Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

Venezuela

Birth

:

December 28, 1919

Death

:

June 26, 2016

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Orchestral

 

Inocente Carreño was a Venezuelan composer and conductor who was born on December 28, 1919, in Porlamar, Margarita Island, Venezuela. He was the son of a Spanish father and a Venezuelan mother. Carreño's father was a musician who played the guitar and the mandolin, and he introduced his son to music at a young age. Carreño began playing the piano when he was six years old, and he showed a natural talent for music. Carreño's family moved to Caracas when he was a child, and he continued his musical studies there. He studied piano with Vicente Emilio Sojo, a prominent Venezuelan composer and conductor, and he also studied composition with Sojo. Carreño was a gifted student, and he quickly became one of Sojo's most promising pupils. Carreño's early compositions were influenced by the folk music of Venezuela. He was particularly interested in the music of the llanos, the vast plains that stretch across much of Venezuela. Carreño's first major work was a suite for piano called "Llanuras," which was inspired by the music of the llanos. The suite was well-received, and it helped establish Carreño as a composer to watch. In the 1940s, Carreño began to gain recognition as a conductor as well as a composer. He conducted the Orquesta Sinfónica Venezuela, one of the leading orchestras in Venezuela, and he also conducted the Orquesta Filarmónica de Caracas. Carreño was known for his energetic and passionate conducting style, and he quickly became one of the most respected conductors in Venezuela. Carreño's most famous work is his "Margariteña," a symphonic poem that celebrates the beauty and culture of Margarita Island, his birthplace. The piece is based on a traditional Venezuelan song called "La Margariteña," and it features lush orchestration and soaring melodies. "Margariteña" has become one of the most beloved works in the Venezuelan classical music repertoire, and it is often performed at concerts and festivals throughout the country. Carreño's other notable works include his "Suite Llanera," a collection of pieces for orchestra that are based on the music of the llanos, and his "Concierto en forma de sonata," a piano concerto that showcases Carreño's virtuosic piano playing. Carreño also wrote a number of choral works, including his "Cantata Criolla," which is based on the folk music of Venezuela. Carreño was a prolific composer, and he continued to write music well into his later years. He was also a dedicated teacher, and he taught composition and conducting at the Universidad Central de Venezuela for many years. Carreño was widely respected for his contributions to Venezuelan classical music, and he was awarded numerous honors and awards throughout his career. Inocente Carreño died on March 29, 2016, at the age of 96. He left behind a rich legacy of music that continues to inspire and delight audiences in Venezuela and around the world.

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