By: Matthew Harris
Instrumentation: SATB a cappella w/divisi
Level of Difficulty: Intermediate
Duration: 6 mins
Language: Spanish

A fun, highly syncopated, moderately difficult expansion of the well-known traditional song from Mexico, with divisi and solos. Includes a piano reduction for rehearsal only, and the program notes include an English translation.
Contents: "Sitting in an outdoor cafe in Mexico a few years ago, I was intrigued when a strolling mariachi band played something strstrange yet familiar. Here was 'La Bamba' the 'right way'!, I thought. But a little research back home revealed that this song has been evolving for centuries, since its roots as a Veracruz wedding song. Like most good party music, the lyrics make very little sense, consisting of strings of non sequiturs each performer is free to reorder, alter, and add to. And the music is just as flexible. But the essence of 'La Bamba', whatever it is, seems to be indestructible. (iTunes has more than 150 versions under 24 different genres.) 'Fantasy on La Bamba' is not just me trying my hand at this game, but a celebration of the game itself. Or better yet, think of each variation as an entry in a diary about a love affair with this song."--(Matthew Harris)

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