Comments from Fernando Higa
It is difficult to remember when I listened for the first time an arrangement
from
Paul Mauriat. It looks he has
always been there. I listened to his music on the radio, and suddenly, it was
everywhere!
On the radio, among the latest hits from Billboard, it was
exciting to listen the Top Ten and countdown of the end of the year, when we
also heard orchestral songs. The orchestras played instrumental versions in all
styles and there were so much to choose from!
But among all of those
orchestras, there was one that stood among all the others: it was the orchestra
of
Paul Mauriat. And that because his
arrangements always have something different.
Many of the other
orchestras only reproduced with small variations the original version (sung
version). Not the Mauriat orchestra,
he always had a different approach with each of his arrangements.
It was
thru his arrangements that I listened for the first time of French songs such as
Le Lac Majeur, Michéle, Un Jour Un Enfant, and many more. Also, it became a
habit for me to check the credits of the compositions of his recordings and
that's how I learned that the famous song My Way or , Comme d'Habitude was a
French song by Thibaut, Francois and de Revaux, to which Paul Anka merely wrote
lyrics in English. Of course, other people knew it too, but it felt good knowing
the real original of things. Even songs as popular such as Raindrops keep
falling on my head sounded different when it comes to an arrangement by
Paul Mauriat.
And so,
popular and unknown songs had his special touch, that made every arrangement
unique and that showed how perfectionist and innovative was
Paul Mauriat.
An unknown
aspect of
Paul Mauriat was that
of composer. He composed for Mireille Mathieu his
first great hit Mon Credo, and with Franck Pourcel,,
Chariot, or as we all know it, I Will Follow Him.
Also, in many of his recordings, he included one or more of his own
compositions, with a few records with only his songs.
The great era of
the grand orchestras has gone, but it will live in our memories when we hear
Love is blue or any other of the hundreds of arrangements by the Grand Orchestra
of Paul Mauriat.
That is why for those that had the privilege of living
that period, and waiting eagerly a new recording of his orchestra, we enjoy
listen to his music again and share in some way our devotion to his fine
arrangements.
From here, this small tribute from the South American
lands.
Lima, Peru
