Proyecto Cervantes
Ignacio Cervantes Kawanagh (1847 - 1905) was a Cuban pianist and composer, best known today for his collection of 41 short piano pieces which earned him the somewhat euro-centric moniker of
'The Cuban Chopin'.
The pieces reflect a typical dance form that emerged from nineteenth-century Cuba called the Danza or Contradanza. As this form travelled beyond its city of origin, it became known as 'La Habanera' (The Havana).
Typical of the Habanera / Contradanza are two interrelated rhythmic patterns, the tresillo (3+3+2) and the habanera (♪♩♪♩♩), which Jelly Roll Morton referred to as 'The Spanish Tinge' when applying its influence to his music in New Orleans in the early days of jazz. These rhythms are a constant presence in Cervantes' music.
I learned about these pieces at a time when I did not have regular access to a piano, so I set a project for myself to arrange the pieces for guitar instead. You can find the scores here (click the song titles or the score icons above to download), and video recordings of me playing them. I will gradually upload more as I get around to them. If you find yourself inspired to make your own recordings, I'd love to hear them!
Enjoy!
Sam