Silvio Solis

Paraguayan harpist Silvio Solis is a master artist who began playing professionally at the age of fifteen, but eventually became a sought-after luthier as well. In this extended visit to his living room workshop in Elmhurst, Queens, where he builds his harps next to the kitchen entrance, he discusses his international career, musical upbringing, and the significance of the harp as a national instrument. He also introduces the basics of harp performance and construction while relating some of the main genres of Paraguayan folk music, such as polka and guarania. His reflections on the COVID-19 impacts on musicians and the importance of musical endeavor in these difficult times cap this short documentary.

From The Americas
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