Ignacio Figueredo
Encyclopedia
Ignacio Ventura Figueredo (Algarrobito, Apure
, July 31, 1899 - San Fernando de Apure
, September 3, 1995), was a Venezuela
n folk musician and harpist.
. The name Gabán refers to the Wood Stork
. This composition arose during a long party in the house of Antonio Laya. During those years, he composed his best know works; pieces such as Las Tres Damas ("The 3 Ladies"), Guayabo Negro (the common name in Venezuela for Hamelia axillaris), Verdún, Guachamarón (an old Country expressión meaning "Rudely Daring") and La Periquera (another basic Joropo form, later also called Quirpa). One of his most famous pieces, dedicated to Maria Laya, a lady he met at a party, has been included in the old instruction books for the cuatro
and recorded by Figueredo, with singer Ángel Custodio Loyola
.
, Reinaldo Espinoza Hernandez and Antonio Estévez
, heard him during a presentation in Achaguas, and decided to take him to Caracas where he astonished and captivated the public with his skills in the execution of the harp
. From then he began to be called "Indio Figueredo" (i.e. "The Indian Figueredo"). In the 1950s he made numerous presentations in different national stages and radio. Also by this time, Figueredo taught his art to several musicians in The Caracas Music Academy, among them José Ángel Hurtado, Tomasito Estiel, Amado Lovera and José Enrique "Chelique" Sarabia
.
containing instrumental pieces, was produced by Arturo Serfarty in 1952. Another LP was released in the occasion of the 400th anniversary of Caracas
in 1967, featuring 12 of his better known compositions. An album of 2 discs was produced by Oswaldo Lares in 1969 in which several of their children and other musicians take part. In 1970 the film director Luis Armando Roche made a short film about his life. In 1975 the artists Morella Muñoz
, Simón Díaz
, Magdalena Sánchez
and Anselmo López paid a tribute to him in a large concert hall in Caracas, in which Figueredo played his more important pieces. In 1990 the National Commission of the Bicentennial of General Jose Antonio Páez paid recognition to him and his work in an act presided by then-president of Venezuela Luis Herrera Campins
. Among the artists who have performed and recorded pieces by Ignacio Figueredo are: Ángel Custodio Loyola
, Adilia Castillo, El Carrao de Palmarito, Simón Diaz, Quinteto Cantaclaro, Hugo Blanco, Lilia Vera, Lila Morillo
, Juan Galea, El Cuarteto, Cecilia Todd
and Anselmo López. Caroní Editores, a publisher of sheet music based in Europe, has recently released a set of books of sheet music, containing several of Figueredo's pieces arranged for the Classical Guitar
by Alirio Diaz
.
Apure
Apure State is one of the 23 states into which Venezuela is divided. Its territory formed part of the provinces of Mérida, Maracaibo, and Barinas, in accordance with successive territorial ordinations pronounced by the colonial authorities. In 1824 the Department of Apure was created, under...
, July 31, 1899 - San Fernando de Apure
San Fernando de Apure
San Fernando de Apure is a city in Apure State in Venezuela. The population of the municipality area is 175,056 . The 18th century exports included heron feathers and animal hides....
, September 3, 1995), was a Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n folk musician and harpist.
His early successes
At age 11 he made his first public presentations in San Juan de Payara. In 1914 he began to acquire notoriety by his early compositions, such as El Gabán, a registry of one of the basic forms of the Venezuelan JoropoJoropo
The Joropo is a musical style resembling the waltz, and an accompanying dance, having African and European influences originated in Venezuela and performed in Colombia and Venezuela. It's a fundamental genre belonging to its typical music or música criolla...
. The name Gabán refers to the Wood Stork
Wood Stork
The Wood Stork is a large American wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It was formerly called the "Wood Ibis", though it is not really an ibis.-Appearance:...
. This composition arose during a long party in the house of Antonio Laya. During those years, he composed his best know works; pieces such as Las Tres Damas ("The 3 Ladies"), Guayabo Negro (the common name in Venezuela for Hamelia axillaris), Verdún, Guachamarón (an old Country expressión meaning "Rudely Daring") and La Periquera (another basic Joropo form, later also called Quirpa). One of his most famous pieces, dedicated to Maria Laya, a lady he met at a party, has been included in the old instruction books for the cuatro
Cuatro (instrument)
The cuatro is any of several Latin American instruments of the guitar or lute family. The cuatro is smaller than a guitar. Cuatro means four in Spanish, although current instruments may have more than four strings....
and recorded by Figueredo, with singer Ángel Custodio Loyola
Ángel Custodio Loyola
Ángel Custodio Loyola , was a Venezuelan singer and composer, better known for being pioneering at the diffusion of joropo and the popular music of the Venezuelan plains, also for being defender of the country’s folklore, and his work for the masification of Venezuelan music, popularizing and being...
.
Triumph in the Capital
In 1935 he married Mercedes Castillo, They had 11 children. In 1949, Fredy ReynaFredy Reyna
Fredy Reyna was a Venezuelan musician, arranger and performer, regarded as the undisputed master of the Venezuelan cuatro, which he elevated to the level of a concert instrument, and one of his country's most important cultural figures in the 20th century.- Early life :Fredy Reyna was born in...
, Reinaldo Espinoza Hernandez and Antonio Estévez
Antonio Estévez
Antonio Estévez Aponte , was a Venezuelan musician, composer, and conductor, and founder of the Central University of Venezuela Chorus.Estévez was born to Mariano Estévez and Carmen Aponte...
, heard him during a presentation in Achaguas, and decided to take him to Caracas where he astonished and captivated the public with his skills in the execution of the harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
. From then he began to be called "Indio Figueredo" (i.e. "The Indian Figueredo"). In the 1950s he made numerous presentations in different national stages and radio. Also by this time, Figueredo taught his art to several musicians in The Caracas Music Academy, among them José Ángel Hurtado, Tomasito Estiel, Amado Lovera and José Enrique "Chelique" Sarabia
José Enrique Sarabia
José Enrique “Chelique” Sarabia, is a Venezuelan poet, musician, publicist, and television producer....
.
The performer/the composer
As composer he authored 400 pieces, most of them have been recorded and released. A very successful LP recordGramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
containing instrumental pieces, was produced by Arturo Serfarty in 1952. Another LP was released in the occasion of the 400th anniversary of Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
in 1967, featuring 12 of his better known compositions. An album of 2 discs was produced by Oswaldo Lares in 1969 in which several of their children and other musicians take part. In 1970 the film director Luis Armando Roche made a short film about his life. In 1975 the artists Morella Muñoz
Morella Muñoz
Morella Muñoz , was a celebrated Venezuelan mezzosoprano.- Early life and career :She received primary education at the Venezuela Ricardo Zuloaga Experimental school, and the San José de Tarbes school...
, Simón Díaz
Simón Díaz
Simón Narciso Díaz Márquez is a singer and Grammy Award winning composer of Venezuelan music.- Career :Díaz has endeavored to recover the folklore and musical traditions of the llanos, the Venezuelan plains...
, Magdalena Sánchez
Magdalena Sánchez
Magdalena Sánchez, was a Venezuelan singer, better known like the Queen of the Venezuelan song.- Early career :...
and Anselmo López paid a tribute to him in a large concert hall in Caracas, in which Figueredo played his more important pieces. In 1990 the National Commission of the Bicentennial of General Jose Antonio Páez paid recognition to him and his work in an act presided by then-president of Venezuela Luis Herrera Campins
Luis Herrera Campins
Luis Antonio Herrera Campins was President of Venezuela from 1979 to 1984. He was elected to one five-year term in 1978. He was a member of the COPEI party.- Early Life and career:...
. Among the artists who have performed and recorded pieces by Ignacio Figueredo are: Ángel Custodio Loyola
Ángel Custodio Loyola
Ángel Custodio Loyola , was a Venezuelan singer and composer, better known for being pioneering at the diffusion of joropo and the popular music of the Venezuelan plains, also for being defender of the country’s folklore, and his work for the masification of Venezuelan music, popularizing and being...
, Adilia Castillo, El Carrao de Palmarito, Simón Diaz, Quinteto Cantaclaro, Hugo Blanco, Lilia Vera, Lila Morillo
Lila Morillo
Lila Morillo is a Venezuelan actress and singer.Morillo was born in Maracaibo. She moved to Caracas, to pursue her career in acting. At a young age, she met José Luis Rodríguez "El Puma", who became a singer and actor himself. In 1964, Morillo made her acting debut in Isla de sal...
, Juan Galea, El Cuarteto, Cecilia Todd
Cecilia Todd
Cecilia Todd is a singer and cuatro executant.From very young the love of music, initially fed by her family group, awakened in Cecilia...
and Anselmo López. Caroní Editores, a publisher of sheet music based in Europe, has recently released a set of books of sheet music, containing several of Figueredo's pieces arranged for the Classical Guitar
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
by Alirio Diaz
Alirio Diaz
Alirio Díaz is a Venezuelan classical guitarist.The eighth of eleven children, Díaz was born in Caserio La Candelaria, a small village near Carora in western Venezuela. From childhood he showed a great interest in music. At age 16 he ran away from home to Carora, where he sought better schooling...
.
See also
- International Jose Guillermo Carrillo Foundation
- VenezuelaVenezuelaVenezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
- Venezuelan music