However, it is
not known if these selections were recorded in the caves.
A contemporary coral and chamber orchestra, Coral Polifónica San Genés, performed a magnificent suite
for two guitars and polyphonic choral singers, Suite de las Montañas del Fuego, at a concert in the
Auditorio of the Jameos del Agua in 1990. This was later recorded in a studio and released around 2001.
(See under Contemporary Art Music – Suite de las Montañas del Fuego.
Ref: Anon. n.d., Jameos del agua (Lago) - Lanzarote, (in Spanish & English), flickr
Bravo, Telesforo 1964, El volcán y el malpais de la Corona, La “Cueva de los Verdes” y los “Jameos,” Arrecife,
31p.
La Cueva de los Verdes, Visitar el Centro (in Spanish), centroturisticos & Visiting the Centre (in English), centro
Cueva de los Verdes, Info, Wikipedia
Jameos del Agua, Visitar el Centro (in Spanish), centroturisticos & Visiting the Centre (in English), centro
Twelfth Visual Music Fezstival if Lanzarote, Officina del Festival, Lanzarote
_____________________________________________________
Cueva de los Verdes
Arrieta, Isle of Lanzarote, Canary Islands
RIC-ES8 Spain 1995
THE LANZAROTE CONCERT *
RIC – Contemporary – Electro Acoustic – Instrumental – Cave Pic Cover
Selections:
CD 1 – 1. Roots – 26 :45/ 2. Anderswelt 1 [Another World 1] – 17 :00/ 3. Anderswelt 2 [Another World 2] –
27:10
CD 2 – 1. Tattva Viveka – 20:30/ 2. Celtic Moon –
21:15/ 3. Truth Insight – 18:15/ 4. Ham el Khior –
11:35
Comp: Mathias GRASSOW
Perf: Mathias GRASSOW (synthesizer,
keyboards, percussion, & voice)
Rudiger Gleisberg (Disc 2 – Tk 2 – guitar)
Klaus Wiese (singing bowls)
Prod. Co: NO-CD Rekords; Madrid
Rec. Date: 18 Oct. 1994
Time: (See above)
CD: THE LAZAROTE CONCERT
NO-CD CDNO 12 (2XCDs)
(Disc 1 – Tks 1 to 3 & Disc 2 – Tks 4 to 7)
Notes: A concert organized by the Cabildo de Lanzarote that took place in the Concert Hall of the Cueva
de los Verdes as part of the V Festival de Musica Visual. These recordings were made 8 days after the
Enrique Mateu concert, but released two years before. The tray card photo montage here shows Grassow
observing his concert in the cave.
“Mathias Grassow is one of the true pioneers and long-time practitioners of electronic ambience and
electronic minimalism. He has become widely recognized as ‘the King of the Ambient Drone’ and folks
often compare his soundscapes to ‘organized refrigerator hum.’ They mean that as a compliment.”
(Brenholts 2013)
Ref: Brentholts, Jim 2013, Mathias Grassow, Biography, Allmusic
Mathias Grassow, Biography, Official Website, mathias-grasow.de
Mathias Grassow, Biography, Wikipedia
Mathias Grassow, The Lanzarote Concert CD, Amazon.fr (◄AUDIO SAMPLES)
Mathias Grassow, The Lanzarote Concert CD, Discogs
________________________________
RIC-ES9 Spain 1996
LANCELOT *
RIC – Contemporary – Electro Acoustic – Instrumental
Selections:
1. Lancelot – 7:33/ 2. Yaiza – 4:02/ 3. Petit Papa Noël/ 4. El Cometa – 6:03/ 5. Mirador del Rio – 3:23/ 6.
Primero el interior – 5:54/ 7. CUEVA DE LOS VERDES: FORMACIÓN – 10:21/ 8. CUEVA DE LOS
VERDES: SEDIMENTACIÓN – 5:19/ 9. CUEVA DE LOS VERDES: JAMEOS – 4:02
Comp: Enrique MATEU
Perf: Enrique MATEU (synthesizer)
Prod. Co: Gofio Records
Rec. Date: 10 Oct. 1994
Time: (See above)
CD: LANCELOT
Gofio (?) (Tks 1 to 9)
Notes: A concert organized by the Cabildo de Lanzarote that took place in
the Concert Hall of the Cueva de los Verdes as part of the V Festival de
Musica Visual. Three of the pieces were inspired by the lava tube cave
itself All three pieces could once be heard in their entirety at the Enrique
Mateu official Website, but his site is now under reconstruction. The CD
was also removed from the Allmusic Website.
Regarding track 8: Sedimentación – This piece is badly titled for there is no “sedimentation” in a volcanic
lava tube.
For a discussion of these cave-inspired pieces see under Contemporary Art Music – Cueva de los Verdes,
etc.
Ref: Enrique Mateu, Bio & Discography (in Spanish), Wikipedia
Enrique Mateu, Lancelot CD, lastfm.fr
_____________________________________________________
NOT RECORDED IN CAVES
Cuevas del Drach
Porto Cristo, Isle of Majorca
RIC-ES10 Spain 1962
MALLORCA – CUEVAS – CAVES – GROTTES
NOTRIC – Classical – Instrumental – Cave Pic Cover
Selections:
Side One – 1. Alborada (Caballero)/ 2. Estudio en "MI" Mayor, Op.10,No.3 (Chopin)
Side Two – 1. Barcarola (Offenbach)/ 2. Largo (Händel)
Perf: ORQUESTA DE CAMARA
SOLISTAS DE BARCELONA
Domingo Segu (oboe solo)
José Trotta (cello solo)
Cond: Domingo Ponsa
Prod. Co: Discos Columbia S.A.; San Sebastian
Time:
EP: MALLORCA – CUEVAS – CAVES – GROTTES
Columbia SCGE-80500
7" 45rpm (EP) (Sides 1 & 2)
Notes: The Cuevas del Drach (Dragon Caves) at Porto Cristo on the
island of Majorca in Spain is famous for the live underground
concerts, which are presented daily for the tourists. A large space with
a 500 seating capacity (in 1976) slants down to the edge of Lake Martel (first crossed by E.A. Martel in
1896). The cover photo shows a photo of the Sala de las Imágenes (Hall of Images) (with the cheap, phony
colored lighting), which is in the nearby Cuevas dels Hams.
The Lago Martel and the Cúpula Moragues constitute one chamber that measures 140m (155m according
to Martel) long, 70m (12m according to Martel) wide, and with a ceiling height of 16 to 18m above the lake’s
surface. (Capó 1930)
Writing about a concert on Lake Martel in September 1929, Juan Capó Valls de Padrinas says – “La
sonata de Grieg, de Mendelsson, de Chopin… aletean en esta cavidad tan dulcemente… Las barcas
orladas con centenares de pequeñas luces semejan maravillosas naves que nadie conduce… Y van
mostrándote toda la immensidad de ese mar único en el mundo… Y en tanto la música vibra en todo, en el
agua dormida, en la roca, en el aire, en ta propio corazón…“ (Capó 1930)
[The sonatas of Grieg, Mendelssohn, and Chopin ... tremble so sweetly in this cavity... The boats fringed
with hundreds of tiny lights resemble the wonderful crafts that someone rows ... And they show you all the
immensity of this sea unique in the world ... And the music resounds everywhere, in the sleepy water, on
the rocks, in the air, in your own heart …]
And another writer, P.B., adds – “Lástima,exclamé, al regresar de tan deliciosa jornada, que los
excursionistas aficionados al arte musical al visitar las famosas Cuevas no puedan también gozar a sus
anchas de tales conciertos o audiciones celebradas en el encantado lago Martel que, a decir de un técnico
de nuestros días, es el recinto que tal vez reuna
mejores condiciones acústicas ; así la visita a las
Cuevas del Drach subiría de valor y sería del todo
ideal.“ (Capó 1930)
[Too bad, I cried, returning from such a magnificent
day, that hikers and musical art lovers that visit the
famous caves cannot also enjoy at home such
concerts and auditions held on the enchanted lake
Martel. Go tell a technician of today, this is a space
that maybe provides the best acoustic conditions,
thus a visit to the Caves of Drach would increase in
appeal and all would be quite perfect.]
The photo (on left) shows a pianist and two violinists
being rowed on Lake Martel during the concert.
Today the show begins with the illumination of various sections of the lake, which is surrounded and
overhung with numerous formations. Three gondola-type boats, each lit with a string of small lights,
approach from the end of the lake on the right, pass in front of the audience, and enter the lake chamber off
to the right. A small orchestra consisting of violin, cello, and a small pump organ occupies one of the
gondolas and they play selections of classical music, mostly Chopin, Händel, and Offenbach.
However, it needs to be said, that these boat concerts are entirely faked. The classical music is piped
through loud speakers while musicians make a pretense of actually playing their instruments. They only
have to get the fingering right at the very beginning of the concert; after that the boat goes around the rock
buttress and the musicians are out of sight from the audience for the rest of the “concert.” I had always
suspected this fakery and it has been confirmed by my caving friends in Majorca, Miquel Trias and Joan
Ramon, members of the Speleo Club Mallorca. (Trias 2015)
Once in a while live concerts are actually held in
the cave, where musicians play on the small stage
on the shore of Lake Martel just in front of the
grandstands. The photo on the right shows the
singer Jaume Anglada during a concert there in
July 2015. (Obrador 2015)
This disc is probably meant to be considered as a
recording of one of these “cave concerts” because
it includes the compositions that are performed
“live” in the cave. But the chamber orchestra here is
far too large and the quality of the sound
immediately reveals it as a studio recording. At one
time this disc may have been sold at the postcard
stand inside the original entrance of the Cuevas del Drach where the tourists then exited the cave. But
mostly this disc was sold at the numerous souvenir shops near the harbor in Porto Cristo.
Ref: Capó Valls de Padrinas, Juan ; P.B. et al. 1930, Las Cuevas del Drach, Palma de Mallorca, p. 36-37, 53, 109-110,
& 138
Cuevas del Drach, Website, (in Spanish) cuevasdrach & (in English), cuevasdrach
Ducheck, Jochen 2012, Cuevas del Drach, showcaves
Obrador, T. 2015, Las cuevas del Drach dan musho juego, Diario de Mallorca, 10 Julio 2015
Trias, Miquel & Ramon, Joan 2015, Personal communication, June 11, 2015, Alcúdia, Majorca, Spain
From Bob et Bobette – Les fantomes musiciens, 1981 – Drawing by Willy Vandersteen modified by DB
________________________________
RIC-ES11 Spain 1967
MALLORCA Y SUS CUEVAS
NOTRIC – Classical – Instrumental – Cave Pic Cover
Selections:
Side One – 1. Barcarola (Offenbach)/ 2. Largo (Händel)
Side Two – 1. Tristesse (Chopin)/ 2. Alborada (Caballero)
Arr: Miguel Aller
Perf: (Unknown Orchestra)
Prod. Co: Discos Fonal; Palma de Mallorca
Liner Notes: (?)
Time:
1. EP: MALLORCA Y SUS CUEVAS
Fonal RA-002
7" 45rpm (EP) (Sides 1 & 2)
2. Reissue EP: MALLORCA Y SUS CUEVAS ca.1974
Fonal RA-002 B
7" 45rpm (EP) (Sides 1 & 2)
Notes: Another disc with the same compositions, which are
performed for the cave concerts in the Cuevas del Drach. The four
pieces are presented on this disc in a different order than on the
precedent disc and they are played by a different, smaller chamber
orchestra at a slower tempo. Again this is a misleading cave
recording, which was obviously made in a studio.
The liner notes tell us – “The beautiful spectacle of light, colour and art seen by every visitor to these
Mallorcan caves…” – all of which indicates that this EP is meant as a souvenir of all the show caves in
Mallorca and not specifically the Cuevas del Drach.
The only difference between these two
issues was the change of cave photos on the
EP jacket cover and the different cover
photos were all taken in the nearby Cuevas
dels Hams.
The map of the cave here dates to 1945. All
the sections of the cave to the right of the
red line, Cueva Negra & Cueva Blanca, are
not visited today. Lago [Lake] Miramar, later
renamed Lago Martel in honor of its
discoverer, is labeled properly and the
present-day exit of the commercial tour is
indicated with an arrow in the upper portion
to the left of the red line. Today the visitors
enter at the other end of the cave in the Sala
Luis Armand (named after Martel’s
colleague) and eventually arrive at the
Cúpula Moragues (shown on the map at the
southeast end of Lake Martel). Here
grandstands have been installed on the
sloping floor for the audience to attend the
classical music “concert” as described above.
Ref: Cuarteto De Cuerda Mallorca, Mallorca – Grottes – Cuevas EP, Discogs
Ferrer Gibert, Pedro & Costa Ferrer, José 1945, Las Cuevas de Arta y de Manacor, Galerías Costa, Palma de
Mallorca, p. 31
________________________________
RIC-ES12 Spain 1978
MALLORCA – CUEVAS – CAVES – GROTTES
NOTRIC – Classical – Instrumental – Cave Pic Cover
Selections:
Side One – 1. Tristesse (Chopin) – 2:30/ 2. Barcarola (Offenbach) – 1:52
Side Two – 1. Reverie (Schumann) – 2:07/ 2. Claro de luna (Beethoven)
– 2:45
Arr: Miguel Aller
Perf: (Unknown Orchestra)
Cond: (?)
Prod. Co: Discos Maller S.A.; Palma de Mallorca
Time: (See above)
EP: MALLORCA – CUEVAS – CAVES – GROTTES
Maller RA-002
7" 45rpm (EP) (Sides 1 & 2)
Notes: Yet another EP of classical music recorded in the studio, this time including two pieces already
released plus two unreleased pieces; all arranged by Miguel Aller. The text and layout on the back cover of
this EP is identical to the reissue EP on the Fonal label (see precedent entry).
A different show cave photo has been used for the cover, yet another taken in the Cuevas dels Hams, this
time the Paraíso perdito de Milton [Milton’s Paradise Lost].
In the 1970s this disc was sold at the numerous souvenir shops near the harbor in Porto Cristo.
________________________________
RIC-ES13 Spain 1979
CUEVAS DEL DRACH
NOTRIC – Classical – Popular – Instrumental – Cave Pic Cover
Selections:
Side One – 1. Aires bohemios (P. de Saraste) – 2:23/ 2. Barcarola (J. Offenbach) – 2:42/ 3. Serenata
(Schubert) – 4:14/ 4. Tristesse (Chopin) – 3:11/ 5. Largo (G. F. Händel) – 3:03/ 6. Alborada (M. F.
Caballero) – 2:59
Side Two – 1. Boleros mallorquines (Popular)/ 2. Parado de Valldemosa
(Popular)/ 3. Jota pagesa (Popular)/ 4. Una rosa en cada galta (Popular)/
5. Jota de pagesia (B. Calatayud)/ 6. Copeo de mutanya (Popular)/ 7.
Mateixa de na Maria (Popular)
Perf: (Different Orchestras)
Prod. Co: Cardisc S.A.; Barcelona & Dial Discos; Madrid
Time: (See above) & (Side 2 - Total) 18:47
1. LP: CUEVAS DEL DRACH
Cardisc D-2042
12” 33rpm (stereo) (Sides 1 & 2)
2. Reissue LP: CUEVAS DEL DRACH (1986)
Dial 54.9349
12” 33rpm (Sides 1 & 2)
Notes: An LP where side one is devoted to providing the different classical music pieces that are played
over the sound system during the so-called live concerts in the Cuevas del Drach. Side two is entirely
devoted to selections of Spanish popular music from Majorca and elsewhere. None of this music was
recorded in the cave.
Ref: Howes, Chis 1997, Personal communication, Chaux-de-Fonds
________________________________
RIC-ES14 Spain 1994
LA MÚSICA DE LAS CUEVAS DEL DRACH
NOTRIC – Classical – Instrumental – Cave Pic Cover
Selections:
1. Tristesse (Chopin) – 5:08/ 2. Barcarole (Offenbach) – 3:20/ 3.
Adagio (Albinoni) – 7:56/ 4. Alborada (Caballero) – 3:01/ 5. Canon
(Pachelbel) – 5:42/ 6. Air from Suite for Orchestra (Bach) – 5:46/ 7.
Serenade (Schubert) – 4:31/ 8. Menut (L. Boccherini) – 3:35/ 9.
Rondo (Mozart) – 3:27/ 10. Largo (Händel) – 2:39/ 11. Allegro from
“Faust” (Gounod) – 2:37/ 12. Largo (Händel) – 5:32/ 13. Plaisir
d’amour (popular) – 2:46
Perf: (11 Different Orchestras)
Prod. Co: Open Records S.L.; Barcelona
Time: (See above) Total 56:06
CD: LA MÚSICA DE LAS CUEVAS DEL DRACH
Open CD 2034
(Tk 1 – 13)
Notes: Another disc devoted to providing the different classical music pieces that are performed during the
concerts in the Cuevas del Drach. Nine different orchestras perform here, ranging from the Pro Musica
Symphony Orchestra to the Munich Symphonic Orchestra to the London Symphony Orchestra.
Obviously none of this music was recorded in the cave.
The cover photo is of the formations at the Mar de Venecia (The Venetian Sea) in the nearby Cueva del
Hams.
Ref: La Musica de las Cuevas del Drach CD, Discogs
La Musica de las Cuevas del Drach CD, melodig (◄AUDIO SAMPLES)
caveinspiredmusic.com