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Rodrigo Riera
Image:Riera-1.jpg
Background information
Born September 19, 1923(1923-09-19)
Flag of Venezuela Near Carora, Lara, Venezuela
Died August 19, 1999 (aged 75)
Barquisimeto, Lara, Venezuela
Genre(s) Classical music, Venezuelan popular music
Occupation(s) musician, guitarist, composer
Instrument(s) Guitar

Rodrigo Riera (1923 - 1999), was a Venezuelan guitarist and composer. Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I. Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Estado Lara is one of the 23 states ''(estados'' into which Venezuela is divided Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the Events 43 BC - Octavian, later known as Augustus compels the Roman Senate to elect him Consul. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Barquisimeto is the capital city of the State of Lara located in west central Venezuela, halfway between Caracas and Maracaibo on the Turbio Estado Lara is one of the 23 states ''(estados'' into which Venezuela is divided Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music Several styles of traditional Venezuelan music, such as salsa and merengue are common to its Caribbean A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a A guitarist is a Musician who plays the Guitar. Guitarists may perform solo pieces or play with ensembles and bands of a wide variety of genres A composer (literally meaning 'one who puts together' is a person who creates Music, usually in the medium of notation, for Interpretation and Performance A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) A composer (literally meaning 'one who puts together' is a person who creates Music, usually in the medium of notation, for Interpretation and Performance He wrote a vital and important body of works for the guitar, inspired by and dedicated to the rich music legacy of his region in the Lara state (Capital city: Barquisimeto) in Western Venezuela, displaying a loving nationalism that led him to be associated with the work of Antonio Lauro but with a technique that is more accessible to beginners and intermediate guitar players. Estado Lara is one of the 23 states ''(estados'' into which Venezuela is divided Barquisimeto is the capital city of the State of Lara located in west central Venezuela, halfway between Caracas and Maracaibo on the Turbio Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the Antonio Lauro ( August 3 1917 &ndash April 18 1986) was a Venezuelan Musician, considered to be one of the foremost

He was also an important educator of the classical guitar. Many guitarists active today studied with him in the 1980s and 1990s.

Lastly, he had an important career as a concert guitarist, but his recordings are relatively scarce and hard to find. Hopefully the work of novel guitarists and scholars may rescue his legacy.

Contents

Biography

Family and youth

Rodrigo Riera was born in the township of Barrio Nuevo, in the city of Carora, in the state of Lara, in midwestern Venezuela. Carora is a town in Lara State, Venezuela, on the Morere River a branch of the Tocuyo River. Estado Lara is one of the 23 states ''(estados'' into which Venezuela is divided Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the

His father, Juan Teodosio Querales, was a music teacher. He grew up with his mother, Paula Antonia Riera and his five older siblings. In addition to his music talent, Rodrigo inherited a congenital foot defect from his father. Despite this, he was able to have a normal childhood, even excelling in certain sports and physical activities.

Like many other Venezuelan musicians, his first instrument was the cuatro and his first teachers were his peers and his own will. The cuatro is any of several Latin American instruments of the Guitar or Lute family His first public recital took place in Carora at age thirteen.

In 1937 he moved to Barquisimeto to look for better opportunities. Year 1937 ( MCMXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Barquisimeto is the capital city of the State of Lara located in west central Venezuela, halfway between Caracas and Maracaibo on the Turbio In 1939, he was part of a guitar and vocal group called "Hermanos Riera" (founded by his brother Ruben, who later retired). That year, he met fellow Carora guitarist Alirio Díaz, who wasn't planning to have a career in music at the time. Alirio Díaz (born November 12, 1923) is a Venezuelan Classical guitarist The eighth of eleven children Díaz was born in Caserio

In 1941, he and his group travelled to Caracas for a series of radio presentations. Caracas (kaˈɾakas is the Capital and largest city of Venezuela. Radio is the transmission of signals by Modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible Light. During that trip, he met guitarists Antonio Lauro and Manuel Enrique Perez Díaz, both fellow students of Raúl Borges. Antonio Lauro ( August 3 1917 &ndash April 18 1986) was a Venezuelan Musician, considered to be one of the foremost Raúl Borges Requena ( February 4, 1882 - November 24, 1967) was a renowned Venezuelan Pedagogue, guitarist Lauro was so impressed with Riera's playing, that he wrote a letter recommending him to his teacher. Life's circumstances made it difficult for Riera to start studies under Borges until 1945.

Studying under Raúl Borges

In September of 1945, Riera's and Alirio Díaz' paths crossed again, this time at the footsteps of the Escuela de Música de Caracas to meet and audition for the guitar classes of Raúl Borges. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Raúl Borges Requena ( February 4, 1882 - November 24, 1967) was a renowned Venezuelan Pedagogue, guitarist

They graduated in 1949 with the highest of grades. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In March of that year, they were introduced to Andrés Segovia, who was visiting Venezuela at the time. Andrés Torres Segovia 1st Marquess of Salobreña ( 21 February 1893 &ndash 2 June 1987) was a Spanish Classical guitarist Segovia was impressed enough with the pair, because he invited them to his master classes that were to start the following year in Siena, Italy. Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Siena. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest

Studies in Europe

Despite their obvious qualities as promising guitarists, it took some time for Díaz and Riera to establish themselves in Europe. Riera started his studies in the Real Conservatorio de Música y Declamación in Madrid in 1952. Madrid (pronounced in English in Spanish and colloquially in Spain) is the Capital and largest city of Spain. He obtained a "First Class Diploma" in 1953. In this year, he started his career as a classical guitar performer.

During the Summer of 1954, he was able to attend Segovia's master classes at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena. Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Siena. Segovia led him to perfect his already highly developed technique. It was generally accepted that both he and Díaz were above average in terms of technique and repertoire. Furthermore, they renewed the rather stale (at the time) guitar repertoire, by bringing to Europe the works of important Latin-American composers, which were largely unknown at the time.

Graduation and Concert Tours

In 1954, Riera married Julia Esteban Esteban in Spain and established Madrid as his main place of residence. They had four children together, all of whom were to become musicians: María Josefina, Ruben, Andrés Raúl and Juan José.

The second half of the 1950s was spent touring Europe and Venezuela, playing the repertoire that Segovia had established, as well as the works of Latin-American composers such as the aforementioned Lauro, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Agustín Barrios Mangoré, Manuel Ponce, Vicente Emilio Sojo and his old master, Raúl Borges. Heitor Villa-Lobos (March 5 1887 &ndash November 17 1959 was a Brazilian Composer, possibly the best-known classical composer born in South America Agustín Pío Barrios (born May 5, 1885 in San Juan Bautista de las Misiones, Paraguay; died August 7, 1944 in San Vicente Emilio Sojo ( December 8, 1887 - August 11 1974) was a Venezuelan Musicologist, educator and composer born in During those touring years, he started introducing his own pieces in his repertoire. Riera also performed many guitar duo concerts with his friend Alirio Díaz. In 1956, the two recorded an LP of popular Latin American pieces under a pseudonym to avoid incurring the wrath of Segovia, who frowned at the popular repertoire for the guitar (the album was released as El Uno y El Otro i. A gramophone e. "One and the Other").

New York: the consolidation of a triple career

In 1962, Venezuelan writer and composer Conny Méndez invited Riera to stage a concert in New York, where she was residing. Juana María de la Concepción, commonly referred as Conny Méndez, was born on April 11 1898 in Caracas, Venezuela was a composer The City of New York The recital was very successful in a city which, although traditionally is rich in culture, was thirsty for good classical guitar. Riera ended up staying for years, consolidating his triple career as composer, concert guitarist and teacher.

During those years, Riera composed many important works, the best known today being the Preludio Criollo, which is a required piece in the guitar syllabi in Europe and the Americas. He also composed the prelude Elorac which features a very daring harmonic structure and style that predates the works of modern guitar composers such as Leo Brouwer, Roland Dyens and Carlo Domeniconi. Juan Leovigildo Brouwer Mezquida (born March 1, 1939) in Havana, is a Cuban Composer, guitarist and conductor Roland Dyens (born October 19, 1955 in Tunisia) is a Tunisian - French Classical guitarist composer and arranger Carlo Domeniconi (born 1947 is an Italian guitarist and Composer known as a concert artist in both the classical and Jazz idioms

Riera also performed many times on different stages and concert halls in the U. S. East Coast both as a solo guitarist and as featured soloist with an orchestra. The East Coast of the United States, also known as the "Eastern Seaboard" or "Atlantic Seaboard" refers to the easternmost coastal states in the central and northern

The return to Venezuela: Self-realization as educator

In 1969 he decided to move back to Venezuela with his family. He established himself in Barquisimeto, in 1971, where he created a music studies program for the Universidad Centro Occidental Lisandro Alvarado. Barquisimeto is the capital city of the State of Lara located in west central Venezuela, halfway between Caracas and Maracaibo on the Turbio Additionally, in the summer months, he opened a teaching practice similar to what he had experienced in Siena. In 1971, he ran the first Curso Internacional de Guitarra between July 1st and August 30. Many Venezuelan and foreign-born guitarists attended. The last one took place in 1991.

Last Years

He spent his last years composing and teaching further. His presence was often a cherished sight at guitar festivals in Caracas and other cities, where he held informal meetings and fraternal conversations with other guitarists of fame, like Leo Brouwer, David Russell, Carlos Barbosa-Lima, and of course his many pupils, many of which are now celebrities. Caracas (kaˈɾakas is the Capital and largest city of Venezuela. Juan Leovigildo Brouwer Mezquida (born March 1, 1939) in Havana, is a Cuban Composer, guitarist and conductor David Russell (born in 1953 in Glasgow) is a Classical guitarist Russell has earned praise from audiences and critics alike A composition competition was established bearing his name. Rodrigo Riera died in Barquisimeto, August 9th of 1999. Barquisimeto is the capital city of the State of Lara located in west central Venezuela, halfway between Caracas and Maracaibo on the Turbio Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar)

Guitar Works

The work of Rodrigo Riera concentrates on Latin American forms. He once said that he "would feel silly [. . . writing. . . ] fugues and minuets, when we don't have that kind of music [in Latin America]. In Music, a fugue (ˈfjuːg is a type of contrapuntal composition or technique of composition for a fixed number of parts, normally referred A minuet, sometimes spelled menuet, is a Social dance of French origin for two persons usually in 3/4 time. " Therefore, his compositions are a reflection of the music that was popular in the early XX century. He wrote valses, danzas, joropos, golpes, gaitas, merengues and even a few choros. The Joropo is a Musical style resembling the waltz, and an accompanying Dance, having African and European influences The Gaita is the name of a Venezuelan folk Music from Maracaibo, Zulia state The word merengue designates a musical form extended through all the Caribbean Chôro ('ʃoɾu literally "cry" in Portuguese, meaning "lament" traditionally called chorinho ("little cry"

Most Popular Pieces

Rodrigo Riera's compositions are not easy to catalog or categorize, as there is a copious assortment of notable compositions from his years in Spain, like Choro (1960). Merengue Venezolano (1962), Serenata Ingenua (1963), and Canción Caroreña (1964); from his years in New York, as Preludio Criollo (1963), Elorac, (1964), A Venezuelan triptych - Melancolía, Monotonía, Nostalgia (1968), Golpe al Diablo de Carora (1969); and those compositions he created in Venezuela, the most popular of which are: Chorinho, Homenaje a la Chicachagua, Pajarillo con Revoltillo (1980s), and Suite Popular - Homage to Maestro Antonio Lauro (1990).

Complete List of Works

Disclaimer: Though fairly accurate, this list may prove to be confusing (especially to the non-fluent in Spanish language) due to several reasons: first, Rodrigo Riera was not so prolific at inventing names for his compositions as he was at creating music, so there are many repeated names corresponding to distinct compositions; second, the names that he chose consist mostly of the genre of the piece, which adds to the confusion: i. e. , Estudio (étude), Preludio (prélude), and Valse (waltz) were his favorite words for naming his creations. Obviously, there is a strong need for a numbered catalogue if Riera's works are ever to be orderly published. Dedications (ded. ), dates and places of the compositions have been included whenever available.


WORKS FOR THE GUITAR

TRANSCRIPTIONS & ARRANGEMENTS:

Bibliography

Other sources:

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