Concerts of International music for multicultural events, seniors concerts, citizenship ceremonies, concerts for children's music appreciation
Musicians in Sydney that perform a repertoire of International, world music from France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Hungary, Russia, Brazil, Cuba, Argentina, plus iconic tunes of the last century and tunes from the Andre Rieu repertoire
A concert about a musical Journey around the world is a concept that has been developed by A Band For All Occasions
The concert has been performed by Viva the duo and Viva the band as a showcase in Viva International shows at South Sydney Juniors, Illawarra Catholic Club, Mounties, Burwood RSL, seniors functions, Local Council citizenship ceremonies and Welcome Wall ceremonies at Darling Harbour
Most of the music showcased by Viva the duo was written at a time when Vinyl, Tape or CD's were not available, If you wanted to hear the tunes such as Jealousy or Granada etc you had to find the musicians that played those tunes. In this era recordings are available but rarely played on commercial radio, so one again if you want to hear the music you have to search for recordings or the musicians that play that particular repertoire. Viva the duo are currently breathing new life into the iconic tunes of the last century. The duo has also produced a CD with that repertoire
The Andre Rieu repertoire
Andre Rieu and his music presentations are a delightful introduction to classic, multicultural and world music, a phenomenon throughout the world. The DVD's of Andre's concerts have reached 7 out of the top 10 top DVD sales in Australia. This has never been attained by any other artist in the history of music sales. Andre Rieu and his JSO Orchestra DVD sales have gone platinum over 80 times, a world record
A list of Local Councils that have employed the Viva bands duo to provide a multicultural presentation at their events
- Warringah Council, citizenship ceremonies, Australia day ceremonies and events
- Manly Council, International jazz festivals, food and wine festivals and promotions
- Sydney City Council, events and festivals
- Canada Bay Council, Ferragosta Festivals and multicultural events
- Canterbury Council Campsie, multicultural food Festival
- Liverpool Council, Cultural infusion
- Kogarah City Council, Australia day event
- Penrith City Council, music festival street event
- Mosman City Council, French themed event
- Gosford City Council, presentation at Arts Centre
- Newcastle City Council, Darby Street event
- Maitland City Council, Steamfest
- Hervey Bay Council, Festival
A musical journey around the world with Iconic melodies from early last century
The storyline:
FRANCE
The journey begins in Paris and a trip to the ancient area of Ile Saint-Louis where you board a cruise vessel and listen to a tune that is often played by a local band on board the vessel:
- Under Paris Skies
Depart the cruise boat and walk a few metres past the Notre Dame Cathedral to Boulevard Saint Michelle where Edith Piaf used to busk in the street, Her most famous song La Vien Rose was fist sung by Edith in 1948
- La Vi en Rose
Journey to Cannes in the south of France and play a tune used to commence the Cannes film festival, the tune was composed by an African American musician, Sidney Bechet:
- D'ans La Rue D'antibes
RUSSIA
When you journey from France, the borders of many countries can be reached in a few hours, when you cross the borders you notice the different cultures and personalities of the populas. It is also evidenced in their music styles. The music of Russia is very dramatic by comparison to French music, listen to a couple of Russian tunes as an example:
- Dark Eyes
- Midnight in Moscow
DENMARK
Journey to Denmark to listen to a Danish composition. Jealousy was written by Jacob Gade (Denmark). It was played for the first time in 1925 in the movie Son of Zorro, starring Douglas Fairbanks. It was noted, that up until the mid 70's, the tune was played every minute of every day on some radio station in the world. The composer was so revered for this composition that the Danish Government issued a postage stamp in Gade's honour
- Jealousy
HUNGARY
Journey to Hungary and listen to a classic folk dance tune of the 18th Century from that country. Czardas in an old Hungarian name for Pub
- Czardas
SPAIN
Journey to Spain and a township called Auranjuez, 48 KM south of Madrid with a populas of about 50,000. the township is noted for its strawberries and beautiful palace gardens. A tune called Concerto De Aranjuez was written by a blind composer, Joaquin Rodrigo in Paris in1939, the tune was hugely popular and the citizens of Aranjuez were so grateful they erected a monument to the tune in the main street and engraved the notation in the footpath. Viva play a simple version called Aranjuez Mon Amour:
- Aranjuez Mon Amour
Another Spanish tune of note is a pasa doble called Espana Cani meaning, Gypsy Spain often called Spanish Gypsy Dance. The tune was written by Pascual Marquina Narro in 1925 The main refrain with the progression of the arpeggiated chords E, F, G, E is noted at the best know snippet of Spanish music ever written. This tune is used as a fanfare for bull fighting events and as the most popular pasa doble for exhibition and competition ballroom dancing
- Espana Cani
ITALY
Journey to Italy and listen to a delightful Italian Waltz, the theme from the Movie "The Godfather"
- Godfather Waltz
BRAZIL
Leave Europe to Journey to Brazil and listen to a classic samba: "Aquarela Do Brasil" written by Ary Barroso in 1939
- Brazil
and a classic Bossa Nova often sung by Mel Torme on the Judy Garland Show written by Luiz Antonio and Djalma Ferreira
- Recardo Bossa
A tune that was not a Brazilian Composition but was recorded by two Brazilian guitarists called Los Indios Tabajaras. The tune became a world wide hit record in 1963 (it was No 1 in Australia). The tune is a Mexican folk tune named "Maria Elena" (named after the wife of a Mexican president)
- Marie Elana
CUBA
Leave Brazil to journey to Cuba where mafia run night clubs and music entertainment were closed down in 1960 by the government at the end of the Cuban revolution. 36 years later Ry Cooder, a musician from America went to Cuba in 1996 to search for and record the original Cuban musicians. A group called The Buena Vista Social Club was formed and named after a popular Cuban night club of the 40's . The group Buena Vista Social Club went on to become hugely popular after their recordings and follow up concerts throughout the world
listen to a composition the group have adopted as their signature tune Siboney, written by a Cuban Composer, Ernesto Lecuona
Siboney is a town east of Santiago Cuba where the Cuban revolution began in 1953
- Siboney
- ....alt...
- Andalucia
MEXICO
listen to a tune composed by Agustin Lara about a city in Spain called Granada
Granada was written by Agustin Lara, born in Mexico, a composer and pianist who grew up in Veracruz. The tune became so popular that Agustin was given the keys to the city and a free house in the city. Granada was an Iconic tune, it was the second most performed tune of the last Century) (No 1 was "I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas") Agustin performed his first professional music engagement in a brothel when he was 13 years old
- Granada
Another Mexican tune that became hugely popular was called Besame Mucho (Kiss me much). The tune was written in 1940 by a Mexican girl, Consuelo Velázquez, two weeks before her sixteenth birthday . Consuelo was elected to the Mexican Congress. Besame Mucho was the most recorded tune of all time
- Besame Mucho
URAGUAY/ARGENTINA
Travel to Argentina and listen to a Tango, written by Uruguayan musician Gerardo Matos Rodriguez in 1917 . This tango was the most recorded tune of the last century in Argentina (which is located just across the Uruguay river). The tune was composed in a football club room at Montevideo. It was made a national Anthem of Uruguay in 1997
- La Cumparsita
AMERICA
Travel to America and listen to a selection of Jazz and Swing music
- In the Mood (Glen Miller 1939)
- Stardust, (Hoagy Carmichael 1941
A rare American Sea Shanty, actually an early American Folk Song from the 19th Century with several interpretations
A popular one being that a seafarer fell in love with the daughter of and Indian Chief named Shenandoah. Whilst trading on the Mississippi river and In the State of Virginia USA
Another popular version is, that the daughter was simply a resident of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. The tune is sometimes regarded as a Sea Shanty by seafarers
- Shenandoah
Our one hour journey concludes
We have produced a CD of The Journey and the retail outlets are at CD Baby and Mall Music at Warringah Mall Phone (02) 9905 6966 or email mall music
Samples of the tunes can be heard at CD Baby
International experiences by a Sydney band
The Viva bands have an extensive history of International performances. The most recent in Taiwan in 2004 and 2005 where the band performed for a series of concerts and television appearances, the photo depicts Viva and a group of International performers being welcomed in a street parade in Taichung and later welcomed by the Mayor in television Interviews over a period of 2 weeks in 2004 and 4 weeks in 2005.
a band for French themed functions
If you are intending to conduct a venue with a romantic Paris theme, Viva the duo include some French music in their repertoire and are able to provide a French theme with their selection of French cafe' and Edith Piaf tunes on authentic instruments of musette accordion, bass, flute and Spanish guitar. This delightful feature of the duo has been invaluable in providing credibility to many French themed events, in particular, A Night of Romance and Ah La Belle Paris for the presentation of Opera in the vineyards and French themed exhibitions attended by French dignitaries in Australia at The Australian National Maritime Museum.
entertainment at Opera in the Vineyards
There are hundreds of press releases about Viva the duo and Viva the band on google, our latest press release was published in Russia, Central Europe, France, Spain, Italy, Hungary and The Gulf community at this link:- Opera in the Vineyards and Viva the duo
A list of Viva the band songs and duo tunes can be viewed at: Viva repertoire
To get a good idea about the types of jobs the Sydney Viva bands are performing at:-
go to 
our jobs see the band at work page
Hire a Jazz and latin duo in Sydney
Hire a duo for a concert in Sydney
As an act, the duo performs a 45 minute showcase of their special show tunes including some French, Spanish and Gypsy Jazz music. The duo is currently featured as Viva "Paris" duo as an International act in the Roddy Montez production of the "Viva Latin American and International show" which regularly performs on the club circuit throughout Australia. (Photo)). The duo has also performed for a theatrical productions and many French themed events.
A duo for hirte for community events, marketing expos and Universities in Sydney
The jazzy duo, with their strong instrumental content of show tunes is popular at Council events, University functions, shopping centres, community events, marketing expos, art festivals, wine and food festivals etc. with venues and clients such as: Opera in the Vineyards, Westfield shopping centres, Warringah Mall, Feastability at Newtown, Warringah, Art Gallery, Coca Cola, Oddfellows, Krispy Kreme, Gloria Jeans, Yalumba wines, De Bortoli winery, Lindeman's winery, Orlando Wyndham Estate winery, French Trade Commission, Manly Council, Mosman Council, Newcastle Council, Gosford Council, City of Canada Bay Council, Canterbury Council, Penrith Council, Warringah Council, Liverpool Council, Nelson Bay Center, Warners Bay Chamber of Commerce, The Entrance Town Centre Management, Marrickville Council, Sydney University, Macquarie University, International House, Mc Donald College of performing arts, Jaguar, Mercedes, Porsche promotions and many more...
Hiring a duo or a trio band for weddings or functions
a show band for hire for an event or festival
Viva the band builds to a sextet, for major festivals, music events and special functions. The addition of drums gives more punch and the jazz violin or trumpet adds another sound colour to the band. The band is very popular at Jazz Festivals with regular appearances at: Gold Coast Jazz and blues festival, Thredbo Jazz Festival, Newcastle Jazz Festival, Morpeth Jazz festival, Manly International Jazz Festival, Illawarra Jazz Festival, Kiama Jazz Festival, Jazz in the City at QVB, Music events at Sydney Olympic park, Darling Harbour and Local Council events.
The band combinations are reasonably priced and are geared for wedding receptions, corporate functions and community events, check our prices at pricing page
You can read more about the bands extensive history in our history page and their current list of performances in our headlines and our venues page.
Contact a band for hire
If you would like to discuss your requirements, please phone me at Sydney (02) 9970 6006 Please note: Viva bands are often very busy with performances on a daily basis including morning teas, luncheons and the like. I am the guitar player in the band, so if we are not at home, please leave a message on our answer machine or email: email band enquiry
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A journey around the world with Viva and music from the repertoire of Andre Rieu for seniors entertainment