The top 100 Cuban sones
The "son" is a typical form of Cuban music. Now one Cuban composer has compiled a five CD anthology of the best sones based on a survey of the people's favorite songs.
This story was originally covered by PRI's The World. For more, listen to the audio above.
"The day you leave the park, what song would you take with you?" composer Edesio Alejandro Salva asks over 100 people across the musically prolific island of Cuba. His question translates to, "The day you die, what song do you want to hear them play?" Salva's focus is on Cuban "son," the foundation of Cuban dance music, including salsa.
The result is "Cien Sones Cubanos," a five-CD anthology and documentary DVD featuring the island's most popular sones. The collection ranges from songs performed by duets to big bands.
The star of the album is the music, not the performers. Salva explains that he didn't want to make a record where the singer -- the voice -- was at the center, just like every other project. The emphasis was on the sones, all 100 of them, and nothing else.
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