Ángel Rafael Gómez Mayea

Composer, troubadour, and interpreter of troubadour melodies. He was a flutist and clarinetist with the Municipal Band of Music of Sancti Spíritus; he also played the timpani, accordion, double bass, and bandurria.

He was founder of the first French charanga of Sancti Spíritus. He was creator of the song "Pensamiento" recognized throughout the entire world. He is considered a faithful representative of Trova Espirituana.

Son of a humble family. From a young age he began to take an interest in music, and studied music theory and solfege with José Solá; later he expanded his studies with José Manuel Zamora, Gustavo Quirós, Joaquín Flores, and Francisco Valle (Iznaga), and guitar with Juan Echemendía. In the same way, he showed interest in the flute and clarinet, becoming part of the Municipal Band of Music of Sancti Spíritus as a flutist and clarinetist; he also played timpani, accordion, double bass, and bandurria.

As an instrumentalist, he was part of the groups Los Líricos, Orquesta Clave de Oro, Coro de Rumba Santa Lucía, Juan Clave, Coro de Clave Jesús María, and the Trío Pensamiento, with Arístides Castañeda and Miguel Companioni (son).

He was a member of the Philharmonic Society. He performed in duos with Marcial Benítez, Jaime Martín, and Eugenio Ponte.

In 1918, Rita Montaner and Eusebio Delfín recorded for RCA Victor, with accompaniment from the orchestra of Eduardo Sánchez de Fuentes, Pensamiento, by Teofilito.

With Miguel Companioni as pianist, he founded the first French charanga of Sancti Spíritus. As a creator, he ventured into nearly all variants of popular songwriting: song, bolero, waltz, danzón, danzonete, paso doble, cuadro piece, conga, and music for the theater.

Works
Ave canora, Diamela, Es imposible, Jilguerito, Helo aquí, La clave del director, La mariposa, La verbena, Preludia mi lira, Romántica, Suena, lira mía, Ven a mis lares, Volvieron ya, keys; Solo por ti, 1906; Ayer pensando en ti, Deja que me ilumine, Esfuerzos nulos, Me olvidaste, No sé por qué, ¡Oh!, qué dura es la vida, Pienso en ti, Temo el olvido, Y en tu rostro, Yo no sabía, 1908, boleros; Pensamiento, Si lograra olvidarte, Si volvieras a mí, 1915, songs; Jilguerito, waltz; Anillos de la mano, Princesita, Si volvieras a mí, criollas; A Trinidad, Hermano and Camisa azul, guarachas; RCA Victor, montuno; Mi pobre barca, barcarola; Nenita, danzón (orchestrated by Antonio María Romeu); La Tricontinental and Marcha fúnebre, marches; Eloína, melodramatic musical piece; Historia o Motivo de Pensamiento.