These two traditional folk melodies from South America—La Vidalita and Las Tres Damas—are designed to be played in tandem, yet lovely as stand-alone pieces. The original setting was for harp and flute, although it has also been performed extensively in a harp duo/ensemble version, including under the auspices of the Philadelphia Orchestra (with flutes). This new version is for harp, flute, and viola trio, featuring the viola both melodically and rhythmically.
 
La Vidalita is a song sung by the gaucho cattle herders of Uruguay and Argentina—very rubato and expressive. Las Tres Damas is a “joropo”-an extremely dynamic musical style, full of offbeat accents and syncopations.
 
The pieces are real favorites of mine, and very successful with audiences of all kinds.