Juan José Castro (1895 – 1968) 
Composer and Conductor
Juan José Castro was born in Avellaneda, Argentina in 1895. In his youth he began studying the piano and violin in Buenos Aires, and left for Paris to further his musical study in his 20's. Upon his return from Paris, he became the conductor for the Renacimiento Chamber Orchestra. The orchestra played at the Colón Theatre in Buenos Aires. Castro also conducted the Havana Philharmonic Orchestra in Cuba, the Sodre Orchestra in Uruguay, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in Australia, and later Argentina's National Symphony in Buenos Aires. Later he taught as a professor at the Buenos Aires Conservatory of Music. One of his most famous works was 'Le Sacre du Printemps.'
Castro has been recognized as being one of the most important and influential Argentine composers of the 20th century. His music mixed dissonant techniques with neoclassicism. His music is formed with three trends: Spanish rhythms, French dissonance, and Argentine cadences.
Juan Jose Castro's Discography
Arrabal, for Orchestra (1934)
Nostalgico (1942)
Corales Criollos No. 1, for piano (1947)
Sonatina Espanola, for piano (1956)
Compadron, Tango
Evocacion, Classical
Milonguero, Tango
Romance de la luna, luna
ALBERTO WILLIAMS (1862 – 1952)
Symphonic Composer and Conductor
Alberto Williams was born to in Buenos Aires in 1862. At the age of 7 he performed in his first public concert. Through the publicity earned during his childhood, he received a scholarship from the Argentine government in 1882 to study composition at the Paris Conservatory. Here he composed his first piano concertos.
Williams became interested in Argentina's folklore music, and his first musical attribute towards folk music was a classical piece called The Abandoned Ranch (1893). The majority of his later works were more modern folk music including milongas and zambas. Williams was considered to be the “Father of Argentine Music.”
Williams became the first prominent composer in Argentina to mix folk music into symphonies. In 1893, he established the Buenos Aires Conservatory of Music. In 1924 Williams was inducted into Argentina's National Academy of Fine Arts.
Alberto Williams Discography
Op.15. Primera obertura de concierto (1889).
Op.18. Segunda obertura de concierto (1892).
Op.30. Miniaturas: first suite (1890).
Op.31. Miniaturas: second suite (1890).
Op.32. The Abandoned Ranch (1890).
Op.44. First Symphony, in B minor (1907).
Op.55. "The Witch of the Mountains." Second Symphony, in C minor (1910).
Op.56. Centennial March (1910).
Op.58. "The Sacred Forest." Third Symphony, in F major (1911).
Op.60. Poem for the Campaniles (1913).
Op.63. Five Argentine Dances (1921).
Op.88. Poem for the Southern Seas (1933).
Op.98. "Eli ataja-caminos." Fourth Symphony, in E flat major (1935).
Op.100."The Doll's Heart." Fifth Symphony, in E flat major (1936).
Op.102."The Death of the Comet." Sixth Symphony, in B major (1937).
Op.103."Eternal Rest." Seventh Symphony, in D (1937).
Op.104."The Sphinx." Eight Symphony, in F minor (1938).
Op.107.Las milongas de la orquesta (1938).
Op.108."Los batracios" (La humorística). Ninth Symphony, in B flat (1939).
Op.115.Poem for the Iguazu Falls (1943).
Op.117."The Air in the Pampas" Milongas, 2 Suites (1944).
ALBERTO EVARISTO GINASTERA (1916 – 1983)
Composer
Alberto Evaristo Ginastera was born in Buenos Aires. At the age of five, Ginastera became frustrated when he was unable to play his country's national anthem on a toy flute. This was not due to lack of talent, but because the instrument's range was too narrow. His ear for music allowed him to become fluent in many instruments, and his talents were recognized. He entered the Williams Conservatory in Buenos Aires to study music at age 12. In 1938 he graduated from the National Conservatory of Music with honors. Three years later he taught there as a professor., and three years later he returned to the conservatory as professor of composition. In 1948 he established the Conservatory of Music and Scenic Art in Buenos Aires.
Many of his works were viewed as controversial due to their graphic nature including nudity, voyeurism, and violence. His opera Bomarzo was banned in Argentina until 1972. Ginastera was a iconic composer and a dedicated teacher. One of his most famous students was Astor Piazzolla.
Alberto Evaristo Ginastera's Works
Opera
Don Rodrigo, Op. 31 (1964)
Bomarzo, Op. 34 (1967)
Beatrix Cenci, Op. 38 (1971)
Ballet
Panambí, Op. 1 (1934–1936)
Estancia, Op. 8 (1941)
Orchestral
Overture to the Creole Faust , Op. 9 (1943)
Ollantay: 3 Symphonic Movements, Op. 17 (1947)
Variaciones concertantes, Op. 23 (1953)
Pampeana No. 3, Op. 24 (1954)
Concerto for strings, Op. 33 (1966)
Estudios Sinfonicos, Op. 35 (1967)
Popol Vuh, Op. 44 (1975–1983)
Iubilum, Op. 51 (1980)
Oscar Marcelo Alemán (1909 – 1980)
Jazz Guitarist
Born in Machagai, Argentina in 1909, Alemán born into a musical family. His parents and two brothers sang and played piano in a jazz quartet. Alemán joined the family ensemble at the age of 6, making the quartet into the Moreira Sextet. He played the cavaquinho (Brazilian ukelele).
At the age of ten his mother died, and shortly afterwards his father committed suicide. He worked as a dancer and musician on the streets of Brazil until he saved up enough money to buy a guitar. Alemán quickly learned to play the guitar and began playing at parties and venues, where he formed the group “Los Lobos” with his friend Gastón Bueno Lobo. The two returned to Buenos Aires in 1925. In Argentina they formed a trio with Elvino Vardaro, a violinist. Their style was a hybrid between Tango and Jazz.
Ya lo sé (1930-1933)
Fox-musette n.º 301 (1933-1935)
St. Louis Stomp (1936-1938)
Doing the gorgonzola (1939-1940)
Susurrando (1941-1942)
Negra de cabello duro (1943-1944)
Haciendo una nueva picardía (1945-1949)
Swanee River (1951)
Scartunas (1952)
Minuet (1953)
Ardiente sol (1954)
Estambul (1955)
Juca (1956-1957)
Guitarra de amor (1965)
Sueño de víbora (1966-1969)
Moritat (1970-1972)
Tengo ritmo (1973-1978
Vestido de bolero (1979-1980)
Hombre mío (1960-1980)
Sí... otra vez! (1979)
ATAHUALPA YUPANQUI (1908 – 1992)
Singer, Songwriter, Writer
Atahualpa Yupanqui was born in Pergamino, Argentina. His real name is Hector Roberto Chavero Aramburo, but he took a stage name of Atahualpa Yupanqui, in honor of two legendary Incan kings. He traveled across Argentina studying the indigenous people, and became radicalized in the Communist Party of Argentina. After multiple uprisings, he was forced to move to Uruguay in 1931, but was able to come back to Argentina in 1934.
He began writing compositions, and they became popular in Buenos Aires. Here he met Antonieta 'Nenette' Fitzpatrick, his lifelong companion and musical collaborator. Due to political tension, he was forced to move to Europe after multiple incarcerations. There he signed a music contract, and won a prize for “Best Foreign Disc of the Charles Cros Academy.” In 1952 he returned to Argentina. His musical career progressed after his withdrawal from the communist party, and his popularity soared. In 1968 he was named 'Gentleman of the Arts and the Letters of France' by the Ministry of Culture.
Atahualpa Yupanqui Discography
Lo Mejor De (1988)
L'Integrale Vol.1 – Vol.5 (1992)
Thirty Years of Singing (1996)
L'Integrale (1996)
Buenas Noches (2000)
Tierra Querida (2002)
20 Grandes Exitos (2003)
Solo lo Mejor de Atahualpa Yupanqui (2004)
Los Esenciales (2004)
From Argentina to the World (2005)
Mis 30 Mejores Canciones (2007)
Coleccion Aniversario (2007)
CARLOS GUASTAVINO (1912 - 2000)
Composer
Carlos Guastavino was born in the Santa Fe Province of Argentina. He began his musical career studying with Lothringer Iaffei and Athos Palma. Through performances, he quickly made a name for himself and was invited by BBC london to play piano from 1947 – 1949. He was also awarded a scholarship from the British Council, and played with the British Symphony Orchestra. He continued to perform across Europe, as well as in Russia and China.
Cuastavino quickly rose to the title of one of the foremost composers of Argentina in the 20thcentury. His music had a romantic style, and were influenced by the popular folk music of Argentina. He has been referred to as “The Schubert of the Papmas.” Many of his performances have been at the Colon Theater in Buenos Aires.
Carlos Guastavino has received many rewards for his music, including the Municipal Prize from Buenos Aires, Prize of the Cultural Commission of Santa Fe Province, and a Prize from the Organization of the American States and the Inter-American Music Council.
Carlos Guastavino Discography
The Complete Piano Music, Nimbus, (2008).
Flores Argentinas, Albany Records (2008).
Art Songs of Latin-America. Albert Moraleda Records, Barcelona (2001).
A mi ciudad nativa, Art Songs of Latin-America, Mundo Arts Records, Barcelona (2006).
Flores Argentinas: Canciones de Ginastera y Guastavino, Cleo Productions (2007).
Canciones Argentinas, Harmonia Mundi, (2006).
Vai Azulão, Marquis Classic, (2002).
Canciones Amatorias, Hyperion, (2002).
Flores Argentinas, Cascavelle, (1996).
Mélodies, Lyrinx, (1995).
Argentinian Songs, Nimbus Records, (1987).
Classics of the Americas, vol. 2, Opus 111, (1990).
South American Songs, Claves, (1984).
Canciones populares argentinas, ANTAR, (1964)
Guitar Music of Argentina, vol. 1, Naxos Classical, (2002).
Guitar Music of Argentina, vol. 2, Naxos Classical, (2002).
Carlos Guastavino: Piano Music, Marco Polo, (1992).
Carlos Guastavino: Las Puertas de la Mañana, New Albion, (1993).
Carlos Guastavino: Guitar and Chamber Music, (1991).
FACUNDO CABRAL (1937 - 2011)
Singer, Songwriter, Novelist
Born in Buenos Aires as the youngest of three and raised only by his mother, Cabral was faced with extreme poverty throughout his childhood and quickly found himself on the wrong side of the law. He was sent to a reformatory for petty crimes, where he soon broke out and started a new life as a born-again Christian. Cabral taught himself how to play the guitar and began playing folk music. He got a job playing guitar and singing at a hotel. As time progressed, he became well known for his music, and his song “No Soy de Aqui, Ni Soy de Alla” earned him international praise. Some of his controversial lyrics labeled him as a “protest singer,” and he was forced into exile in Mexico in the mid 1970's. In 1984 however, he returned to Argentina.
Facundo Cabral is well known throughout much of the world for his music and teachings. He has been labeled an icon for his Latin American folk and protest music. In 1966 he was declared a “worldwide messenger of peace” by the United Nations Department of Education, Science, and Culture. On July 9, 2011 however, he was shot and killed while returning to his hotel following a concert he played in Guatemala. Hundreds flocked to the site where he was killed, including Rigoberta Menchu, a recipient of the Nobel Peace Price. She, as well as hundreds of others, wept for him.
Facundo Cabral Discography
Recuerdos de Oro [Orfeon #1] (1994)
Epoca de Oro (1998)
Coleccion de Oro (1999)
El Oficio de Cantor (1999)
Recuerdos de Oro [Orfeon #2] (2002)
Coleccion RCA: 100 Anos de Musica (2003)
Inolvidables RCA: 20 Grandes Exitos (2004)
Noches de Bohemia, Vol. 1 (2004)
Siere de Oro (2008)
Los Elegidos (2009)
PABLO ORTIZ O
RT(1956 - )
Composer
Pablo Ortiz was born in Buenos Aires in 1956. At the age of 27, he traveled to New York City to study with Mario Davidovsky at Columbia University. Ortiz also taught composition at the University of Pittsburgh, and now is a Professor at the University of California Davis.
Ortiz has performed at many different venues and with different groups, including the Buenos Aries Philharmonic, Speculum Musicae, Music Mobile, Arditti String Quartet, The San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, Ars Nova, and the New York New Music Ensemble.
Ortiz received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1994, was awarded the Roberto Caamaño Prize by the National Academy of Fine Arts in Argentina in 1996, and the Charles Ives Fellowship in 1996. His music includes compositions for choir, piano, percussion, strings, and bass.
Pablo Ortiz Discography
Oscuro, for mized choir, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, & percussion 21:24
Milonguitas, for bass clarinet 7:57
Concierto Rastrojero, for marimba, 2 violins, viola, cello, & bass 11:06
Parodia, Opera (2007) - Experimental Center at Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires
Album – Al Compas del Corazon – Messages in Tangos Between Argentina and Finland (2006)
Al compas del corazon, for 3 cellos 03:23
Alma de bohemio, for 3 cellos 03:32
Angeles caidos, for 3 cellos 02:40
Bianco, for 2 cellos 04:21
El amanecer, for 3 cellos 03:48
El jefe, for 2 cellos 05:07
El monito, for 3 cellos 02:53
El tigre, for 3 cellos 03:59
Firpo, for 3 cellos 02:59
Kyyneleet, for 3 cellos 03:57
Le dernier tango argentin, for cello 04:56
Le deuxieme tango finlandais, for cello 03:17
Le premier tango finlandais, for cello 05:18
Mano a mano for 3 Cellos 03:17
Manzi, for cello 05:34
Monjeau, for 2 cellos 04:15
5 Little milonguitas, for cello 05:52
