Last year, Smithsonian Folkways invited local musicians to a studio in Valledupar, Colombia, to record traditional vallenato music at its best. Seated in the studio and surrounded by fellow musicians, Leandro Díaz, 80, who claims to have composed 400 songs, told the story behind one of his greatest hits, "Matilde Lina." Years ago, a beautiful woman sat next to Díaz on a park bench. He fell in love and sought to court her. But each time he visited her, he found another suitor already there. "She stayed at home," he muses, "and I got this song."Hear his son, Ivo Díaz, as he performed it on the new Folkways recording "¡Ayombe!"
Listen to Ivo Díaz perform "Matilde Lina"
Music courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways, the non-profit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. Please click here to purchase or for more information
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Comments (11)
What a wonderful song What a wonderful melody What wonderful lyrics
Posted by Jaime Castro on January 19,2009 | 10:48 AM
we had problems with streaming, too. then we put some good speakers on the computer, instead of listnening through the monitor's speaker. it helped a lot. fun music...it is reminischent of zydeco, but in Spanish. thank you so much for bringing it to us :)
Posted by Marie-Elizabeth on July 5,2008 | 01:47 PM
Yeah, same problem here, Richard. Those of us out in the sticks (25miles from our state capitol and still no high speed internet access as promised when Qwest came in >10 years ago!).Even the little bursts sound good, tho so I may just pick it up....or, order it and wait a few weeks...welcome to the real world.
Posted by Lawry Sager on June 17,2008 | 10:18 AM
Ah, makes me homesick for Aquadiente and Rum de Viejo de Caldas and Colombian Chorizos.
Posted by Alex on June 16,2008 | 06:01 AM
The most popular commercial singer of vallenato today is Jorge Celedon. He, along with accordianist Jimmy Zambrano, pack in crowds in Miami among the expat Colombian population. My girlfriend is from Cucuta, a large city along the Venezuelan border, and she adores "el vallenato." Other popular singers include Diomedes Diaz and Los Binomios de Oro. It's by far the best example of home-grown music, to Colombia what delta blues are to the US. Listen to Cuatro Rosas by Jorge Celedon.
Posted by Paul Lemay on June 8,2008 | 03:57 PM
I clicked on the link but heard nothing. I'm using a Mac with NO Microsoft at all so I guess I'm persona no grata. Jon
Posted by Jon Hold on June 6,2008 | 10:16 PM
I could hear it just fine. Although the kings are "el maestro" Escalona and Leandro Diaz there are some really good CDs by Carlos Vives. I recommend his "Clasicos de la Provincia", if you like it he has others but the older ones are better in my opinion. Enjoy.
Posted by Stella Hastie on June 5,2008 | 09:59 PM
This sounds amazingly like zydeco. The rhythm stick takes the place of the fratois almost seemslessly. Are there common roots?
Posted by David Melcer on June 5,2008 | 10:07 AM
richard - i've had that problem - it is due to bad internet speed / connection!
Posted by terry on June 3,2008 | 12:47 PM
Richard, I am listening to the complete recording at this moment simply by clicking on the link. Try again and see if you can get it. It's great!
Posted by julia sachs on June 2,2008 | 06:03 PM
I really wanted to listen to Ivo Diaz perform "Matilde Lina" but all that came across was short bursts of fragments of the song. Is there something wrong with my computer, or is the song not really available on the website?
Posted by Richard Lemanski on June 2,2008 | 10:36 AM