Alberto Ginastera

1
Alberto Ginastera
Alberto Ginastera
Alberto Evaristo Ginastera (Spanish pronunciation:[alerto
eaisto xinastea]; April 11, 1916 June 25, 1983) was an
Argentine composer of classical music. He is considered one of
the most important 20th-century classical composers of the
Americas.
[1]
Biography
Ginastera was born in Buenos Aires to a Catalan father and an
Italian mother. During the last few years of his life, he preferred
to pronounce his surname in its Catalan pronunciation, with a
soft 'G' as in 'George' (IPA:[(d)inastea]) rather than a Spanish
'J' sound (IPA:[xinastea]).
[2]
In fact this would be the local
Argentine pronunciation of his name if it were spelled Yinastera
or Llinastera.
[3]
Ginastera studied at the conservatory in Buenos Aires,
graduating in 1938. As a young professor, he taught at the Liceo
Militar General San Martn. After a visit to the United States in
194547, where he studied with Aaron Copland at Tanglewood,
he returned to Buenos Aires and co-founded the League of
Composers. He held a number of teaching posts.
Ginastera moved back to the United States in 1968 and then in 1970 to Europe. He died in Geneva, Switzerland, at
the age of 67 and was buried in the Cimetire des Rois there.
Among his notable students were stor Piazzolla (who studied with him in 1941), Alcides Lanza, Waldo de los Ros,
Jacqueline Nova and Rafael Aponte-Lede.
Music
Ginastera grouped his music into three periods: "Objective Nationalism" (19341948), "Subjective Nationalism"
(19481958), and "Neo-Expressionism" (19581983). Among other distinguishing features, these periods vary in
their use of traditional Argentine musical elements. His Objective Nationalistic works often integrate Argentine folk
themes in a straightforward fashion, while works in the later periods incorporate traditional elements in increasingly
abstracted forms.
Much of Ginastera's works were inspired by the Gauchesco tradition. This tradition holds that the Gaucho, or
landless native horseman of the plains, is a symbol of Argentina.
[4]
The progressive rock group Emerson, Lake & Palmer brought Ginastera attention outside of modern classical music
circles when they adapted the fourth movement of his first piano concerto and recorded it on their popular album
Brain Salad Surgery under the title "Toccata". They recorded the piece not only with Ginastera's permission, but
with his endorsement. In 1973, when they were recording the album, Keith Emerson met with Ginastera at his home
in Switzerland and played a recording of his arrangement for him. Ginastera is reported to have said, "Diabolico!".
Emerson misunderstood Ginastera's meaning: Ginastera spoke almost no English and meant that their interpretation
was frightening, which had been his intent when he wrote it; Emerson, being British, took it to mean "awful".
Emerson was so upset that he was prepared to scrap the piece until Ginastera's wife intervened saying that he
approved. Ginastera later said, "You have captured the essence of my music, and no one's ever done that before."
Alberto Ginastera
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This experience is detailed in the liner notes to Brain Salad Surgery. Emerson would later go on to release an
adaptation of one of the pieces from Ginastera's Suite de Danzas Criollas entitled "Creole Dance". "Toccata" also
gained fame as the theme to the New England cult TV show Creature Double Feature. Italian neo-classical electric
guitarist Alex Masi has also recorded an adaptation of "Toccata," one strongly based on the aforementioned ELP
version, rather than the original orchestral piece. It can be found on 1989's "Attack of the Neon Shark".
His Cantata para Amrica Mgica (1960), for dramatic soprano and 53 percussion instruments, was based on
ancient pre-Columbian legends. Its West Coast premiere was performed by the Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble
under Henri Temianka and William Kraft at UCLA in 1963.
A portion of Ginastera's Piano Sonata No. 1 is performed in the movie The Competition, and the piece is included in
the movie soundtrack.
Works
Julin Aguirre Conservatory of Music, founded by Ginastera in 1951
Opera
Don Rodrigo, Op. 31 (196364)
Bomarzo, Op. 34 (196667), banned in Argentina
until 1972
Beatrix Cenci, Op. 38 (1971), based on the play
The Cenci (1819) by Percy Bysshe Shelley
Ballet
Panamb, Op. 1 (193437)
Estancia, Op. 8 (1941)
Orchestral
Obertura para el "Fausto" criollo, Op. 9 (1943)
Ollantay: 3 Symphonic Movements, Op. 17 (1947)
Variaciones concertantes, Op. 23 (1953)
Pampeana No. 3, Op. 24 (1954)
Concerto per corde, Op. 33 (1965)
Estudios Sinfonicos, Op. 35 (1967)
Popol Vuh, Op. 44 (19751983, left incomplete at the composer's death)
Glosses sobre temes de Pau Casals for string orchestra, Op. 46 (1976)
Glosses sobre temes de Pau Casals for full orchestra, Op. 48 (197677)
Iubilum, Op. 51 (197980)
Alberto Ginastera
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Concertante
Harp
Harp Concerto, Op. 25 (195665)
Piano
Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 28 (1961)
Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 39 (1972)
Violin
Violin Concerto, Op. 30 (1963)
Cello
Cello Concerto No. 1, Op. 36 (1968)
Cello Concerto No. 2, Op. 50 (198081)
Piano
Danzas argentinas, Op. 2 (1937)
Tres piezas, Op. 6 (1940)
Malambo, Op. 7 ( 1940)
Pequena Danza (from the ballet Estancia, Op. 8) (1941)
12 Preludios americanos, Op. 12 (1944)
Suite de danzas criollas, Op. 15 (1946, rev. 1956)
Rond sobre temas infantiles argentinos, Op. 19 (1947)
Piano Sonata No. 1, Op. 22 (1952)
Arrangement of an Organ Toccata by Domenico Zipoli (1970)
Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 53 (1981)
Piano Sonata No. 3, Op. 54 (1982)
Danzas argentinas Para los ninos (Unfinished)
1. 1. Moderato: para Alex
2. 2. Paisaje: para Georgina
Organ
Toccata, Villancico y Fuga, Op. 18 (1947)
Variazioni e Toccata sopra Aurora lucis rutilat, Op. 52 (1980)
Variacin 1: Maestoso
Variacin 2: Tempo giusto
Variacin 3: Impetuoso, l'istesso tempo
Variacin 4: Vivacissimo
Variacin 5: L'istesso tempo
Variacin 6: L'istesso tempo
Variacin 7: Sereno
Variacin 8: Estatico
Variacin 9: Quasi allegretto
Variacin 10: Pastorale
Variacin 11: Andantino poetico
Variacin 12: Lento
Alberto Ginastera
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Toccata Finale: Tema
Vocal/choral
2 canciones, for voice and piano, Op. 3 (1938)
Cantos del Tucumn, for voice, flute, harp, percussion, and violin, Op. 4 (1938)
Psalm 150, for chorus, Op. 5 (1938)
5 canciones populares argentinas, for voice and piano, Op. 10 (1943)
Las horas de una estancia, for voice and piano, Op. 11 (1943)
Hieremiae prophetae lamentationes, for chorus, Op. 14 (1946)
Cantata para Amrica mgica, for dramatic soprano and percussion orchestra, Op. 27 (1960)
Cantata Bomarzo, for soloists, narrator, and chamber orchestra, Op. 32 (1964)
Milena, for soprano and orchestra, Op. 37 (1971)
Serenata, for baritone, violoncello, wind quintet, percussion, harp, and double bass, Op. 42 (1973)
Turbae ad passionem gregorianam, for soloists, chorus, boy's chorus and orchestra, Op. 43 (1975)
Cancin del beso robado, for voice and piano (19??)
Chamber/solo instrumental
Duo, for flute and oboe, Op. 13 (1945)
Pampeana No. 1, for violin and piano, Op. 16 (1947)
String Quartet No. 1, Op. 20 (1948)
Pampeana No. 2, for violoncello and piano, Op. 21 (1950)
String Quartet No. 2, Op. 26 (1958, Rev. 1968)
Piano Quintet, Op. 29 (1963)
String Quartet No. 3, for soprano and string quartet, Op. 40 (1973)
Punea no.1, for flute, Op. 41 (1973, left incomplete at the time of the composer's death)
Punea no.2 ("Hommage Paul Sacher"), for violoncello, Op. 45 (1976)
Sonata for guitar, Op. 47 (1976, Rev. 1981)
Sonata, for violoncello and piano, Op. 49 (1979)
Works withdrawn by the composer (without opus number)
Piezas Infantiles, for piano (1934)
Impresiones de la Puna, for flute and string quartet (1934)
Concierto argentino, for piano and orchestra (1936)
El arriero canta, for chorus (1937)
Sonatina, for harp (1938)
Symphony No. 1 ("Portea") (1942)
Symphony No. 2 ("Elegaca") (1944)
Alberto Ginastera
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Incidental/film music
Don Basilio malcasado (1940)
Doa Clorinda la descontenta (1941)
Malambo (1942)
Rosa de Amrica (1945)
Las antiguas semillas (1947)
Nace la libertad (1949)
El puente (1950)
Facundo, el tigre de los llanos (1952)
Caballito criollo (1953)
Su seguro servidor (1954)
Los maridos de mam (1956)
Enigma de mujer (1956)
Primavera de la vida (1958)
Hay que baar al nene (1958)
El lmite (1958)
A Mara del corazn (1960)
La doncella prodigiosa (1961)
Discography
Cantata para Amrica Mgica, Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble, H. Temianka, conductor, and W. Kraft,
director, Columbia Masterworks, 1963.
Complete works for piano, Andrzej Pikul (piano), Dux Recording Producers, 2007.
[5]
Quartet No. 1, Paganini Quartet, Decca Gold Label.
Art Songs of Latin-America, Patricia Caicedo, soprano & Pau Casan, piano Albert Moraleda Records,
Barcelona, 2001 Cinco canciones populares argentinas by Ginastera & Cancin al rbol del olvido
2007 Flores Argentinas: Canciones de Ginastera y Guastavino / Inca Rose Duo: Annelise Skovmand, voice;
Pablo Gonzlez Jazey, guitar. Cleo Productions, Cleo Prod 1002. Arrangements by Gonzlez Jazey for voice and
guitar of: "Cinco canciones populares argentinas op.10" y "Dos canciones op.3"
Arrangement as "Toccata", Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Brain Salad Surgery, 1973.
Complete piano solo and piano/chamber works, Barbara Nissman (piano) with Aurora Natola-Ginastera,(cello)
Ruben Gonzales (violin) and the Thouvenel String Quartet, Pierian Records
Popol Vuh The Mayan Creation, Estancia, Panambi, Suite de Danzas Criollas (world premiere of orchestral
version), Ollantay. Gisele Ben-Dor, conductor. London Symphony Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra,
BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Naxos, 2010. [6]
Panambi, Estancia (complete Ballets), Gisele Ben-Dor, conductor. Luis Gaeta, narrator/bass baritone. London
Symphony Orchestra. Naxos, 1998&2006. [6]
Glosses on Themes of Pablo Casals, Variaciones concertantes. Gisele Ben-Dor, conductor. London Symphony
Orchestra. Israel Chamber Orchestra. Naxos 1995&2010. [6]
John Antill: Corroboree ballet suite and Ginastera: Panambi ballet suite, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir
Eugene Goossens, conductor, Everest stereo LP, SDBR 3003
Alberto Ginastera
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References
[1] Deborah Schwartz-Kates, "Ginastera, Alberto (Evaristo)", The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, second edition, edited by
Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell (London: Macmillan Publishers, 2001); Evett, Robert. 1966. "The South American Way", New Republic 154,
no. 12 (19 March): 35; Anon. "Obituary: Alberto Ginastera". The Musical Times 124, no. 1687, Music of the French Baroque (September
1983): 568; Aurelio de la Vega, "Trends of Present-Day Latin-American Music", Journal of Inter-American Studies 1, no. 1 (January 1959):
97102, citation on p.10; Norman Lebrecht, Companion to Twentieth-century Music (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992): 134. Reprint
New York: Da Capo Press. ISBN 9780306807343; Levin Houston, " Kennedy Center Sees Beatrix Cenci (http:/ / news. google. com/
newspapers?nid=1298& dat=19710913& id=9_NNAAAAIBAJ& sjid=14oDAAAAIBAJ& pg=7289,1540399)", The Free Lance-Star
[Fredericksburg, Virginia] 87, no. 215 (13 September 1971); Suzanne Spicer Tiemstra, The Choral Music of Latin America: A Guide to
Compositions and Research, Contributions in Afro-American & African Studies 36 (New York: Greenwood Press, 1992): 2. ISBN
9780313282089.
[2] Deborah Schwartz-Kates. Alberto Ginastera. P.20 (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=FjekRHeqJtMC& pg=PA20)
[3] Learn Latin American Spanish Pronunciation guide (http:/ / www. guardian. co. uk/ travel/ 2010/ feb/ 12/ learn-spanish-pronunciation),
bottom of the page: "The Argentinian accent is very distinctive, particularly as regards the pronunciation of y and ll, which are pronounced
much like the 'j' in 'John' or the 's' in 'pleasure'."
[4] Alberto Ginastera, Argentine Cultural Construction, and the Gauchesco Tradition by Deborah Schwartz-Katz, The Musical Quarterly,
Summer 2002 (http:/ / mq. oxfordjournals. org/ content/ 86/ 2/ 248. extract)
[5] http:/ / www. dux. pl/ catalogue/ results/ details/ ?pid=253
[6] http:/ / www. giseleben-dor. com/ Discography/ Discography. htm
Further reading
Calleja, Marianela: Ideas of Time in Music: A Philosophico-logical Investigation Applied to Works of Alberto
Ginastera (19161983). Studia musicologica Universitatis Helsingiensis, 24. (Ph.D. thesis.) Helsinki University,
2013. ISSN 0787-4294 (http:/ / www. worldcat. org/ search?fq=x0:jrnl& q=n2:0787-4294) ISBN
978-952-10-8992-3 ( On-line version. (http:/ / urn. fi/ URN:ISBN:978-952-10-8993-0))
External links
Piano Sonata No. 1 Op. 22 (http:/ / open. spotify. com/ album/ 0nXfbVdn5qztvatpTEd2GA) Performed by
*Gabriela Montero on her 2010 album 'Solatino'.
Piano Sonata No. 1 Op. 22 Ruvido Ed Ostinato (http:/ / www. wgmilleriii. com/ mp3/ gina2. mp3) streaming
file performed by Dr. Willis G. Miller III.
Danza de la Moza Donosa (http:/ / www. last. fm/ music/ andrys/ A+ Piano+ for+ Quieter+ Times/ Ginastera+
Danza+ De+ La+ Moza+ Donosa) streaming file performed by Andrys Basten.
Chronology of Ginastera's works (http:/ / members. tripod. com/ ~ostinato/ ginworks. html)
Guitar Sonata, Alberto Ginastera (http:/ / www. musica. ufrn. br/ gravacoes/ escudeiro230703/ Sonata - Alberto
Ginastera. mp3)
Alberto Evaristo Ginastera & project "eSACHERe" (http:/ / www. brikcius. com/ News. uk. 013. html#Meet)
Compositions by Alberto Ginastera (http:/ / www. allmusic. com/ artist/ alberto-ginastera-mn0000739363/
compositions) at AllMusic
Alberto Ginastera (http:/ / www. findagrave. com/ cgi-bin/ fg. cgi?page=gr& GRid=22820767) at Find a Grave
Article Sources and Contributors
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Article Sources and Contributors
Alberto Ginastera Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=608447911 Contributors: 4meter4, Aarondalton, Aeusoes1, Aitias, AlbertSM, Antandrus, Attilios, Badagnani, Basemetal,
Bender235, Bill94131, CalvertdeGrey, Camembert, Chrisrick, Chuborno, Ckerr, D6, Daniel the Monk, Danmuz, Deb, DrG, DtemiankaHT, DudleyDoWrite, Emdelrio, EmiOfBrie, Fabrizio33,
Flamurai, Gamaliel, Ginesfanego, Gregory of nyssa, Grgory Leclair, Hagerman, Hruk Loon, Hyacinth, Jacj, JackofOz, JaumeR, Jerome Kohl, Jfmantis, Jmsofia, Jonathan.s.kt, King of the North
East, Kleinzach, Kman543210, Kraxler, Ksnow, Kwamikagami, Lee music, Lockley, LordCalvert, Lyle Francis Delp, MZELENKA7, Marianocecowski, Matve, Melodia, Michaelkvance,
Mintleaf, Missmarple, Mlang.Finn, Mrsheathcliff, Mzelenka, Nicholas Sund, Nicks90, Omnipaedista, Opus88888, PaxtonHelms, Pbmaise, Perique des Palottes, Pinoy Pride, Pkeets,
RedTailedHawk, Rjwilmsi, Robcollis, Robert Hansler, Rothorpe, S, Sanrosso, Saraknadtimp, Schissel, Sposato, Sun Creator, Taco325i, Tanthalas39, Thedarkestclear, Tijd-jp, Toccata quarta,
Tony1, UgoBerlin, Urrybr, Vancegloster, Varlaam, Vsmith, Waacstats, Wgmilleriii, WillisGMiller, Wkped, Yannai, Yms, , , 114 anonymous edits
Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors
Image:Ginastera.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Ginastera.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: sin determinar
Image:Conservatorio Julin Aguirre.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Conservatorio_Julin_Aguirre.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Martinezmadril
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