Composers from the Caribbean

[fleubis]

Cuba! How very cool to see some Cuban music and here are two nice dance pieces. Drum imitations in the first piece, but notice the wonderful rhythms of the Afro-Cuban dance Lucumi (which has these days morphed into salsa). The original Afro-Cuban rhythms are still a major source of inspiration for composers today.

Well found, Alfred!

[alfor]

Nicolas RUIZ ESPADERO (1832-1890)
Cuban pianist and composer (pupil of Julian Fontana!)

nms (alfor-edited)

Espadero Ballade op.20.pdf

Espadero 2me Ballade op.57.pdf

[alfor]

To fleubis, with compliments!

More from ESPERANTO:

nms (alfor-edited)

Espadero Scherzo op.58.pdf

[alfor]

A night at the opera (for those who are in a hurry...)

Poliuto: Opera by Donizetti

nms (alfor-edited)

Espadero Poliuto.pdf

Espadero Faust op.51.pdf

[fleubis]

Alfred, what a nice surprise. We certainly need to get some Cuban composers in our libraries. Until recently I only knew one (Lecuona) so Espadero is a welcome addition.

Interesting that the two transcriptions seem to have been published in Spain while the Scherzo was published in Cuba and the Ballads in France. While the transcriptions seem like mostly fluff, there is quite a bit more meat to be had with the Ballads and the Scherzo. I especially like the highly ornamented ballad, Op.20.

Thank you Alfred.

[alfor]

Dear fleubis, you may want to have one more try with Mr. Esperan...pardon...ESPADERO
(E. meeting the spirit of L.M. Gottschalk!)

nms (alfor-edited)

Espadero Sur la tombe op.68.pdf

[fleubis]

Esperado has written a nice homage to Gottschalk. This is really a very interesting piece. The composers notes are very informative and he wants us to play it precisely as written, down to the smallest detail. I think this is the most sophisticated piece we have of Esperado--but that's because I'm a big Gottschalk fan and Esperado seems to have captured some of the essence nicely.

One wonders if the two ever met. Seems probable. Esperado outlived Gottschalk by 21 years.

A nice addition, Alfred.

[alfor]

P.S. Sorry for confusion...

It is definitely E-S-P-A-D-E-R-O

esperado = expected
esperanza = hope

[alfor]

Dos cantos...con la ESPERANZA que os gusten:

nms (alfor-edited)

Espadero Chant du Guagiro op.61.pdf

Espadero Canto del Esclavo op.21.pdf

[fleubis]

Me gustan los cantos de Espadero. Él habla Esperanto, el idioma de la música.

Gracias, Alfor.