Pianist, composer and pedagogue. He entered the conservatoire located at his natal city with professor Dulce María Serret, enhacing them further more at Municipal Conservatoire of Havana with professor Flora Mora. In 1942, he travelled to United States to complete his studies at Berkshire Music Center having teachers such as Aaron Copland and Serge Koussevitzky.

In 1945, he founded and directed Municipal Conservatoire Orchestra, where he worked as professor of Harmony, Composition, Aesthetics and Music History. In 1958, he received Reichold of Caribbean and Central America Prize, conferred by Detroit Orchestra for his Simphony in mi.
He was also member of Group of Musical Renovation and headed Cultural society ''Our Times'' since its begginings in 1951 until 1961.

In 1959, he created the Musical Department at Casa de las Américas and up to now, he has been working on transforming and developing the musical education in Cuba keeping a profound and fertile labor as pedagogue and creator of National Symphonic Orchestra. In 1961 and 1964, he was Embassador of Cuba in France. Besides integrating Council of Technical Assesors of Culture Ministry and heading the musical sphere; he teached composition classes at Superior Institute of Art and directed Writers and Artists Comission of Movement for Peace and Sovergnity of Peoples in Cuba.

His catalog includes symphonic, chamber, vocal and incidental music for theater and movies, highlighting; music about Juan Ramón Jiménez, Góngora, Rafael Alberti and Justo Rodríguez Santos texts; Icaro, for percussion and piano. Ballet as request of Alicia Alonso; Sonata for piano; Duet for flute and piano; trio for calrinet, violoncello and piano; Prelude for Mensaje al futuro Ballet; Symphony in mi; Caprice for flute, clarinet, viola and violoncello; Concertino for piano and wind instruments; Serenade for strings orchestras; Two Cuban dances (Montuna and Sonera); Sinfonietta for orchestra; Triptico for voice and piano (having texts of José Martí); Quintet of wind; Tocatta for Bandoneon; In Memorian homage to Frank País, La Muerte de un Guerrillero for orchestra; Movil I for piano; Movil II for flute, corno, piano-celesta, Xilophono and percussion; Cantata for Abel; Concert for guitar and orchestra, among other luminary works.

Great part of his work has been interpreted and edited in Cuba and abroad. Among the lots of distinctions he possess, its worthy to mention Prize of recognition to his whole work, conferred by National Writers and Artists Union of Cuba and Alejo Carpentier Medal conferred by State Council of Cuban Republic.

More information at Portal cubarte

See works from this author in Books Shop