Eric Harper, the award-winning Flamenco guitarist, made a stop in Assiniboia on January 31 as part of the Stars for Saskatchewan Concert series. His concert was a fusion of his own unique style influenced by the many cultures and places in the world where he has lived.
Harper began his Assiniboia performance with a slow Spanish guitar melody that illustrates the culmination of his song writing today. But with the second song, the composer and musician takes the audience on a whirlwind tour of his musical influences — from the deep south of the U.S. to Portugal to Spain and the West Coast. Each location has made its mark on his creative talent. His concert moved the audience through the different musical influences of his life path. With the last song, he brought listeners back full circle back to the opening and the traditional Spanish flamenco guitar.
In between songs, Harper recounts his childhood following his concert pianist mother across the globe and becoming more immersed in the music in each new surroundings. One song early in the show was inspired by his childhood influences of heavy metal.
Another set of songs featured an influential part of his life, the move to Portugal. As a special treat, he played a Portuguese love song with the melodic language of Portugal blending with the higher light notes of the guitar. He also showcased some of the Brazilian influences he experienced in Portugal in a song that mixed English and Brazilian Portuguese lyrics.
For more on this, see the Feb. 17, 2017 print or e-edition of the Assiniboia Times. You can also subscribe to the Assiniboia Times here: www.assiniboiatimes.ca/subscribe
