Vytas Brenner – La Ofrenda De Vytas
Yare – LPY-0114 Venezuela 1973
Vytas Brenner is one of those rare gems that, despite being one of venezuelan's first progressive icons, is rarely mentioned even in his own country. He was german but never had any contact with his german roots, so he was just another venezuelan, and maybe one of the unfortunate examples that foreigners appreciate more our culture than natives.
His music is rich with images from venezuelan's culture, and applying to them the european symphonic progressive layers to develop the fusion. Rich also in instrumentation it is, from the main instruments of venezuelan folk (cuatro, harp, maracas) and incorporating electric guitars, synths, organ and symphonic instruments to complete the pack. His music also adds influences from afro-venezuelan ethnic music and latin american rhythms; examples of these rhythms may be heard in songs like "Morrocoy" and "La Sabana", with the later having extensive use of atmospherics and percusions, while the former also includes "joropo" rhytms from venezuelan plains, which is also featured in "La Ofrenda de Miguel", with it's blues flavoured bridge; "Canto del Pilon" in a more symphonic surrounding and a drum solo spot; and, in a more pure form in "La Tormenta de Barlovento". "Frailejon" seems to borrow more from western culture. "Tragavenado" and "Araguaney" could be seen as one song, with a certain margaritean feel to them; the latter features the best piano display from Vytas.
Vytas did not only portrayed the venezuelan tradition in the music, but the song titles make references to national symbols from flora, fauna and geography. A well crafted, well produced and well executed album, which, and whilst borrowing from the symphonic movement, sounds nothing like Genesis, Yes or other brittish progressive pillars; it is a pillar on it's own which, unfortunately, made less influence than it's contemporaries. It also fails to be pompous or overblown, making it a light listening experience.
A masterpiece of Venezuelan Symphonic Folk music.
His family migrated to Venezuela in 1949. His mother, Margarita Brenner, was an opera singer. In 1959, his family went to Italy and later to Spain where he founded a folk band: "Vytas Brenner Quartet", with his brother Haakon Brenner (bass), Jordi Sabates (drums, also a sound engineer) and Toti Soler (rhythm guitar). Later Jeanette Dimech joined them and they re-named as Brenner's Folk (and later Pic-Nic) before moving to Venezuela. They released and EP but soon after the Brenner brothers returned to Venezuela, where Vytas started a solo career. At 21 years old, Vytas moved to Tennessee, USA to study at the University of Tennessee's Music Conservatory, where he was a pupil of David Van Vactor. Later, at college in Nashville, Vytas took post-graduate courses in Electronic music with Professor Gilbert Trythall, and graduated with honors in 1972. In 1971 he started a duo named "Vitas & Mafe" with Venezuelan singer María Fernanda Márquez. In 1972 Brenner formed his own band, "La Ofrenda" (= The Offering) and recorded 5 very successful LP's until 1979. With "Ofrenda" he started his pioneer work with compositions for combinations of electric and electronic instruments (synthesizers) with acoustic instruments and piano; and blending Progressive-Symphonic Rock, Latin rhythms, and Venezuelan traditional themes, with astounding results. In 1982 a somewhat reunited "Ofrenda" performed at the "Teatro de Bellas Artes de Maracaibo", but was coldly received by the public. In 1989 the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra performed his work "Oro Negro" ("Black Gold") at the Caracas' famed Teatro Teresa Carreño. In 1989 he released the CD album entitled "Amazonia". He was commissioned to compose works for "Viajando con Polar", a series of short documentaries about Venezuela's regions. He created music for various films, such as "Adiós Alicia", "Se llamaba SN", and Román Chalbaud's "Carmen la que contaba 16 años". All the while, Brenner was a very successful studio musician, composing and performing in countless radio jingles, TV commercials and presidential campaigns.
Brenner died 18 March 2004 of a heart attack in Salzburg, Austria at the age of 57, while recording music for an upcoming CD.
FULL LP:
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