Raimundo Valenzuela
Encyclopedia
Raimundo Valenzuela de Leon (San Antonio de los Baños
, 23 January 1848 – Havana
, 27 April 1905) was a leading Cuban trombonist, composer
and bandleader
.
, viola
, percussion, but was first employed by Orquesta Flor de Cuba as a trombonist. He was playing for La Flor in the Alhambra theatre in Havana in 1869, when a group of Spanish anti-revolutionary volunteers attacked the theatre and its patrons. That night the theatre had been performing anti-colonial works for the benefit of rebels declaring Cuban independence, in what became known as the Ten Years' War
.
He established his band from the remains of Flor de Cuba after the death of its leader, Juan de Dios Alfonso
. Like its forebear, the orchestra was a típica
in format, based mostly on wind instruments. It was, like Flor de Cuba, the most popular típica of its day. Valenzuela's bands played everywhere in Havana. They played for balls, the theatre, carnavals, and for all racial groups and all levels of society.
Raimundo contributed financially and personally to the development of the Cuban War of Independence
in 1895. When Raimundo died in 1905, his brother Pablo Valenzuela
became Director of the orchestra.
Valenzuela's compositions were mostly danzones, such as El negro bueno, María Belen, Los empleados de Tacón; and the zarzuela
La mulata María.
and Havana. The second phase of its evolution had been started by Miguel Faílde
, who was a close friend of Valenzuela. Faíde's was the top band in Matanzas, as Valenzuela was in Havana. They often played together on big occasions.In 1883, for example, there was a double bill at the Teatro Tacón, where the two bands played alternatively all night. It was in 1883 that Valenzuela added a third segment to the two-part structure created by Faílde, so completing the danzón's musical form. By the mid-1880s the danzón had become so popular that both Faílde and Valenzuela created back-up bands so as to be able to play two venues on the same night.
During carnaval, danzón dancing became a 'kind of delirium'; in 1893 no fewer than 150 dances were announced for Havana's carnaval. "In Havana it is a scandal taking on more alarming proportions every day." Especially targeted for criticism were the cheap dance-halls called escuelitas. New dances have often drawn criticism, particularly when members of different races danced together. As early as 1879 we find "This dirty rhythm forced the dancers into obscene movements" "First we had the danza, then came the danzón... next it will be the rumba, and finally we'll all end up dancing ñáñigo!"
San Antonio de los Baños
San Antonio de los Baños is a municipality and city in the Artemisa Province of Cuba.It is located 26 km from the city of Havana, and the Ariguanabo River runs through it. The city was founded in 1802....
, 23 January 1848 – Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, 27 April 1905) was a leading Cuban trombonist, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
.
Life & career
Valenzuela studied music under his father, Lucas: he learnt pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
, percussion, but was first employed by Orquesta Flor de Cuba as a trombonist. He was playing for La Flor in the Alhambra theatre in Havana in 1869, when a group of Spanish anti-revolutionary volunteers attacked the theatre and its patrons. That night the theatre had been performing anti-colonial works for the benefit of rebels declaring Cuban independence, in what became known as the Ten Years' War
Ten Years' War
The Ten Years' War , also known as the Great War and the War of '68, began on October 10, 1868 when sugar mill owner Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and his followers proclaimed Cuba's independence from Spain...
.
He established his band from the remains of Flor de Cuba after the death of its leader, Juan de Dios Alfonso
Juan de Dios Alfonso
Juan de Dios Alfonso Armenteros , was a black Cuban band leader, composer and clarinetist...
. Like its forebear, the orchestra was a típica
Orquesta típica
Orquesta típica, or simply a típica, is a Latin-American term for a band which plays popular music. The details vary from country to country. The term tends to be used for groups of medium size in some well-defined instrumental set-up.- Argentina :In Argentina, a típica is a tango orchestra...
in format, based mostly on wind instruments. It was, like Flor de Cuba, the most popular típica of its day. Valenzuela's bands played everywhere in Havana. They played for balls, the theatre, carnavals, and for all racial groups and all levels of society.
Raimundo contributed financially and personally to the development of the Cuban War of Independence
Cuban War of Independence
Cuban War of Independence was the last of three liberation wars that Cuba fought against Spain, the other two being the Ten Years' War and the Little War...
in 1895. When Raimundo died in 1905, his brother Pablo Valenzuela
Pablo Valenzuela
José Pablo Valenzuela García was a leading Cuban cornetist, composer and bandleader. After taking his first lessons in music under his father Lucas, Pablo moved to Havana. There he first joined the orchestra of Manuel Espinosa, before joining La Flor de Cuba, the leading band of the day...
became Director of the orchestra.
Valenzuela's compositions were mostly danzones, such as El negro bueno, María Belen, Los empleados de Tacón; and the zarzuela
Zarzuela
Zarzuela is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter incorporating operatic and popular song, as well as dance...
La mulata María.
The era of danzón
The danzón developed first in MatanzasMatanzas
Matanzas is the capital of the Cuban province of Matanzas. It is famed for its poets, culture, and Afro-Cuban folklore.It is located on the northern shore of the island of Cuba, on the Bay of Matanzas , east of the capital Havana and west of the resort town of Varadero.Matanzas is called the...
and Havana. The second phase of its evolution had been started by Miguel Faílde
Miguel Faílde
Miguel Faílde Pérez , was a Cuban musician and bandleader. He was the official originator of the danzón, and the founder of the Orquesta Faílde....
, who was a close friend of Valenzuela. Faíde's was the top band in Matanzas, as Valenzuela was in Havana. They often played together on big occasions.In 1883, for example, there was a double bill at the Teatro Tacón, where the two bands played alternatively all night. It was in 1883 that Valenzuela added a third segment to the two-part structure created by Faílde, so completing the danzón's musical form. By the mid-1880s the danzón had become so popular that both Faílde and Valenzuela created back-up bands so as to be able to play two venues on the same night.
During carnaval, danzón dancing became a 'kind of delirium'; in 1893 no fewer than 150 dances were announced for Havana's carnaval. "In Havana it is a scandal taking on more alarming proportions every day." Especially targeted for criticism were the cheap dance-halls called escuelitas. New dances have often drawn criticism, particularly when members of different races danced together. As early as 1879 we find "This dirty rhythm forced the dancers into obscene movements" "First we had the danza, then came the danzón... next it will be the rumba, and finally we'll all end up dancing ñáñigo!"