La Paloma Sebastián Iradier NUS Guitar Ensemble

La Paloma, performed by NUS Guitar Ensemble at Kaleidoscope, held at University Cultural Centre, Singapore, on 9th March 2019.

Composed by Sebastián Iradier
Arranged by Andrew Forrest
Conducted by Robert Casteels

La Paloma,​ or “the dove”, was written by Spanish composer Sebastián Iradier in the 1850s. The popularity of this song encircles the globe - having inspired more than a thousand arrangements, adaptations and covers, and attaining quasi-folk-song status in many regions, ​La Paloma​ is one of the most-recorded pieces in the history of music - a wedding song in some cultures and a funeral song in others. Elvis Presley’s “No More” might be the most familiar version of ​La Paloma​ for English-speaking audiences of today.

In this guitar rendition, the alto guitars sing a passionate tune, not unlike the warm embrace of a lover. The soft, gentle bassline depicts palm trees swaying gently in the background, while the sul tasto technique used by the altos produces a warm, rounded tone that reminds one of a beautiful summer romance. As the sweet, dreamy melody is reprised, its sustained notes are emphasised with tremolo to evoke a sense of nostalgia.
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