latin music, composers etc.

[the_spartan]

Hi!

I'd like to start playing some latin music but I really don't know of any good latin composers or works since I have mostly played classical music, so I thought you people here could give me some tips.

Thank you! 

[remy]

I got introduced to Latin-American music by an online Brazilian friend a couple of years ago and I'm hooked.

Manual Maria Ponce wrote some incredibly beautiful piano music. He combined French Impressionism and Mexican Folk melodies with the Romantic exuberance of Liszt. His Balada Mexicana is quite a gorgeous piece of music. Intermezzo No.1, Gavota, Romanza de Amor, his Estudios, Guateque, and his Mazurkas are wonderful. The score for Guateque doesn't appear to be available anywhere in the world, unfortunately. Even the British Library doesn't have it.

Another favorite of mine is Tomas Leon. His Illusion and Disappointment is lovely. Also Dolor Profundo.

Luis G. Jorda wrote a wonderful piece called Danzas Nocturnas.

Everyone knows Lecuona's Malaguana, but his masterpiece is Ante el Escorial. Aragon, Aragonesa, and Danza Lucimi are delightful.

For lovely simplicity, there's Martinez' Tristes Jardines.

And for great fun, Abreu's Tico-Tico, and Nao Me Toques; Nazareth's Apanhei-te, Cavaquinh; and Piazzolla's Invierno Porteno.

I can post any of the public domain scores in the Sheet Music Request section.

(The Lecuona pieces are still under copyright, I believe.)

remy

[gyzzzmo]

Enrique Granados is Spanish :p

[remy]

Jorda was Spanish, also, but he lived in Mexico for a while.


remy

[s_bussotti]

Ginastera, one of the greatest composers of the middle part of the 20th century in my opinion.  Surprised he didn't get mentioned.  There is also Hetor Villa-Lobos and Arthur Kampela, both of whom wrote a magnum opus type piano work, Rudepoema and Nosturnos respectively, although both of those works are extremely difficult.  I know it's not latin, but take a look at Rodrigo's Serenata Espanola; it's a really great work of shortish length and medium difficulty.  Also, take a look at Valentin Surif's album "La Sonata Argentina" for a few very interesting works.

[ted]

There are also many beautiful contemporary extensions of the idiom. Pieces by Hal Isbitz and David Thomas Roberts come to mind. David's "Maria Antonieta Pons" is an example.

[gerry]

Albeniz -  his Iberia suites are incredible (and difficult).
Granados - Goyescas (also difficult)
Ginastera - his 12 Preludes are a good starting point.

[retrouvailles]

I'll definitely second Alberto Ginastera. He is definitely the most diverse, the most approachable, and the least approachable at the same time, heh. Listen to his Danzas Argentinas, then listen to his Piano Concertos. It's a good way to get a sense of the versatility and talent of this Latin master.

[iumonito]

Spartan, what a great question and what interesting answers you have gotten.

Ernesto Nazareth and Ernesto Lecuona are very good entry points.  I'll just recommend one piece by each, although their ouvre is worth a lifetime: Odeon and La Comparsa.

Ginastera and Villa-Lobos are the two most famous Latin-American composers.  Again just to mention one work of each, the Danzas Argentinas Op. 6 and Da Lenda do Cabloco (Choros 5 is good too for that purpose) are very good entry points.  For listening, Ginastera's Sonata No. 1, Op. 53 should be mandatory, such a masterwork.

A little flood of names, in case you want to check them out, in no particular order: Moises Moleiro, Diana Franklin, Modesta Bor, Radames Gnatalli, Marlos Nobre, Gerardo Dirier, Ponce, Beatriz Lockhart, Ignacio Cervantes, Pablo Ziegler, Orrego-Salas, Juan Francisco Sanz and Maria Antonia Palacios, Gonzalo Castellanos, Silva Diaz, Ernesto Lecuna (different from Lecuona, way more intelectual), Antonio Estevez, Francisco Mignone.

But if I need to give you my absolute favorite, that would be Oscar Lorenzo Fernandez.

https://www.geocities.jp/latinamericapiano/e_fernandez/e_fernandezarti.html

Enjoy!

[Petter]

Speaking of, does anyone know of any fairly easy Piazolla arrangements for piano? Where to buy, if so.
 And when you mention latin music and state that you only "played classical music" until now does it mean you´re looking for contemporary latin music such as salsa, merengue, cumbia and so on? I had a teacher who was specialized in latin jazz and I know abit about the basics if you´re interested.

[remy]

Piazzolla's Invierno Porteno is pretty easy.

You can find it, along with more tangos than you might possible imagine here:

https://www.todotango.com.ar/english/biblioteca/partituras/partituras_por_autor.asp

There's a recording here:

https://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/32/5763.html#000000


remy

[Petter]

Cool, thanks for the link. All those Porteño pieces are really beautiful. I love Piazolla, I connect to his music in all possible ways. The record Zero Hour is one of a kind 

[andric_s]

Astor Piazzolla is incredible and beautiful!

If you're talking about Salsa and other dance styles, I don't know how likely you are to find written sheet music for it.  But much enlightenment, rhythmic skill, and enjoyment can be gotten from Rebecca Mauleon's books, "101 Montunos" and "The Salsa Guidebook".

[jpowell]

Radames Gnattali from Brasil.

[the_spartan]

thank you very much for your interesting answers, I'm looking forward to playing something else than classical music... nothing wrong with classical but it's great with variation.

[billmaxwell]

If you want to iniciate into the latin piano classical music, you may listen to cuban composers of the nineteenth like Ignacio Cervantes or Manuel Saumell. The Cuban Dances of Ignacio Cervantes are one the most beautiful music that I´ve heard in my life.

If you´re looking for sheet music of Ignacio Cervantes, visit the complete edition of the dances in www.cuatro40ediciones.com , you will love it!
Enjoy.

[invictious]

As above have already mentioned, Ginastera, Granados and Albeniz tend to be the more 'mainstream' latin composers.
For Ginastera, I would recommend looking at the Danzas Argentinas.
For Albeniz, of course, look at Iberia.
Granados, look at Allegro di Concierto.

Of course, one of my favourite composers (for cello and chamber music at least) is the great Piazzolla. Many of his compositions are for groups of people. Though, you can try looking for solo piano transcriptions. They are very lovely pieces.