Raivo
Hommage
Hommage is the first CD produced by Raivo, a Canadian based band that is dedicated to playing original music and the compositions of R.R. Majunga, a famous composer from Madagascar. The music on Hommage is a mixture of Malagasy traditional and popular mus
RAIVO \"R.R. Majunga ‘Hommage\' (French notes to follow)
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RAIVO, an Ottawa based group, was formed in 2001 and is dedicated to playing original compositions and the music of Raymond Razafimbahiny (1919 - 1963) better known in his native Madagascar as R.R. Majunga.. As one can hear on Hommage, Raivo has been blessed in having the opportunity to record the music of R.R. Majunga. It is very melodic music and it sticks in your ear. With this the first of two recordings (the second Mahabibo was released in 2008) Raivo explores the repertoire of R.R. Majunga while using the broad musical template that R.R. Majunga established to forge new areas with their own compositions
R.R. Majunga\'s life story and development as a composer is closely intertwined with Madagascar\'s birth as a nation. Songs like Malagasy anie ianao, Ny Fytia and Fantenana are considered Malagasy classics. Malagasy anie ianao with its focus on Malagasy pride, is considered an unofficial anthem in Madagascar.
RAIVO is led by Maggy Razafimbahiny, who is the lead singer and her husband Dean Pallen, the musical arranger and saxophonist of the group and producer of Hommage. Ms. Razafimbahiny is also the daughter of R.R. Majunga. RAIVO means the daughter born between two daughters in Malagasy.
The music of R.R Majunga was at its popularity in the 1950\'s and early 1960\'s. He composed numerous songs in the kalon\' ny fahiny/hira tranaina traditional Malagasy piano music style and the popular hiragasy style. He also mixed in other styles of music that were popular in the French colonies at the time such as the cha cha cha, mambo and jazz as can be heard by his use of the so called \"blue note of jazz.\"
His songs remain well known in Madagascar and the Indian Ocean. In 1995, a collection of up and coming Malagasy musicians produced an R.R. Majunga tribute album. Songs such as Malagasy anie ianao have been interpreted by the likes of the internationally acclaimed Malagasy band Tarika Be.
As for RAIVO, the group carries on the tradition of mixing Malagasy rhythms, jazz and other musical styles that were popular in Madagascar in the 1950\'s to create its own very melodic and unique brand of Malagasy music. For example with their 2008 recording Mahabibo, Raivo made the musical connection between South Africa and Madagascar, the two African countries that have a long tradition of putting the piano at the forefront in both traditional and popular music. In fact, Raivo is very much on a crusade of keeping the tradition of piano based African music alive. Once upon a time, properly functioning pianos could be found all across the island of Madagascar. Today, this tradition for a number of reasons, mostly economic, is very threatened.
RAIVO\'s recording \"Hommage\" also includes samples or full length versions of five of the original recordings of R.R. Majunga. The original versions have been placed along side of RAIVO\'s own interpretation of the same piece. Before this could happen, the 78 inch recordings had to be sent to a company in Newmarket Ontario to be restored and digitally transferred to the CD format. Two original versions of R.R. Majunga\'s better-known songs Fanatenana and Malagasy anie ianao, are included on the CD.
Although there is a clear artistic desire being expressed through the inclusion of the original versions of R.R. Majunga, it was also done to provide the listener with a feel for a particular time in Madagascar\'s musical and political history. It was a time of considerable emotional contradictions where an ongoing fondness for certain French influences like the music that was brought to the island was tempered by growing disenchantment with colony rule. R.R. Majunga witnessed his own father\'s execution in the town square of Mananjary by the French colonial army. At the same time he wrote some of his most beautiful and touching music in French. Many of his French compositions can be heard on Mahabibo. However, the moving Laisse Moi Partir was included on Hommage.
There is also an instrumental version of \"Majunga\" on Hommage, a tribute to the west coast town in Madagascar that became the home for R.R. Majunga and his family. The original French version is also sampled and included on Hommage.
Since its creation, RAIVO has had the privilege of performing at such high profile events and locations as the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C, the Francophonie Games and the NEPAD conference in Montreal (May 2002) that brought together representatives of African nations to discuss future development assistance for the continent. The official CD launch for Hommage was held in July of 2008, in Ottawa, at the National Archives Library of Canada. A fitting location given the archival work that was involved in restoring and transcribing the R.R. Majunga originals for the Hommage recording.
For the launching the young Malagasy pianist Tiana Rabezandriny who has been with Raivo since its inception, played on the world renowned Canadian pianist Glen Gould\'s very own Steinway Piano CD-318. The honour and the connection being made between R.R. Majunga, the African pianist who explored his art in the most modest of circumstances and perhaps the greatest classical pianist of all time was felt fully by the members of Raivo.
The classic jazz combo of standup bass, acoustic piano and drums that support most of the songs on the recording is the same musical formation used by R.R. Majunga. It gives this music of R.R. Majunga music a special feeling and warmth.
Dean Pallen, is a jazz musician and composer in his own right. He has brought some interesting twists to the strong and refreshing melodies of R.R. Majunga. He will be releasing a recording of original compositions soon along with a Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn tribute of some of their rare compositions and another recording from his other world music project, Rimbombante.
Although there is a strong jazz element in RAIVO\'s music due in large part to Dean Pallen\'s influence, the group sees itself as first and foremost as a world music band that is playing highly melodic music. Before dedicating herself full time to RAIVO, Maggy Razafimbahiny, was the lead singer of Mada Vazo, an Ottawa group that quietly built a a strong following for itself in Quebec and Eastern Ontario by performing traditional and popular Malagasy music. Her voice has been described by Dominique Andrianjaka, a leading Malagasy drummer and percussionist as one of the most unique singing voices in popular Malagasy music.
Another key member of Raivo is Lydia Razafimbahiny, who is the second female voice of Raivo and the youngest daughter of R.R. Majunga. She can be heard taking on lead vocals on \"Mandalo miserana ihany\". Lydia Razafimbahiny has a very distinct voice that serves as a perfect compliment to the more jazzier inclinations of her sister Maggy. Lydia regularly serves as a back up singer to Malagasy musicians touring Canada.
World: African- East