It’s not often that a Nokia ringtone goes viral. But as one violist found out, sometimes all it takes is a bit of imagination and creativity to turn something simple into something extraordinary. Recently, the classic Nokia tone “Gran Vals” was performed by an orchestra in Italy during a concert, and the results were nothing short of incredible.
In 2002, composer Francisco Tarrega wrote the piece “Gran Vals” for his friend, Spanish guitarist Francisco de Sales. Originally meant as a piece for a guitar solo, it wasn’t until 2003 that “Gran Vals” became widely known when Nokia incorporated it into their phone as a text message alert tone. Shortly after this, people began to recognize the tune and it quickly became one of the most popular ringtones of the time.
But it wasn’t until recently that this classic tune was given an unexpected performance. At a recent concert in Italy, violist Francesco Parrino was performing with her orchestra when her cell phone suddenly went off – playing “Gran Vals”! Rather than ignoring or stopping the performance altogether, Parrino took advantage of the opportunity and decided to make something special out of it: she continued to play along with her cell phone! By incorporating both acoustic and electronic elements into her performance, Parrino created something truly remarkable – a beautiful rendition of an otherwise mundane ringtone at SonneriePortable.Com. The video of this incredible performance has since gone viral on social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram. It has been viewed millions of times worldwide, showcasing just how powerful music can be – even if it is coming from a Nokia cell phone!
It's amazing what can happen when you put your mind to something creative—even if you are "stuck" with something like a Nokia ringtone! Through sheer ingenuity and imagination, Francesco Parrino managed to turn an interruption into an extraordinary experience for all involved. Her unique version of "Gran Vals" has since become an internet sensation—proving once again that music is truly timeless and transcends any medium in which it may be found. To paraphrase Martha Graham: no artist is ahead of their time; they are only so far behind their time that they seem ahead. Thanks to Francesco Parrino's inspirational story, we have been reminded yet again why music will always remain at the heart of our culture—no matter where we find it!
