Caminante, meaning “wanderer” in the Spanish language, is a classical theme in music as well in literature. Our wanderer is the guide that leads the audience through music and poems of Spanish and Latin American origin. The poets Federico García Lorca and Antonio Machado together with the Composer JoaquÍn Rodrigo are on the centre of which the “travel” develops.

García Lorca, a gifted pianist and encouraged by his friend of the famous composer Manuel de Falla, collected and notated ancient Spanish folksongs that would be known as the “Canciones Antiguas Españolas”. Both friends shared the enthusiasm for the music of gypsies living in Spain and were of course inspired by them. Together they set up in 1922 a yearly flamenco competition and festival named to the “Cante Jondo” (deep singing). Obviously all this engagement and the fact that Federico García Lorca was poet, had a influence on some of the verses of the “Canciones Antiguas Españolas” to the liking of the poet.

Also part of the program are the impressionists song of the Spanish composer JoaquÍn Rodrigo. Poems of Antonio Machado are translated into music in Rodrigo's song cycle “Con Aantonio Machado” that opens with almost sacred prelude. The musical interaction between voice and piano is determined by contrasts. The returning theme in this cycle is the everlasting longing to a reunion with a lost beloved.

The Latin-American part of the program are composed by songs of Argentinian composers as Carlos Guastavino and Alberto Ginastera. Instrumental work from Astor Piazzolla is here at the centre of the attention.

Caminante was recorded for a CD release at the Belgian city of Gent. Soprano Mirjam Wesselink arranged five of the “Canciones Españolas Antiguas” for voice, violin/viola and piano. With the collaboration of violist Lander Echebarria en pianist María Sobrino. Also included are the Joaquin Rodrigo's song cycle "Con Antonio Machado" as a prominent part of the CAMINANTE CD.