Cuba——Ernesto Lecuona

Ernesto Lecuona has often been hailed as the greatest composer from Cuba. A sort of Latin Gershwin, he was both versatile and prolific, writing over 400 songs, 170-odd piano pieces, 37 orchestral works, 11 film scores, and numerous zarzuelas, ballets, and an opera. He wrote in an approachable, often popular style, especially in his songs, and exhibited Latin and Afro-Cuban elements in his music. In some of his later compositions, he wrote in a more serious, somewhat neo-Classical style. Lecuona was born in Guanabacoa, Cuba, a suburb of Havana. All five children in the Lecuona family were musically gifted, four as pianists and one son as a violinist. Young Ernesto was given piano lessons by his older sister, Ernestina. He gave a public recital at the age of five and was in every respect a child prodigy: he was composing at the age of 11 and went on to graduate from Havana's National Conservatory -- where he studied piano and composition -- before his 17th birthday. . Lecuona was one of the few composers who was successful in several genres, arguably becoming the quintessential crossover musician long before the term existed.

Category Arranger Lyricist Composed 19th-Century Cuban Dances Instrumental 19th-Century Cuban Dances (arr. M. Barrueco) Instrumental Manuel Barrueco 3 Miniatures Instrumental 3 Valses (arr. T. Tirino) Instrumental Thomas Tirino 7 Danzas Cubanas Tipicas Instrumental A la antigua (In the old manner) Instrumental A Media Noche Instrumental A Room with a View - Tenderly - The Breeze and I Chamber Music 1946 Adios a las Trincheras Instrumental Al fin (Finally) Vocal Album de Valses (arr. T. Tirino) Instrumental Thomas Tirino 1918 Ali Baba Nostalgia Alla en el batey Cross-Over Alla en la sierra (There in the mountains) Vocal Amor tardio (Belated love) Vocal Amor, que' bonito has vuelto (Love and the World Loves With You) Orchestral 1954 Amorosa Instrumental Andalucia, "Suite espagnola" Instrumental 1912 Andalucia, "Suite espagnola" (arr. E. Cabiati and M. Carta) Instrumental Ernesto Cabiati; Mario Carta Andalucia, "Suite espagnola" (arr. for 2 pianos) Instrumental Anonymous Andalucia, "Suite espagnola" (arr. G.H. Nash) Instrumental Grace Helen Nash Andalucia, "Suite espagnola" (arr. P. Yoder) Wind Ensemble/Band Music Paul Yoder Andalucia, "Suite espagnola" (arr. R. Walters) Wind Ensemble/Band Music Robert Walters Andalucia, "Suite espagnola": VI. Malaguena (arr. B. Hollman and J. Van Hoy) Wind Ensemble/Band Music Bill Holman; Jeremy Van Hoy 1928 Andalucia, "Suite espagnola": VI. Malaguena (arr. for Latin ensemble) World Anonymous 1928 Andalucia, "Suite espagnola": VI. Malaguena (arr. G. Ascione) Wind Ensemble/Band Music Gerald J. Ascione 1928 Andalucia, "Suite espagnola": VI. Malaguena (arr. J. Andrews) Instrumental Joel Andrews Andalucia, "Suite espagnola": VI. Malaguena (arr. R.W. Morris) Wind Ensemble/Band Music R. Winston Morris 1928 Andaluzja Pop and Rock Zbigniew Stawecki Ante El Escorial Instrumental Ante El Escorial (arr. L. Sugarman) Instrumental Louis Sugarman Aquella tarde World Ernesto Lecuona 1928 Aquella tarde Vocal Ernesto Lecuona 1928 Aragon, "Vals Espana" Instrumental Aragonesa Instrumental Barba-Azul Instrumental Besame Instrumental Black Cat Instrumental Broken Blossoms Instrumental Cancion de luna Instrumental Cancion del amor triste (Song of sad love) Vocal J. de Ibarbourou Canto Siboney Instrumental Carnival in Costa Rica: Pasa Calle and Java (arr. T. Tirino) Film and TV Music Thomas Tirino Como Arrullo De Palmas (arr. C. Franzetti) Contemporary Jazz Carlos Franzetti Como presiento (The feeling I have) Vocal Conga Cuba Vocal Crisantemo (Chrysanthemum) Instrumental 1918 Crossroads (Malaguena) Nostalgia Ernesto Lecuona 1928 Cuba and America Instrumental Cuba at Arms Instrumental Dame de tus rosas (Give me of your roses) Vocal Ernesto Lecuona Dame de tus Rosas, "2 Hearts that Pass in the Night" Instrumental Dame el amor (Give me your love) Vocal Danza Afro-Cubanas (arr. T. Tirino) Instrumental Thomas Tirino Danzas Afro-Cubanas Instrumental Danzas Afro-Cubanas (arr. E. Colon) Chamber Music Emilio Colon Danzas Afro-Cubanas (arr. for Latin ensemble) World Anonymous Anonymous 1934 Danzas Afro-Cubanas (arr. M. Barrueco) Instrumental Manuel Barrueco Danzas Afro-Cubanas: Danza de los Nanigos (arr. for latin ensemble) Contemporary Jazz Anonymous Anonymous 1934 Danzas Cubanas Instrumental Danzas Cubanas (arr. T. Tirino) Instrumental Thomas Tirino Devuelveme el corazon (Give me back my heart) Vocal Echate pa'alla, Maria Instrumental El cafetal Opera Gustavo Sanchez de Galarraga 1929 El cafetal (arr. T. Tirino) Instrumental Thomas Tirino El Sombrero de Yarey (The Straw Hat) Suite Instrumental 1946 En una noche asi (On a night like this) Vocal Estampas Infantiles, "Diary of a Child" (Diario de un nino) Instrumental 1949 Futurista Instrumental 1928 Gardenia Instrumental Gitanerias (arr. R. Hayman) Orchestral Richard Hayman Granada Instrumental Impromptu Instrumental 1943 Jungle Drums Jazz Jungle drums Contemporary Jazz La Comparsa Cross-Over La Comparsa - Lagrimas negras (arr. A. Aquino) Contemporary Jazz Arturo Aquino La Comparsa (arr. A. Lesnick) Chamber Music Adam Lesnick La Comparsa (arr. R. Hayman) Orchestral Richard Hayman La Comparsa (The procession) Vocal Locura Instrumental Malaguena Nostalgia 1928 Malaguena World Ernesto Lecuona 1928 Malaguena World Waldomiro Lemke Ernesto Lecuona 1928 Malaguena Pop and Rock Ernesto Lecuona Malaguena (arr. A. Ferrante and L. Teicher) Instrumental Arthur Ferrante; Louis Teicher Malaguena (arr. A. Wurtzler) Chamber Music A. Wurtzler 1928 Malaguena (arr. B. Holman) Contemporary Jazz Bill Holman 1955 Malaguena (arr. G. H. Nash) Instrumental Grace Helen Nash 1928 Malaguena (arr. L. Almeida) Instrumental Laurindo Almeida 1928 Malaguena (arr. R. Hayman) Orchestral Richard Hayman Maracas - Rumba Nostalgia Maria La O World Maria la O Vocal Gustavo Sanchez de Galarraga 1930 Maria la o - Toda una vida World Maria Lao Pop and Rock Zbigniew Stawecki Maria my own Contemporary Jazz Me has dejado (You have left me) Vocal Mi amor fue una flor (My love was a flower) Vocal Mi corazon se fue (I lost my heart) Vocal Mi Vida Pop and Rock Ernesto Lecuona 1946 Musetta Instrumental No me enganaras (You won't deceive me) Vocal No me mires ni me hables (Don't look at me or speak to me) Vocal Noche Azul Instrumental Noche azul Vocal Ernesto Lecuona 1927 Noche de Estrellas Instrumental Noches de Primavera Instrumental Ojos Triunfadores Instrumental Parisiana Instrumental Piezas Caracteristicas Instrumental Polka de los Enanos Instrumental Porcelana China (Danza de Munecos) Instrumental 1943 Primavera de ilusion (Spring of illusion) Vocal Quasi Bolero Instrumental Que risa me da (Oh what a laugh) Vocal Rapsodia Argentina Orchestral 1937 Rapsodia Cubana (on Cuban Airs) Instrumental 1955 Rapsodia Negra Orchestral 1943 Recordar - Se Fue Vocal Ernesto Lecuona Rumba mejoral (Pronouncing rumba) Vocal Rumba-Rhapsody Instrumental 1943 San Francisco El Grande Instrumental Say Si Si Jazz Say Si Si Jazz Al Stillman Say si si (Para vigo me voy) World Se abrieron las flores (The flowers opened) Vocal Siboney Chinese Music 1929 Siboney World 1929 Siboney Vocal Theodore F. Morse 1929 Siboney Theodore F. Morse 1929 Siboney (arr. G. Pifferer) Theodore F. Morse 1929 Siboney (arr. I. Gutierrez) Ernesto Lecuona 1929 Siempre en mi corazon World

Thanks for Nancy Germain' s work.
Photos by Angelica Bautista.