Leo Brouwer

Leo Brouwer (born March 1, 1939) is a Cuban composer, guitarist and conductor.

Related Topics:
March 1 - 1939 - Cuban - Composer - Guitarist - Conductor

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Brouwer was born in Havana, and went to the United States to study music at the University of Hartford and later at the Juilliard School, where he was taught composition by Stefan Wolpe. Brouwer's early works show the influence of Cuban folk music, but during the 1960s and 70s, he became interested in the music of modernist composers such as Luigi Nono and Iannis Xenakis, using indeterminacy in works such as Sonograma I. Other works from this period include the guitar pieces Canticum (1968), La espiral eterna (1971), Parabola (1973) and Tarantos (1974). More recently, Brouwer's works have embraced traditional tonality, and even minimalism. The solo guitar works El Decameron Negro (1981) the Sonata (1990; for Julian Bream) and Paisaje cubano con campanas (1996) exemplify this tendency.

Related Topics:
Havana - United States - Music - Juilliard School - Stefan Wolpe - Modernist - Luigi Nono - Iannis Xenakis - Indeterminacy - Tonality - Minimalism - 1981 - 1990 - Julian Bream - 1996

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Brouwer has held a number of official posts in Cuba, including the directorship of the Cinema Institute of Cuba's music department. Among his works are a large number of solo guitar pieces, several guitar concertos and over forty film scores. The sixth of his Etudes Simples was quoted by heavy metal guitarist Randy Rhoads (when he was working with Ozzy Osbourne) as the introduction to the song "Diary of a Madman".

Related Topics:
Concerto - Film - Randy Rhoads - Ozzy Osbourne - Diary of a Madman

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Involved in the Concurso y Festival Internacional de Guitarra de la Habana.

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