Rafael Suárez (composer)

Rafael Suárez Mujica (December 1, 1929 - September 30, 1971) was a Venezuelan composer,[1] conductor, and arranger.[2][3][4]

For persons of a similar name, see Rafael Suárez (disambiguation).
Rafael Suárez

Early life and education

Suárez was born in El Poblado, Isla de Margarita, Venezuela. He began his musical studies in 1945 at the Escuela Superior de Música in Caracas under the direction of Maestro Ramos and later under the direction of Maestro Vicente Emilio Sojo, until 1952. Later, he travelled to Europe to undertake advanced music studies with Maestro Dante Ullu, head of the chair of advanced score reading, composition, orchestral conducting, counterpoint, and fugue at the Academia di Santa Cecilia in Rome, Italy. He was designated as conductor of the Experimental Orchestra of the Academia di Santa Cecilia, and the "Ente Stanislao" Orchestra of Termi (Italy).

Career

Returning to Venezuela, Suárez focused in choral conduction. He founded a number of choirs, including Orfeón de la Juventud Católica de la Parroquia Santa Teresa, Coral del Cuartel “Rafael Urdaneta”, Coral del Colegio de Abogados del Distrito Federal, Coral del Centro de Profesionales del Estado Aragua, and the Coral Shell, while he served as associate conductor of the Coral Venezuela.

Suárez composed a number of musical works. Many of his best known pieces were created for the Quinteto Contrapunto,[5][6] a group which he founded in 1962, and for which he wrote vocal arrangements with demanding technical requirements of traditional Venezuelan folk songs.[7][8][9] These arrangements were published by FUNVES, Instituto de Musicología. Suárez was music director and also sang in the quintet.[3][10]

A summary of his work is included in the document Nine Venezuelan Composers and a Catalogue of their Choral Works, by Cristian Grases, University of Miami.[2]

Died in Caracas, Venezuela.

References
  1. "Sim?n Bol?var Youth Choir of Venezuela Ends Successful U.S. Tour". website of the Consulate General of Venezuela in San Francisco, USA. 2002.
  2. "Suarez, Rafael (1929 - 1971)". Nine Venezuelan Composers and a Catalogue of their Choral Works, Cristian Grases, University of Miami.
  3. Music Journal. Elemo Pub. 1965. p. 110.
  4. Gramophone. C. Mackenzie. October 1965. p. 319.
  5. “La música es mi vida”. El Tiempo, 25 de octubre de 2016. Martín Carbonell Salas.
  6. Imagen. Vol. Issues 40-63. Instituto Nacional de Cultura y Bellas Artes. 1969. pp. 54 and 76.
  7. Revista de Música Latinoamericana: Latin American Music Review. University of Texas Press. 2003. p. 87.
  8. Folklore--música, danzas, conjuntos y costumbrismo zuliano y venezolano. M. Matos Romero. 1989. p. 145.
  9. Eduardo Carrasco (1982). La nueva canción en América Latina. CENECA. p. 38.
  10. José Peñín; Walter Guido (1998). Enciclopedia de la música en Venezuela: I-Z. Fundación Bigott. p. not readable. ISBN 9789806428027.
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