Ernestina Lecuona Casado
Encyclopedia
Ernestina Lecuona y Casado (16 January 1882 – 3 September 1951) was a Cuban pianist, music educator and composer.
into a musical family. Her brother was pianist and composer Ernesto Lecuona
and Leo Brouwer
was her grandson. She studied music at the Centro Asturiano de La Habana and with French teacher Lucía Calderón.
At the age of 15, Lecuona completed her first work Habanera Luisa, which was published widely in Cuba and Spain by Anselmo López in 1897. She gave early music lessons to her brother Ernesto, and in 1936 was invited to New York
by the Pan American Union, where she accompanied the Mexican tenor Tito Guizar
. She made contact with singer Jessica Dragonette
, who added some of Lecuona's works to her repertoire.
In 1937 she founded a women's orchestra in Cuba, which debuted at the Teatro Alkazar, and in 1938 performed in concerts at the National Theatre. In 1939 she toured Mexico, Chile and Argentina and in 1940-42 traveled to South America again. She traveled with her brother on tour, and sometimes played with him as a duo for four hands at radio stations and concert venues including Carnegie Hall
in 1948. She died in Havana.
Life
Ernestina Lecuona y Casado was born 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...
into a musical family. Her brother was pianist and composer Ernesto Lecuona
Ernesto Lecuona
Ernesto Lecuona y Casado was a Cuban composer and pianist of Canarian father and Cuban mother, and worldwide fame. He composed over six hundred pieces, mostly in the Cuban vein, and was a pianist of exceptional quality....
and Leo Brouwer
Leo Brouwer
Juan Leovigildo Brouwer Mezquida is a Cuban composer, conductor and guitarist. He is the grandson of Cuban composer Ernestina Lecuona Casado.-Biography:...
was her grandson. She studied music at the Centro Asturiano de La Habana and with French teacher Lucía Calderón.
At the age of 15, Lecuona completed her first work Habanera Luisa, which was published widely in Cuba and Spain by Anselmo López in 1897. She gave early music lessons to her brother Ernesto, and in 1936 was invited to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
by the Pan American Union, where she accompanied the Mexican tenor Tito Guizar
Tito Guízar
Federico Arturo Guízar Tolentino was a Mexican singer and actor. He was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico....
. She made contact with singer Jessica Dragonette
Jessica Dragonette
Jessica Dragonette was a singer who became popular on American radio and was active in the World War II effort.-Early life and career:...
, who added some of Lecuona's works to her repertoire.
In 1937 she founded a women's orchestra in Cuba, which debuted at the Teatro Alkazar, and in 1938 performed in concerts at the National Theatre. In 1939 she toured Mexico, Chile and Argentina and in 1940-42 traveled to South America again. She traveled with her brother on tour, and sometimes played with him as a duo for four hands at radio stations and concert venues including Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in 1948. She died in Havana.
Works
Selected works include:- Bolero
- Amarte es mi destino
- Anhelo besarte
- Mi sueño eres tú
- Mi vida es soñar
- No lo dudes
- ¿Por qué me dejaste?
- Te has cansado de mi amor
- ú serás en mis noches
- Tus besos de pasión
- Ya que te vas
- Canción-bolero
- Ahora que eres mío
- Te has cansado de mi amor
- Canción