Hispanic and Latinx Composers You Should Know

Hispanic and Latinx Composers You Should Know

Though Western classical music is made up of works that were primarily written by European men (and very few European women), there are many talented Hispanic and Latinx composers that shaped the way we know modern music today. 

With unique artistic voices and perspectives, they blended folk, classic, and other genres to create a one-of-a-kind style that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. 

Without further ado, let’s dive in and take a look at five Hispanic and Latinx composers you should know!

Gabriela Montero (1970- )

Montero is one of the greatest concert pianists in Venezuelan history, known for her lively concerts where she would make up songs on the spot based on suggested audience themes. She has always been very outspoken about the Venezuelan government, spending her time protesting and fighting for civil rights when not writing or performing.

Montero still spends most of her time playing in major orchestras and touring around the world. At Barack Obama’s first inauguration, she joined clarinetist Anthony McGill, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and violinist Itzhak Perlman for a John Williams arrangement of Air and Gifts.

Agustín Barrios Mangoré (1885-1944)

Agustín Barrios Mangoré was a standout in the world of classical guitar. He grew up in Paraguay as a descendant of the Guarani, an indigenous tribe in the region. He soon became one of the country’s most prolific guitar players and a well-respected guitar teacher. 

It’s difficult to pinpoint the sound of Agustín Barrios Mangoré, as he had so many influences in his music, including folk, religious, classical, and Baroque. When his illustrious touring career ended, he settled down in El Salvador, teaching twelve students who would go on to play professionally and continue paving out his legacy. 

Throughout his lifetime, he composed more than 300 songs. He had a unique method of writing lyrics before he would write the accompaniment on guitar. He was also famed for his phenomenal performances, which were influenced by Central American and South American folk music.

Sergio Assad (1952- )

Sergio Assad is a Brazilian composer and guitarist who began arranging on his instrument when he was just a boy. He had many influences in his music, arranging in classical and contemporary realms in different regions, including Europe, Latin America, and America. 

He often played with his brother, Odair Assad, as well as his daughter Clarice, who would go on to become a nationally award-winning vocalist, composer, pianist, and teacher. 

Over the past two decades, Assad spent a good portion of his life concentrating his efforts on building a guitar duo repertoire. There are now more than 300 arrangements under his belt in this realm.

Today, he is part of the San Francisco Conservatory faculty. 

Roberto Sierra (1953 - )

Sierra was born in Puerto Rico and became a professor of composition at Cornell University. He studied with György Ligeti at a young age, which was a major influence on his award-winning compositions. 

Sierra’s works have been performed all around the world, including everything from chamber music to orchestral pieces to a bongo concerto. 

In 2006, Sierra’s Missa Latina was performed for its debut at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. According to the Washington Times, it was “the most significant symphonic premiere in the District since the late Benjamin Britten's War Requiem was first performed in the Washington National Cathedral in the late 1960s.”

Cacilda Borges Barbosa (1914-2010)

Cacilda Borges Barbosa was born and raised in Rio De Janeiro and entered the National Institute of Music when she was very young. At 16 years old, she began working with Heitor Villa-Lobos, one of the country’s most prestigious composers, bringing music education into elementary schools. 

While Barbosa was known for many things, she was best known for her unique method of notating choreography with music. This method was known as Ritmoplastia, otherwise referred to as the “study of rhythm.”

She worked with choreographer Clara Semeles, devising an innovative notation system that combined rhythmic and musical symbols to represent gestures of the body. The idea of creating this system was to preserve ancient folk dances. 

Enjoy The Music Of Hispanic and Latinx Culture

Today, we urge you to take some time and listen to the works of these extremely talented and underrepresented composers, as they are some of the most fantastic and inspiring works in musical history.