Enrique Peña Sánchez (17 July 1880 – 13 April 1922) was a leading

Cuban Cuban may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Cuba, a country in the Caribbean * Cubans, people from Cuba, or of Cuban descent ** Cuban exile, a person who left Cuba for political reasons, or a descendant thereof * Cuban citizen, a perso ...

cornet player, orchestra leader and composer.

Biography

Born in

Puerto Padre Puerto Padre () is a municipality and town in the Las Tunas Province of Cuba. It is located on the northern coastal region of the province, in an estuary (''Estero El Españolito'') that opens into the Puerto Padre Bay. History Known popularly as ...

, a small town in the old province of Oriente, Peña studied with Marcos González and José Santos Betancourt. In 1902 he moved to Havana, and founded the band ''La Juventud'', with himself as director and cornet, Rogelio Solis (

double bass The double bass (), also known simply as the bass () (or by other names), is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed (or plucked) string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra (excluding unorthodox additions such as the octobass). Similar i ...

), Félix González ( ophicleide), José Belén Puig (first clarinet), José Urfé (second clarinet), José de los Reyes (

kettle drum Timpani (; ) or kettledrums (also informally called timps) are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum categorised as a hemispherical drum, they consist of a membrane called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionally ...

) and Rufino Cárdenas ( güiro). This band had several members who became well known; Puig went on to become a famous leader of his own charanga. The band functioned until 1906. His second band was called the ''

Orquesta típica Orquesta típica, or simply a típica, is a Latin American term for a band which plays popular music. The details vary from country to country. The term tends to be used for groups of medium size (about 8 to 12 musicians) in some well-defined in ...

de Enrique Peña''. Its line-up was Peña (cornet); Antonio González (trombone); Féliz González (figle); José Belén Puig (1st clarinet); José Urfé (2nd clarinet); Julián Barreto (violin); Alfredo Sáenz (violin); José de los Reyes (tympani); Rufino Cárdenas (güíro) and unknown (double bass). This orchestra became famous for being the first to play ''El bombín de Barreto'' (Barreto's bowler hat), written by Urfé, which was supposedly the first

danzón Danzón is the official musical genre and dance of Cuba.Urfé, Odilio 1965. ''El danzón''. La Habana. It is also an active musical form in Mexico and Puerto Rico. Written in time, the danzón is a slow, formal partner dance, requiring se ...

to incorporate a syncopated third part, influenced by the

son A son is a male offspring; a boy or a man in relation to his parents. The female counterpart is a daughter. From a biological perspective, a son constitutes a first degree relative. Social issues In pre-industrial societies and some current c ...

. The group recorded about 150 numbers, some of which are available on CD.Arhoolie/Folklyric CD 7032 ''The Cuban danzón: before there was jazz: 1905–1929'' presents three numbers. Peña was a prolific composer of danzones, amongst which are ''El ñáñigo'', ''El dengue'', ''El demonio de la negra'', ''La flor de Cuba'', ''Malabares'' and ''Edén concert''. He died in

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pena, Enrique 1880 births 1922 deaths Cuban composers Cuban male composers Cuban cornetists Cuban bandleaders Danzón musicians Danzón composers People from Puerto Padre Cuban male musicians

Biography

See also

References