Rafael Godoy
Encyclopedia
Rafael Godoy was a well-known Colombia
n composer
born in Natagaima
, Tolima.
From a young age, he was linked to the trade-union movement in Barrancabermeja
, Santander
, from where he had to emigrate when his personal security was threatened. He fled to Venezuela
, where he developed his musical career and composed what are often taken to be his best musical pieces.
His most widely known, and possibly best song, is the bambuco
"Soy colombiano" (I'm Colombian); he composed many other less-known bambucos and andean
music songs, such as "Arrunchaditos", "Pasito", "Mi cafetal", "Canto a Colombia", "Tierra caliente" and many others.
Many versions of "Soy colombiano" have appeared since it was composed, even a vallenato
version by Lisandro Meza, although the most popular version is the one from the Tolimense folk music duet
Garzón y Collazos.
Rafael Godoy died in Caracas
, Venezuela, on March 14, 1973.
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n 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...
born in Natagaima
Natagaima
Natagaima is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia, on the shore of the Magdalena River, at 326 meters over the sea level. The population of the municipality was 21,324 as of the 1993 census, and its average temperature is 26 degrees celsius...
, Tolima.
From a young age, he was linked to the trade-union movement in Barrancabermeja
Barrancabermeja
Barrancabermeja is a city and municipality in Santander Department, in northeastern Colombia. It is located on the banks of the Magdalena River in the Middle Magdalena region, 110 km west of Bucaramanga. Founded in 1536, Barrancabermeja is home of the biggest petroleum refinery in Colombia,...
, Santander
Santander Department
Santander is a department of Colombia. Santander inherited the name of one of the nine original states of the United States of Colombia. It is located in the central northern part of the country, east of the Magdalena River, bordered to the south and southeast by Boyacá, to the northeast by Norte...
, from where he had to emigrate when his personal security was threatened. He fled to 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...
, where he developed his musical career and composed what are often taken to be his best musical pieces.
His most widely known, and possibly best song, is the bambuco
Bambuco
Bambuco is a traditional music genre originated from Colombia. It has a beat structure similar to the European waltz or polska...
"Soy colombiano" (I'm Colombian); he composed many other less-known bambucos and andean
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
music songs, such as "Arrunchaditos", "Pasito", "Mi cafetal", "Canto a Colombia", "Tierra caliente" and many others.
Many versions of "Soy colombiano" have appeared since it was composed, even a vallenato
Vallenato
Vallenato, along with cumbia, is currently a popular folk music of Colombia. It primarily comes from the Colombia's Caribbean region. Vallenato literally means "born in the valley". The valley influencing this name is located between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Serranía de Perijá in...
version by Lisandro Meza, although the most popular version is the one from the Tolimense folk music duet
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
Garzón y Collazos.
Rafael Godoy died in 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...
, Venezuela, on March 14, 1973.
External links
- a brief history of Godoy's life and works (in SpanishSpanish languageSpanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
)