Antonio Estévez

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Antonio Estévez

Background information
Born January 1, 1916(1916-01-01)
Flag of Venezuela Calabozo, Guárico, Venezuela
Died November 26, 1988 (aged 72)
Caracas, Venezuela
Genre(s) Classical
Occupation(s) conductor and composer
Instrument(s) Oboe
Associated acts Caracas Martial Band
Venezuela Symphony Orchestra
Central University of Venezuela Choir

Antonio Estévez was born in Calabozo (Guárico), Venezuela, January 1, 1916, and died in Caracas, November 26, 1988, musical founder and Composer of the Central University of Venezuela Choral. They were his parents Mariano Estévez and Carmen Aponte. In 1923, initiated his musical studies in Caracas and continued them in Calabozo, when returned to his native city in 1925. In 1926 enters at the town band like executant of saxhorn. In 1930, returns to Caracas, where he continued with his general musical studies and those of clarinet along with Miguel Gallo, at the School of Music and Declamation. In 1932, entered to the Caracas Martial Band directed by Pedro Elías Gutiérrez. From 1934 Vicente Emilio Sojo was his professor of composition in the Music and Declamation School. Also in 1934, he entered into the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra like second Oboe. In 1938 his choral work began: Rocío, El Jazminero estrellado. In 1942 married with Flor Roffé and graduated like Oboe executant. In 1943, founded the Central University of Venezuela Choral. The following year one graduated as composer in the School of Music and Declamation. In 1945, obtained a scholarship of the Education Ministry to continue his studies of music in Europe and in the United States. After finalizing the musical studies, returns to Venezuela where he began to work on his Concert for orchestra and the Cantata Criolla that finalized in 1954, year in which was granted with the Annual Prize of Symphony. In 1949 was awarded with the National Prize of Music. In 1961, returns to Europe, this time to England, with the purpose of updating his musical language, and later in 1963 to Paris, where he frequented the Research center of the French Broadcasting, under the direction of Pierre Shaeffer. From his friendship with Jesús Soto, a change in the aesthetic one of his work took place which was expressed in Cromovibrafonía, that was a work of sonorous ambientation for an exhibition of Jesús Rafael Soto in Montreal, 1967. In 1971 returns to Venezuela and with the support of the Simón Bolívar Center, creates the Phonology Music Institute that directed until 1979. In 1972 worked next to Jesús Soto for the ambientation of the Modern Art Museum of Ciudad Bolívar. In 1987 received the National Music Prize and the Honoris Causa degree, conferred by the Andes University.

[edit] Legacy

  • His most important composition was the Cantata Criolla, that won the 1954 Annual Prize of Symphony, and is one of the most important classical music works of Venezuela.
  • Other works include, Cromovibrafonía and Cromovibrafonía múltiple.

[edit] See also