Ten people from Matanzas were nominated for the International Music Industry Fair, Cubadiscothis 2024. Among them, the pianist, arranger and composer from Matanzas Alejandro Falcón, whose music always finds a way to offer a nod to the city where he had “the blessing of being born”.
Four nominations for two record productions were brought home by the musician, owner of a high-end interpretive versatility that allows him to skillfully address different genres of Cuban popular music, jazz and concert music.
The CD Singingof Ana Irma Pérez Pereyowhich features the Matanzas native’s work as a music producer, arranger and pianist, competed in Song and Debut, while andl triptych Classics between bridgesalong with Iván Valiente and the Ensemble Solistas de la Habana, was among the finalists in the categories Symphonic and Chamber Music and Record Notesin charge of the musicologist Carmenn Souto Anido.
About this latest record production we spoke with the author, among others, of the soundtrack of the soap opera Lifes crossed and topics like I am Matancero, Monk in Pueblo Nuevo and contemporary versions of anthology pieces from the national staff.
CLASSICS BETWEEN BRIDGES, WHAT CAN WE FIND ON THIS RECORD? WHAT CHARACTERISTICS DOES IT HAVE?
Classics between bridges It was a proposal by maestro Iván Valiente, among the great double bassists of our country, also a teacher and orchestra director, with an immense career.
The invitation was to record my danzones for concert music, accompanied by his orchestra, the Ensemble Solistas de la Habana, which in 2022 turned 20 years old. I am very happy that he has chosen several of my songs to make up this beautiful album that is dedicated to Matanzas, the city where I was lucky and blessed to be born.
I focused on arranging emblematic works within my compositions such as Dancing between bridges, a piece I wrote in 2008, which has had many versions and several recordings in different recording projects. This time it will appear for string orchestra and piano.
It’s also on the disk Monserrate, from 2009, dedicated to the Hermitage of Monserrate that I composed for the Miguel Failde orchestra. They recorded it on my second record production, Cuba now danzón (4 nominations and 2 Cubadisco Awards) and now it will appear, like the previous one, for string orchestra and piano.
There are other works like Song for Romeua danzón dedicated to maestro Antonio María Romeu that I recorded in 2012 on my second album with the Colibrí record label; Waltz for Oshúna piece that I included in My spiritual mountain with my jazz quartet Alejandro Falcón and Cubadentrobut I always wanted to make a version for concert music and Tribute to the Virgin of Charity of Cobrein whose composition references also appear to danzón.
THIS PROPOSAL REVISITS SOME OF THE THEMES COMPOSED BY YOU, BUT WITH OTHER ARRANGEMENTS. WHY REVIEW THESE COMPOSITIONS FROM ANOTHER LOOK, MUSICALLY SPEAKING? WHAT WAS THE MOTIVATION?
This album has meant a great opportunity and a blessing because it shows my work from another perspective. Also, since there was so much music, we decided to make a triptych to include it all.
Since I graduated from the Higher Institute of Art I have tried to ensure that my work as a composer of concert music is not left behind. Many people see me playing popular Cuban music on the piano, accompanying singers or in other projects that reach the public more directly, but I always keep composing a lot of music for piano, for clarinet and orchestra, for violin and chamber orchestra.
CLASSICS BETWEEN BRIDGES STANDS OUT IN YOUR WORK AS ANOTHER TRIBUTE TO THE CITY OF MATANZAS. HOW IS THAT REVERENCE EVIDENCED ON THIS OCCASION?
PHOTO 3 Presentation of the album Cuba now danzón in Matanzas
In addition to these better-known pieces, the album includes the suite Between the two waters, which had already premiered it at the Winter Barroco event, in the city of Matanzas, which shows the influences of Cuban and Afro-Cuban rhythms and Matanzas is the birthplace of many of these genres such as rumba, guaguancó, mambo, danzón . The suite consists of five pieces.
Another important piece of the album is The four seasons of Matanzas, a tribute to the masters Antonio Vivaldi, baroque composer, and the Argentine Astor Piazzola, with a significant work in the 20th century. I took on the task of revering those seasons but from my vision as a musician from Matanzas. I had also performed it in another edition of the Baroque Winter, when we had the opportunity to premiere it in 2020 at the Sauto theater. Each station corresponds to a genre: danzón, guaguancó, a kind of Latin jazz and a part that is more sonorous are reflected.
These pieces come together To dancea version he had done for string orchestra in Cuba now danzón and now I returned to it in a version for chamber orchestra.
We have offered several concerts with the album with a large audience and we want to present it at some point at the Sauto, in Matanzas. It will be a very special presentation because it defends the spirit of the city in which so much musical variety converges.
TO THE SATISFACTION THAT THE JUST FACT OF GROUPING YOUR MUSIC IN THIS PRODUCTION WITH MASTER IVÁN VALIENTE AND THE ENSEMBLE SOLISTS OF HAVANA HAS BROUGHT YOU, NOW YOUR NOMINATIONS FOR CUBADISCO 2024 ARE ADDED
I am very happy to have participated again this year in the Cubadisco International Record Fair. I feel grateful for the performance of the orchestra musicians, the wonderful work of the sound engineer Tony Carrera who recorded the album and Giraldo who did the mixing and mastering.
Also highlight Iván Soca, one of the great Cuban photographers, in charge of all the photography and design, the work of the musicologist Carmen Souto Anido and the Colibrí record company where I have recorded an important part of my work for several years.
UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS, PROJECTS… ANY RELATED TO MATANZAS?
I am preparing another book with new pieces dedicated to Matanzas, each one with a different Cuban rhythm and are titled after different places in the city. These compositions have already reached students in artistic education centers.
I have taken advantage of this opportunity that Iván Valiente offered me. I continue to defend the album in my presentations. I am very happy with the results it has already had and that the Master has trusted in my work. I greatly appreciate the work of all the people who have supported us. I continue creating and working.
){kind=link}