José Antonio Rodríguez Ferrer

One of the most positive Cuban musical figures due to the depth of his art and the exuberance of his artistic resources.

He was born in Havana. He began his music studies at 8 years of age, under the guidance of his father, who taught him solfège, flute, clarinet, and the rudiments of harmony and under the efficient direction of Tomás de la Rosa, a renowned professor of the time, he acquires knowledge of violin.

The study of composition, after six months of instruction in counterpoint with the organist master, composer and band director, Felipe Palau, his father, he continues alone, drawing on the sources of the Spanish and Italian schools and guided effectively by the extraordinary power of his natural musicality.

In his compositions one observes the procedure of combining traditional harmonious practices with the tendencies of the new schools and, very singularly a constant yearning to unravel new forms and unsuspected sound combinations within rhythmic and tonal principles.

From twelve years of age he begins to write various works for orchestra and band, which, by mandate of his artistic conscience, he destroys later, upon finding himself strengthened with greater and broader knowledge.

In 1884, marks with feeble character the first artistic triumph of this illustrious Cuban composer, who then composes his first contrapuntal work –thematic "Concert March", in ternary time, premiered with extraordinary success by the famous "Banda de Música del Regimiento de Ingenieros de la Habana", in August of that year. This work, praised by masters of the caliber of Antonio de La Rubia, Juan Brocchi, and Modesto Julián, gives at that time great reputation to the novel Havana composer. Years after its conception, the piece resists gracefully the influence of the creations of other modern authors of worldwide fame that in 1928 appear on the scene.

Among his greatest triumphs are those achieved at the Floral Games celebrated in May 1908, winning the only music prize with his military march for large band titled "Martí" and the no less renowned in the contest of the National Academy of Arts and Letters, in October 1917 in which he gloriously conquers two prizes, the first with his "Thematic Prelude" for symphonic orchestra and the second for his "Fantasy in the form of Overture", for large band.

In his work he holds the positions of director of Spanish provincial Choral societies; music professor at the official school "Luz y Caballero", professor of solfège and theory at the National Conservatory of Mr. Hubert de Blanck, band director of the Casa de Beneficencia y Maternidad de La Habana and others.

He died on October 22, 1935.

List of most notable works

"Expansion and harmonization" for orchestra and band of the melody of the "Himno de Bayazo",
"Grand Triumphal March" for large band, tribute to the Cuban Flag
"Martí", military march for large band, tribute to the memory of José Martí
"Maceo" solemn march for large band, in tribute to the memory of Lieutenant General Antonio Maceo
"Presidential March" for large band
"La Estrella" concert march for large band.
"Thematic Prelude", for large orchestra
"Fantasy in the form of Overture" for large orchestra and large band.
"Elegiac Suite", for large band, in tribute to Ms. Ana Aguado de Tomás.
"Cubanas" Concert Dances, in ternary time for piano, employing the fugal genre, original form and style of the author.
"Grand Cantata to Columbus", for tenor bass, choirs and orchestra.