Danzas Cubanas

Ignacio Cervantes (Havana, Cuba,1847-1905) is one of the most important and most beloved Cuban composers of the nineteenth century. His Cuban Dances are based largely on Cuban popular culture, which is treated with elegance and refinement. Syncopated rhythms typical of Cuban music are ever present in his dances, as well as melodies full of charm and melancholy. The titles of his dances were often whimsical, as can be appreciated in these five dances I have chosen to transcribe: El Velorio (The Wake), La Celosa (The Jealous One), Mensaje (Message), Adiós a Cuba (Farewell to Cuba), and Los Tres Golpes (The Three Knocks). 

Cervantes was known to engage in melopoeia, a practice popular in the nineteenth century in which in the performer adds a spoken narrative to the music. These two examples for El Velorio and La Celosa give us an insight into Cervantes’ music:

The Wake:

-Poor Juan. He died and left the family in misery. Such a good boy, so honest. The wretch!...

-No way. Remember when he went to the Chorrera to eat chicken and rice with all those people...

-Oh, poor man! Don’t talk badly about him. He is dead. Hopefully God has forgiven him.

El Velorio:

-Pobre Juan. Cómo se ha muerto dejando a la familia en la miseria. Un muchacho tan bueno, tan honrado. ¡El infeliz!...

-¡Qué va! Acuérdate cuando se iba a La Chorrera a comer arroz con pollo con toda aquella gente...

-¡Ay, el pobre! No hablen mal de él. Ya se murió. Dios lo haya perdonado.

The Jealous One:

-It’s 4 in the morning and my husband is not back home! My father was right saying I should never have married him. He doesn’t love me anymore. I never would have believed it. But I can’t stand this any longer, when he gets home, I’ll tell him…

-Tell me! Where were you, huh?...

-Oh, honey! I went to hear “Faust.”

-“Faust” at this time of night?...

-Afterward, a couple of friends took me to the café. 

-Ah! The café, huh?...

-Oh, honey! It’s very hot and there are many mosquitoes. I’m totally worn out. Have a good night. I hope you rest. Bye…

La Celosa:

-Las 4 de la mañana, y mi marido no llega. ¡Bien me decia mi padre que no me casara con él! Su amor por mi ya no existe. Yo nunca lo hubiera creido. Pero esto no lo soporto, y en cuanto llegue se lo diré…

-¡Dime! ¿De dónde vienes, eh?...

-¡Ay, hija! Fui a oir el “Fausto”.

-¿El “Fausto” a estas horas?...

-Después unos amigos me llevaron al café.

-¡Ah! ¿El café, eh?...

-¡Ay, hija! Hay mucho calor; muchos mosquitos. Yo estoy muy estropeado. Muy buenas noches. Que tú descanses. Adiós…