Nahuel Pennisi is a singer, guitarist and songwriter from Argentina. He was born blind, left-handed and learned to play the guitar by himself, with the instrument lying on his knees.

He plays “Nuevo Folklore”, that means South American music (traditional & original) rhythms blended with jazz & modern harmonies & arrangements. One of my favorite style.

“Oración del Remanso” is a song composed by famous songwriter Jorge Fandermole. Here Nahuel presents a quite personal version, rearmonizing this beautiful melody with jazz chords and an additional modulation from G to A in the middle of the song. Because he plays with the guitar on his knees, he can use his five fingers on the fretboard, what makes some voicings or melodic phrases uncomfortable (or impossible) to play in normal position.

I put some string indications in a couple of voicings, where i thought fingering would not be obvious. I also put a detailed chord symbol chart.

I use two different symbols:
– The simple cross to indicate a percussion effect by muting the string.
– The cross with parenthesis to indicate the “Chasquido”, which is a typical percussion effect from argentinian guitar technique. It consists of giving a downstroke with the ring, medium and index fingers that mutes the bass strings with the palm but let ring the treble strings. In this case, the cross is on the line of the highest note of the voicing, even if some lower strings may ring at the same time.

This guitar part is just half of the thing, as he’s also singing while playing … and what a breathtaking voice !

To finish with, I put the lyrics at the bottom of the page, for those who understand spanish, this is really great songwriting. I also add Jorge Fandermole’s version so you can appreciate better the rearmonization of Nahuel.

Download, enjoy, share and donate if you can.

Oración del remanso
(Jorge Fandermole)

Soy de la orilla brava
Del agua turbia y la correntada
Que baja hermosa por su barrosa profundidad
Soy un paisano serio
Soy gente del remanso valerio
Que es donde el cielo
Remonta vuelo en el Paraná

Tengo el color del río
Y su misma voz en mi canto sigo
El agua mansa y su suave danza en el corazón
Pero a veces oscura
Va turbulenta en la ciega hondura
Y se hace brillo en este cuchillo de pescador

Cristo de las redes
No nos abandones
Y en los espineles
Déjanos tus dones

No pienses que nos perdiste
Es que la pobreza
Nos pone tristes
La sangre tensa y uno no piensa
Más que en morir
Agua del río viejo
Llévate pronto este canto lejos
Que está aclarando
Y vamos pescando para vivir

Llevo mi sombra alerta
Sobre la escama del agua abierta
Y en el reposo vertiginoso del espinel
Sueño que alzo la proa
Y subo a la luna en la canoa
Y allí descanso
Hecha un remanso
Mi propia piel

Calma de mis dolores
Ay Cristo de los pescadores!
Dile a mi amada
Que esta apenada esperándome
Que ando pensando en ella
Mientras voy vadeando las estrellas
Que el río esta bravo
Y estoy cansado para volver

Cristo de las redes
No nos abandones
Y en los espineles
Déjanos tus dones
No pienses que nos perdiste
Es que la pobreza
Nos pone tristes
La sangre tensa y uno no piensa
Mas que en morir
Agua del río viejo
Llévate pronto este canto lejos
Que está aclarando
Y vamos pescando para vivir

Agua del río viejo
Llévate pronto este canto lejos
Que está aclarando
Y vamos pescando para vivir

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