Leo Brouwer, Afro-Cuban Classical Guitarist, Composer and Conductor With Annual Chamber Music Festival, Was Born March 1, 1939

Leo Brouwer (b. 1939)

The Afro-Cuban composer, classical guitarist and conductor we now know as Leo Brouwer was named Juan Leovigildo Brouwer when he came into the world in Havana, Cuba on March 1, 1939. He is featured at AfriClassical.com. His enormous influence on guitar music in particular and classical music in general is demonstrated by more than a hundred recordings on which he has played, composed or conducted. Brouwer's compositions reflect classical, Afro-Cuban, jazz and avant-garde influences. His many film scores have brought his music to the attention of a huge audience around the world. Brouwer's influence in his native country results in part from the important positions he has held in Cuban music institutions.

The sheet music of Leo Brouwer is available from Chester Novello, www.chesternovello.com. It is hugely popular with professional and amateur guitarists alike.

In 2012 Leo Brouwer continued his series of chamber music festivals with the IV Leo Brouwer Festival of Chamber Music held in Havana October 3-13, 2012.

The Festival’s final concert included the premiere of the composer's In memoriam Compay Segundo.  

The Cuban news service Granma International reported:

"On the occasion, Brouwer additionally conducted the Sonantas Habaneras guitar orchestra in a premiere performance of his Concierto de Tricastín (2008), in an arrangement for bandurria with a guitar soloist and accompanying guitar, performed by the distinguished Spanish artists Pedro Chamorro and Pedro Mateo." 

On September 15, 2012 AfriClassical reported on a post at Consonant Classical Challenge dated the previous day:

CCC 045 - Leo Brouwer

For many, the term "20th Century Music" is synonymous with all that's wrong with classical music (the Consonant Classical Challenge was launched in part to correct that misperception). But the 20th Century has also been the age of the classical guitar. And most of the music composed for the instrument during the last 50 years has been mostly tonal. And that's why one of the more prominent living composers for the instrument, Leo Brouwer, is the next in our series. 

Leo Brouwer is a Cuban composer, conductor and virtuoso guitarist. Just as Chopin wrote almost exclusively for his instrument, so too has Brouwer. In his catalog are works for solo guitar, guitar ensembles, guitar and string quartets, and guitar concertos. Many of his works have become standards of the repertoire, and are regularly performed and recorded. 

Guitar Concerto No. 11 de Requiem (In memoriam Toru Takemitsu), written in 2007, is a good example of Brouwer's current style. [10:00]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8MWNyu5WhE&feature=player_embedded#!

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