Composers

Venezuela

I. Gonzalo Castellanos

A. Biography:

Castellanos was born in Canoabo on June 3, 1926. He had a wide range of studies including organ, choir, composition, symphony, conducting, and orchestra. After numerous awards he went on to conduct, teach, administrate and direct. He is considered one of the great Venezuelan composers and his work has reflected post-impressionist nationalism, traditional music within classical, neo-impressionistic and romantic.

He attended Escuela Superior de Musica and after graduating he won awards such as, National Composition Prizes for 1947, 1952,1954,1956,1958, 1966. He also won the award for the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 1955. He held a position in the music department of the Instituto de Cultura y Bellas Artes and worked with the Juan Manuel Olivares School of Music, the Collegium Musicum of Caracas, the Andres Bello University Chorale, and the Coral Filamonica de Caracas.

Discography:

1. Suite caraquena, 1947

2. Antelacion e imitacion fugaz, 1955

3. The Violin, 1972

4. Viola Concertos, 1990-96

B. Source :

Carmen Helena Téllez. "Castellanos, Gonzalo." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. 2 Jul. 2009 .

II. Alfredo Rugeles

A. Biography:

Rugeles was born in 1949 and was a music administrator, composer and conductor. He studied composition and orchestral conducting. He later went on to become a professor of orchestral conducting and com position. He is known to be an active conductor of the country and having a lot of impact on Venezuela’s musical aspects.

He won numerous awards including, National Composition Prize in 1979 and Premio Muncipal de Musica in 1985. He is affiliated with organizations such as the Universitario de Estudios Musicales, Mova Musica, the Teatro Teresa Carreno, ISCM, Circuito Sinfonico Simon Bolivar, and the Festival Latinoamericano de Musica.

According to the Oxford Music Online Library, his work had Pointellism and aleatory techniques as well as collage technique in his electronic pieces. El ocaso del heroe used stark sectionalism and functional harmony in alternation with pandiatonicism.

B. Discography: -

1. El ocaso del heroe, 1982

2. Oracion para clamar por los primidos, 1989

3. Tanguitis, 1984

4. Hace veinte anos, 1988

C. Source:

Erick Carballo. "Rugeles, Alfredo." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. 2 Jul. 2009 .

III. Jose Angel Montero

A. Biography:

Born in 1839 and passed in 1881. He was a composer, singer and flautist. He produced a music periodical called the Gazeta musical and created a proposal to educate musicians on how to print Venezuelan compositions and reprint foreign music. Oxford music online dictionary states that Montero favors a homophonic style and is often seen using major/minor shifts and word-painting. These styles are what make is work versatile yet graceful.

He has been known for his compositions, stage works and efforts to eduate musicians. His entire family is that of musicians and famous in Venezuela for their talent and dedication. His works are considered sacred and historical.

B. Discography:

1. Colegiales son colegiales, 1968 for stage

2. Diomira, 1873

3. Virginia, 1873

C. Source:

Sharon E. Girard. "Montero." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. 3 Jul. 2009 .

IV. Juan Bautista Plaza

A. Biography:

Born and died in Caracas, Venezuela. He lived from July 19, 1898 until Jan 1, 1965. He was a composer and musicologist. He started studying music in his mid-teens and participated in his school choir. He studied law, medicine and choir. He worked specifically with harmonies, organ and conducting. It appears that most of his work is vocals and show a high interest in impressionism.

He was well known for being in scholarly journals, radio, catalogues and newspapers. His most well known publication is a 12-volume collection Archivo de Muscial Colonial Venezolana. He is also known for his positions in the Escuela Preparatoria de Musica and the Escuela Nacional de Musical. His strength was in choir music and church affiliated pieces.

B. Discography:

1. Zapatero a tus zapatos

2. Archivo de Musica Colonial Venezolana, 1943

3. Misa breve, e, TB, orch, org, 1924 – for mass

4. Las horas, orchestra, 1930

C. Source:

Alejandro Enrique Planchart. "Plaza, Juan Bautista." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. 3 Jul. 2009 .

V. Inocente Carreno

A. Biography:

Born in Porlamar on December 28, 1919. He studied composition, guitar, trumpet, horn, conducting, singer and choral arranger. He went on to teach harmony at the Lamas School. He was a student of Sojo and had modernist techniques that established is works as nationalist aesthetic. Neo-classical, post-impressionist and melodic flair describe his works. Many of his works are inspired by traditional folk melodies.

He studied at Escuela de Musica y Declamacion. He founded the Prudencio Esaa School of Music. He won the National Music Prize in 1989 and this being from his position in the Ministry of Culture.

B. Discography:

1. Margaritena, 1954 – Orchestra

2. El pozo, 1946 -Orchestra

3. Por entre hierbas, 3vv, 1941

4. Capricho, str qt, 1947

5. Fantasia, fl, pf, 1986

C. Source:

Carmen Helena Téllez. "Carreño, Inocente." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. 3 Jul. 2009 .