Ignácio Cervantes, 1847-1905, or cuban romantic creolism in the colonial fin de siècle. He studied piano and composition with Nicolás Ruiz Espadero in his native Havana, with Louis Morreau Gottschalk and with Antoine François Marmontel and Charles Alkan in the Conservatoire de Paris. One of the major figures in the cuban musical life. He brought in the island the european romantic harmonic and pianistic tradition. He used creole melodies and rythmes, as opposed to the afro-cuban tendency expressed by Roldán-Caturla. He created an effective and sophisticated salon music, operas, zarzuelas and symphonic pieces. His most famous work remains the Danzas Cubanas for piano. A tender, sensual, nostalgic music imagery.

I suggest here three of them:
1.Ilusiones perdidas, 00:00-01:14, (bonjour Honoré)
2.Homenaje, 01:15-02:46
3.Adios a Cuba, 02:47-04:14

The danza cubana came from the contredance which was meant for dancing and was transfrormed into danzón. At the end of the 19th century danza was an independent form of composition. Usually in 2/4, its rythme is also called habanera.

Cuban pianist, teacher and composer Frank Fernández, b. Mayarí 1944, studied in Cuba and in Moscow with Victor Merzhanov. He has given concerts and recorded in Europe, Russia, E.Asia, S.and C.América. He used to teach in the Havana Instituto Superior de Arte and has been decorated for his arts all over the world. Among his pupils J.L. Prats, V. Rodriguez, L. Morales.

In this recording he keeps a safe distance between sentimentalism and frigidity. His phrases are wonderfully shaped, his sound always cantante, his rythme flexible, his colours well contained. I can hardly imagine a more subtle rendition of these Danzas.

Homenaje is a Christmas present for my e-friend Backatwon.

The video is illustrated with four of my most favourite fotos that I have taken in Brazil.

These three dances were part of the soundtrack of the wonderful cuban-spanish-mexican film Fresa y Chocolate, 1993, (Strawberry and Chocolate) by Tomás Gutiérez Alea and Juan Carlos Tabío based on a short story written by Senel Paz. This sensitive film, using the story of a homosexual love affair, talks about tolerance in every form and respectfully presents the flaws of the revolutionary Cuban society.

Enjoy.

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