Role

:

Composer Performer

Country

:

Venezuela

Birth

:

1923 in Barrio Nuevo, Carora, Venezuela

Death

:

August, 1999

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Rodrigo Riera was a Venezuelan classical guitarist and composer who was born on September 19, 1923, in Carora, Venezuela. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. His father, Francisco Riera, was a guitarist and composer, and his mother, Carmen de Riera, was a pianist. Rodrigo Riera began playing the guitar at the age of six and was soon recognized as a prodigy. Riera's early musical education was under the guidance of his father, who taught him the basics of guitar playing and music theory. He also received training from other prominent musicians in Venezuela, including Vicente Emilio Sojo, a composer and conductor who founded the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Venezuela. In 1945, Riera moved to Caracas to study at the National Conservatory of Music. There, he studied composition with Vicente Emilio Sojo and guitar with Raúl Borges. He also studied harmony, counterpoint, and orchestration with other renowned musicians. Riera's early compositions were influenced by the folk music of Venezuela, which he incorporated into his classical guitar pieces. He also drew inspiration from the works of other composers, including Johann Sebastian Bach, Isaac Albéniz, and Heitor Villa-Lobos. In 1952, Riera won first prize in the National Guitar Competition in Caracas, which helped to establish his reputation as a composer and performer. He went on to perform throughout Venezuela and other countries in South America, including Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. Riera's most famous composition is the Venezuelan Waltz No. 2, which he wrote in 1952. The piece is a beautiful and intricate guitar solo that captures the essence of Venezuelan folk music. It has become a staple of the classical guitar repertoire and is often played by guitarists around the world. Riera's other notable compositions include the Venezuelan Waltz No. 1, the Suite Venezolana, and the Sonata for Guitar. His music is characterized by its use of Venezuelan folk rhythms and melodies, as well as its technical virtuosity and expressive lyricism. In addition to his work as a composer and performer, Riera was also a teacher and mentor to many young musicians. He taught at the National Conservatory of Music in Caracas and also gave private lessons to students in Venezuela and other countries. Riera's contributions to the world of classical guitar and Venezuelan music were recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 1983, he was awarded the National Prize for Music in Venezuela, and in 1993, he was named a National Artist of Venezuela. Rodrigo Riera passed away on November 16, 1999, in Caracas, Venezuela. His legacy lives on through his music, which continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world.

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