Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Cuba

Birth

:

July 31, 1847 in Havana, Cuba

Death

:

April 29, 1905 in Havana, Cuba

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

Ignacio Cervantes was a Cuban composer and pianist who was born on July 31, 1847, in Havana, Cuba. He was the son of a Spanish father and a Cuban mother, and he grew up in a musical family. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist, so he was exposed to music from a young age. Cervantes began his musical studies at the age of six, and he showed great talent as a pianist. He studied with several teachers in Havana, including Juan Miguel Joval, who was a student of Franz Liszt. Cervantes also studied with Antoine François Marmontel in Paris, where he was exposed to the music of Chopin and other European composers. Cervantes began composing at a young age, and he wrote his first piece, a waltz, when he was only 14 years old. He went on to compose many other works, including danzas, waltzes, and other pieces for piano. His music was influenced by the rhythms and melodies of Cuban music, as well as by the European classical tradition. One of Cervantes' most famous works is his Danzas Cubanas, a collection of 41 pieces for piano that he composed between 1882 and 1890. These pieces are based on the rhythms and melodies of Cuban music, and they are considered to be some of the most important works in the Cuban classical music tradition. The Danzas Cubanas include pieces such as "La Camagüeyana," "La Habanera," and "La Soledad." Cervantes also composed several operas, including "Maledetto," which was based on a play by Victor Hugo, and "Gloria," which was based on a novel by José Martí. He also wrote several pieces for orchestra, including his "Concertino for Piano and Orchestra," which was premiered in Havana in 1884. In addition to his work as a composer, Cervantes was also a renowned pianist. He performed throughout Cuba and Europe, and he was known for his virtuosic playing and his ability to interpret the music of Chopin and other European composers. He was also a respected teacher, and he taught piano at the National Conservatory of Music in Havana. Cervantes died on April 29, 1905, in Havana, at the age of 57. His legacy as a composer and pianist has continued to influence Cuban classical music to this day, and his works are still performed and studied by musicians around the world.

More....