Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983)
The
Argentinian composer Alberto Ginastera is widely regarded
as one of the most important and original South American composer of
the 20th century. His attractive output for piano skillfully combines
folk Argentine rhythms and colors with modern composing techniques.
Exhilarating rhythmic energy, captivating lyricism and hallucinatory
atmosphere are some of the characteristics of his musical
style. - Fundacion OstinatoEmerging on the international music scene in the late '40s, Alberto Ginastera established himself as one of the mid-twentieth century's most distinctive compositional figures. Although he eventually borrowed sonorities and procedures from the serialist and experimentalist movements of the ensuing decades, he did so selectively and undogmatically, synthesizing with ever-increasing sophistication and discretion the echoes of his native Argentina with the expanding compositional palette of the avant-garde. Ginastera was born in Buenos Aires in 1916, and even in his childhood showed early promise as a performer and composer. His adolescent years were spent in formal studies at the Williams Conservatory, and within a few years of his admittance to the National Conservatory as an undergraduate, his music was receiving national acclaim in prominent performance venues. His initial reputation rested largely on his creative interpretations of and allusions to Argentinean folk materials, as realized in short-form pieces and suites, but by the late '40s and early '50s he had completed a number of more imposing works, such his Piano Sonata No. 1 and his first two string quartets. He had also ventured abroad, first to Tanglewood in 1941, where he became fast friends with Copland, then to other destinations throughout the U.S. in the late '40s, and finally to several venues in Europe during the early '50s, where works such as the Variaciones concertantes and Pampeana No. 3 enjoyed warm receptions. He likewise introduced internationally acclaimed composers to Argentina; he oversaw an ambitious department at Catholic University (1958-1963), and during his tenure as director of the Latin American Centre for Advanced Musical Studies (1963-1971) his invited guests included Messiaen, Nono, Dallapiccola, and Xenakis. Ginastera's works from the '60s, including the opera Don Rodrigo (1963-1964), grew more varied in their methods and ambitious in their scope. Ginastera worked actively as a composer and champion of new music despite considerable external obstacles; his political views twice put him at odds with the Perón government, which forced his resignation from positions at the National Military Academy and the National University of La Plata (he regained the latter position after Perón's defeat). Personal problems, including marital strife, stifled his productivity in the late '60s, but his divorce and subsequent marriage to cellist Aurora Natola, and his retirement to Switzerland after decades of teaching in Argentina's most prominent musical institutions, gave Ginastera his second wind; his last years were among his most fruitful.
- J. Neal/allmusic
COMPOSITIONS Ginastera Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre
Impresiones de la Puna, flute and string quartet (1934, withdrawn)
Amiro canta, [voice and piano] (n.d., withdrawn)
Canciones infantiles, piano (n.d., withdrawn)
La Cenicienta, 2 pianos (1934, withdrawn)
La moza de los ojos negros, soprano (violin?) and piano (n.d., withdrawn)
Canciones y danzas argentinas, violin and piano (1934, withdrawn)
Piezas infantiles I (4 pieces), piano (1934, withdrawn)
Concierto argentino, piano and orchestra (1935, withdrawn; performed in 1941 and 1942)
Panambí, ballet, op. 1 (1934-36) [also Suite from ballet, op. 1a]
Danzas argentinas (3 pieces), piano, op. 2 (1937)
Sonatina para arpa (Harp) (1938, withdrawn)
Two Songs (Silva Valdés) voice and piano, op. 3 (1938)
Milonga, piano [transcription (1948) of "Canción al árbol del olvido", op. 3, no. 2, 1938]
Cantos del Tucumán (Jijena Sánchez), voice, flute, violin, harp and two Indian "cajas", op. 4 (1938)
Salmo CL (Psalm 150) chorus, children's chorus and orchestra, op. 5 (1938)
Tres piezas (Three pieces), piano, op. 6 (1939-40)
Malambo, piano, op. 7 (1940)
Don Basilio mal casado, incidental music (1940)
Estancia, ballet, op. 8 (1941) [also Danzas de Estancia, orchestra, op. 8a]
Pequeña Danza, piano [transcription (1955) of music form the ballet "Estancia", 1941]
Doña Clorinda la descontenta, incidental music (1941)
Sinfonía porteña, orchestra (1942, withdrawn)
Piezas infantiles II (4 pieces), piano (1942, withdrawn)
Danzas argentinas para los niños, piano [Moderato: para Alex; Paisaje: para Georgina] (unfinished)
Malambo, film score (1942)
Obertura para el "Fausto" criollo (Creole Faust overture), orchestra, op. 9 (1943)
Cinco canciones populares argentinas (Five Argentine Popular Songs), voice and piano, op. 10 (1943)
Las horas de una estancia (Ocampo), voice and piano, op. 11 (1943)
Sinfonía elegíaca, orchestra (1944, withdrawn)
Doce preludios americanos (Twelve American Preludes), piano, op. 12 (1944)
Dúo, flute and oboe, op. 13 (1945)
Hieremiae Prophetae Lamentationes, chorus, op. 14 (1946)
Suite de danzas criollas (Suite of Creole Dances), piano, op. 15 (1946)
Rosa de América, film score (1946)
Pampeana No. 1, violin and piano, op. 16 (1947)
Ollantay, orchestra, op. 17 (1947) [also arr. for band]
Toccata, Villancico and Fuga, organ, op. 18 (1947)
Toccata, piano [adaptation by Domenico Zipoli of "Toccata per organo", 1947]
Rondó sobre temas infantiles argentinos, piano, op. 19 (1947)
Las antiguas semillas, incidental music (1947)
String Quartet No. 1, op. 20 (1948)
Nace la libertad, film score (1949)
Pampeana No. 2, cello and piano, op. 21 (1950)
El puente, film score (1950)
Sonata No. 1, piano, op. 22 (1952)
Facundo, el tigre de los llanos, film score (1952)
Variaciones concertantes, chamber orchestra, op. 23 (1953)
Caballito criollo (Native Pony), film score (1953)
Pampeana No. 3, orchestra, op. 24 (1954)
Su seguro servidor, film score (1954)
Concerto for Harp and Orchestra, op. 25 (1956)
Los maridos de mamá, film score (1956)
Enigma de mujer, film score (1956)
String Quartet No. 2, op. 26 (1958)
Livets vår (Primavera de la vida), film score (1958)
Hay que bañar al nene (Si mi mujer supiera), film score (1958)
El límite, incidental music (1958)
Cantata for Magic America, soprano and percussion orchestra, op. 27 (1960)
A María del corazón, incidental music (1960)
Piano Concerto No. 1, op. 28 (1961)
La doncella prodigiosa, incidental music (1961)
Quintet, piano and string quartet, op. 29 (1963)
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, op. 30 (1963)
Don Rodrigo, opera, op. 31 (1964) [also Sinfonia "Don Rodrigo", soprano and orchestra, op. 31a]
Cantata "Bomarzo", narrator, tenor or baritone and chamber orchestra, op. 32 (1964) [see Bomarzo, opera, 1966-67]
Concerto for Strings, op. 33 (1965)
Bomarzo, opera, op. 34 (1966-67) ["Cantata"(1964) is derived from same literary source by Láinez, but is distinct musically]
Estudios sinfónicos (Symphonic Etudes), orchestra, op. 35 (1967)
Cello Concerto No. 1, op. 36 (1968)
Milena Cantata, soprano and orchestra, op. 37 (1971)
Beatrix Cenci, opera, op. 38 (1971)
Piano Concerto No. 2, op. 39 (1972)
String Quartet No. 3, string quartet and soprano, op. 40 (1973)
Puneña No. 1, flute, op. 41 (1973)
Serenata, cello, baritone voice and chamber ensemble, op. 42 (1974)
Turbae, soloist, chorus and orchestra, op. 43 (1975)
Popol Vuh, orchestra, op. 44 (1975)
Puneña No. 2, cello, op. 45 (1976)
Glosses sobre temes de Pau Casals, string orchestra and string quintet, op. 46 (1976) [arr. for orchestra as op. 48]
Sonata for Guitar, op. 47 (1976)
Glosses sobre temes de Pau Casals, orchestra, op. 48 (1977)
Sonata for Cello and Piano, op. 49 (1979)
Cello Concerto No. 2, op. 50 (1980)
Iubilum, orchestra, op. 51 (1980) [also Fanfarria for 4 trumpets, op. 51a]
Variazioni e Toccata sopra "Aurora lucis rutilat", organ, op. 52 (1980)
Goitia, film score (1980)
Piano Sonata No. 2, op. 53 (1981)
Piano Sonata No. 3, op. 54 (1982)
Zimmer 36, film score (1988)
WORKS BY GENRE Ginastera Links ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Panambí, ballet, op. 1 (1934-36) [also Suite from ballet, op. 1a]
Estancia, ballet, op. 8 (1941) [also Danzas de Estancia, orchestra, op. 8a]
Don Rodrigo, opera, op. 31 (1964) [also Sinfonia "Don Rodrigo", soprano and orchestra, op. 31a]
Bomarzo, opera, op. 34 (1966-67) ["Cantata"(1964) is derived from same literary source by Láinez, but is distinct musically]
Beatrix Cenci, opera, op. 38 (1971)
Orchestra
Suite from the ballet Panambí, orchestra, op. 1a (1934-36)
Danzas de Estancia, orchestra, op. 8a (1941) [from the ballet Estancia, op. 8, 1941]
Sinfonía porteña, orchestra (1942, withdrawn)
Obertura para el "Fausto" criollo (Creole Faust overture), orchestra, op. 9 (1943)
Sinfonía elegíaca, orchestra (1944, withdrawn)
Ollantay, orchestra, op. 17 (1947) [also arr. for band]
Variaciones concertantes, chamber orchestra, op. 23 (1953)
Pampeana No. 3, orchestra, op. 24 (1954)
Concerto for Strings, op. 33 (1965)
Estudios sinfónicos (Symphonic Etudes), orchestra, op. 35 (1967)
Popol Vuh, orchestra, op. 44 (1975)
Glosses sobre temes de Pau Casals, orchestra, op. 48 (1977) [arr. for orchestra from op. 48]
Iubilum, orchestra, op. 51 (1980) [also Fanfarria for 4 trumpets, op. 51a]
Band
Ollantay, orchestra, op. 17 (1947) [also arr. for band]
Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Concierto argentino, piano and orchestra (1935, withdrawn; performed in 1941 and 1942)
Concerto for Harp and Orchestra, op. 25 (1956)
Piano Concerto No. 1, op. 28 (1961)
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, op. 30 (1963)
Cello Concerto No. 1, op. 36 (1968)
Piano Concerto No. 2, op. 39 (1972)
Serenata, cello, baritone voice and chamber ensemble, op. 42 (1974)
Glosses sobre temes de Pau Casals, string orchestra and string quintet, op. 46 (1976) [arr. for orchestra as op. 48]
Cello Concerto No. 2, op. 50 (1980)
Chorus w/Orchestra
Salmo CL (Psalm 150) chorus, children's chorus and orchestra, op. 5 (1938)
Turbae, soloist, chorus and orchestra, op. 43 (1975)
Choral
Hieremiae Prophetae Lamentationes, chorus, op. 14 (1946)
Chamber
Impresiones de la Puna, flute and string quartet (1934, withdrawn)
Dúo, flute and oboe, op. 13 (1945)
String Quartet No. 1, op. 20 (1948)
String Quartet No. 2, op. 26 (1958)
Quintet, piano and string quartet, op. 29 (1963)
String Quartet No. 3, string quartet and soprano, op. 40 (1973)
Serenata, cello, baritone voice and chamber ensemble, op. 42 (1974)
Fanfarria for 4 trumpets, op. 51a (1980) [from Iubilum, orchestra, op. 51, 1980]
Solo Instrument
Canciones y danzas argentinas, violin and piano (1934, withdrawn)
Sonatina para arpa (Harp) (1938, withdrawn)
Pampeana No. 1, violin and piano, op. 16 (1947)
Pampeana No. 2, cello and piano, op. 21 (1950)
Puneña No. 1, flute, op. 41 (1973)
Puneña No. 2, cello, op. 45 (1976)
Sonata for Guitar, op. 47 (1976)
Sonata for Cello and Piano, op. 49 (1979)
Piano/Organ
Piezas infantiles I (4 pieces), piano (1934, withdrawn) [Preludio; Osito bailando; Arrullo; Soldaditos]
Canciones infantiles, piano (n.d., withdrawn)
La Cenicienta, 2 pianos (1934, withdrawn)
Danzas argentinas (3 pieces), piano, op. 2 (1937) [3 Danzas: del viejo boyero; de la moza donosa; del gaucho matrero]
Milonga, piano [transcription (1948) of "Canción al árbol del olvido", op. 3, no. 2, 1938]
Tres piezas (Three pieces), piano, op. 6 (1939-40) [Cuyana; Nortena; Criolla]
Malambo, piano, op. 7 (1940)
Pequeña Danza, piano [transcription (1955) of music form the ballet "Estancia", 1941]
Piezas infantiles II (4 pieces), piano (1942, withdrawn) [Anton Pirulero; Arrorro; Chacarerita; Arroz con leche]
Danzas argentinas para los niños, piano [Moderato: para Alex; Paisaje: para Georgina] (unfinished)
Doce preludios americanos (Twelve American Preludes), piano, op. 12 (1944) [Para los acentos; Triste; Danza criolla; Vidala; En el 1er. modo pentafono menor; Homenaje a Roberto Garcia Morillo; Para las octavas; Homenaje a Juan Jose Castro; Homenaje a Aaron Copland; Pastoral; Homenaje a Heitor Villa-Lobos; En el 1er. modo pentafono mayor]
Suite de danzas criollas (Suite of Creole Dances), piano, op. 15 (1946)
Toccata, Villancico and Fuga, organ, op. 18 (1947)
Toccata, piano [adaptation by Domenico Zipoli of "Toccata per organo", 1947]
Rondó sobre temas infantiles argentinos, piano, op. 19 (1947)
Sonata No. 1, piano, op. 22 (1952)
Variazioni e Toccata sopra "Aurora lucis rutilat", organ, op. 52 (1980)
Piano Sonata No. 2, op. 53 (1981)
Piano Sonata No. 3, op. 54 (1982)
Vocal
Amiro canta, [voice and piano] (n.d., withdrawn)
La moza de los ojos negros, soprano (violin?) and piano (n.d., withdrawn)
Two Songs (Silva Valdés) voice and piano, op. 3 (1938)
Cantos del Tucumán (Jijena Sánchez), voice, flute, violin, harp and two Indian "cajas", op. 4 (1938)
Cinco canciones populares argentinas (Five Argentine Popular Songs), voice and piano, op. 10 (1943)
Las horas de una estancia (Ocampo), voice and piano, op. 11 (1943)
Cantata for Magic America, soprano and percussion orchestra, op. 27 (1960)
Sinfonia "Don Rodrigo", soprano and orchestra, op. 31a [from opera Don Rodrigo, op. 31, 1964]
Cantata "Bomarzo", narrator, tenor or baritone and chamber orchestra, op. 32 (1964) [see Bomarzo, opera, 1966-67]
Milena Cantata, soprano and orchestra, op. 37 (1971)
String Quartet No. 3, string quartet and soprano, op. 40 (1973)
Serenata, cello, baritone voice and chamber ensemble, op. 42 (1974)
Incidental/Film
Don Basilio mal casado, incidental music (1940)
Doña Clorinda la descontenta, incidental music (1941)
Malambo, film score (1942)
Rosa de América, film score (1946)
Las antiguas semillas, incidental music (1947)
Nace la libertad, film score (1949)
El puente, film score (1950)
Facundo, el tigre de los llanos, film score (1952)
Caballito criollo (Native Pony), film score (1953)
Su seguro servidor, film score (1954)
Los maridos de mamá, film score (1956)
Enigma de mujer, film score (1956)
Livets vår (Primavera de la vida), film score (1958)
Hay que bañar al nene (Si mi mujer supiera), film score (1958)
El límite, incidental music (1958)
A María del corazón, incidental music (1960)
La doncella prodigiosa, incidental music (1961)
Goitia, film score (1980)
Zimmer 36, film score (1988)
GINASTERA LINKS Works by Genre ~ top of page ~
Alberto Ginastera: An Examination of Objective Nationalism ... (Miah Lee, Univ of Texas, El Paso)
Latin American Music (The Other Kind): Alberto Ginastera (Gonzalo Barr)
Voice from Argentina: Alberto Ginastera and his String Quartets (Naxos Blog Podcast)
Composer's website [none at the moment]
Ginastera @ Wikipedia
Ginastera @ Wikipedia (Spanish)
Ginastera @ Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra
Ginastera @ Answers.com
Ginestera @ Audiophile Audition
Ginastera @ Boosey & Hawkes
Ginastera @ Boston Philharmonic Orchestra
Ginastera @ Brief Biographies
Ginastera @ CITWF / Complete Index to World Film
Ginastera @ Classic Cat
Ginastera @ Classical Archives
Ginastera @ Classical Composers Database
Ginastera @ Classical Net
Ginastera @ ClassicsToday
Ginastera @ composition:today
Ginastera @ Compositores & Interpretes
Ginastera @ Dilettante Music
Ginastera @ Dr. Estrella's Incredibly Abridged Dictionary of Composers
Ginastera @ Facebook
Ginastera @ Fugue Masters
Ginastera @ Fundación Ostinato
Ginastera @ geocities.com/Vienna/Strasse
Ginastera @ IMDb (Internet Movie Database)
Ginastera @ Infoplease
Ginastera @ InstantEncore
Ginastera @ Karadar Classical Music
Ginastera @ Los Angeles Philharmonic also here
Ginastera @ Masterworks of 20th-Century Music (Douglas A. Lee, Routledge, books.google.com)
Ginastera @ Metropolitan Opera Stories of the Great Operas, Vol. 1 (J.W. Freeman, Met. Opera, books.google.com)
Ginastera @ MSN Encarta
Ginastera @ MSO Kids (Memphis Symphony Orchestra)
Ginastera @ Music & Vision
Ginastera @ MusicWeb International
Ginastera @ NationMaster
Ginastera @ Naxos
Ginastera @ The New York Times
Ginastera @ NPRmusic
Ginastera @ ORCAM/Orquesta y Coro de la Comunidad de Madrid (in Spanish)
Ginastera @ The Other Music
Ginastera @ Piano Society
Ginastera @ REC Music Foundation /The Lied and Art Song Texts Page
Ginastera @ Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Ginastera @ Seven South Record Shop
Ginastera @ SoundUnwound
Ginastera @ Spiritus-Temporis
Ginastera @ Sweetgrass Talent Group
Ginastera @ United States Marine Band
Ginastera @ WQXR
Streaming Audio
Ginastera @ The Classical MIDI Connection
Ginastera @ Classical Archives
Ginastera @ InstantEncore
Ginastera @ last.fm
Ginastera @ Naxos Blog/Podcast
Ginastera @ NPRmusic
Ginastera @ PRX (Public Radio Exchange)
Ginastera @ Rhapsody
Recordings
Ginastera @ ArkivMusic
Ginastera @ ClassicsOnline
Ginastera @ Discogs
Ginastera @ YouTube
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