One of the main expressions of Cuban culture and its more popular manifestation is the music. That is why, it should not amaze us if, from the early times of movie exhibition and production in the island, we can see some of the major names of the musical pentagram associated with seventh art.

That is what happened with the most universal of the Cuban composers in XX century: Ernesto Lecuona. According to his biographers and remarkable musicologists, being only 12 he had created his first works, and was performing as pianist of silent movies at Fedora, cinematographic room located at Belascoaín and San Miguel streets in Havana City.

In the intervals, between projection and projection, this teenager conducted the reduced accompaining orchestra and offered piano solos; this boy, who became one of the most outstanding executers of this instrument also performed at Parisién, Norma, Turín, Téstor and Orión movies at the Cuban capital.

When sonorous movies appeared, Lecuona`s pieces were used as background of Cuban movies. Among the titles used, we can highlight: Como arrullo de palmas, La comparsa, Noche azul, Andalucía and Ante el escorial.

Siboney, one of his most well known compositions was used, even as movie title, by the Spanish producer Juan Orol, who was deeply involved with Cuban sonorous movies.

Likewise, Cuban directors Ernesto Caparrós, Max Tosquella and Sergio Miró used his themes in short musicals and in La canción del regreso, fiction movie, filmed in 1940.

One of his most beautiful songs travelled the entire planet, Siempre en mi corazón being nominated to Oscar in Hollywood, as essence of musical movie: Always in my heart. In Glenn Miller and plácido Domingo`s voices, this Cuban creation has toured around the world since 40s to our days.

On the movie Fresa y Chocolate, by dead Cuban producer Tomás Gutierrez Alea (Titón) and Juan Carlos Tabío, master Ernesto Lecuona is a live reference with two of his splendid titles: A la antigua and Interrumpida, beautiful danzas for piano.

Text courtesy of Trabajadores newspaper.