Laura Inclán Narbona

Among the losses to Cuban culture in the final stretch of 2021, there was one that touched creators and concert music enthusiasts deeply: Laura Inclán Narbona on December 21st.

With her warm, communicative and cordial voice, pedagogically convincing but without scholarly pretensions, rather like a friend who shares knowledge and invites us to broaden spiritual horizons, she served for many years, since 1976, on Radio Musical Nacional CMBF, particularly in two spaces born from her initiative, Hoy en la música and Festival. She also worked at Habana Radio, a station under the Office of the Historian of the City of La Habana.

Musical anniversaries were pretexts for transmitting profiles and values of authors and relevant events in the history of music. With particular emphasis, she always paid tribute to Cuban composers, performers and milestones.

In the station's sound archive, substantive interventions are treasured that should never be erased or cease to be broadcast at appropriate times. The direction of the station saw fit, for example, to re-air the magnificent commentary on the work and historical significance of Esteban Salas, on the occasion of the 296th anniversary of the birth of the first Cuban composer with recognized work, last December 25th.

Laura was born in Santa Clara in 1950 and very early discovered her passion for music. She studied piano at the Municipal Conservatory of La Habana, later named Amadeo Roldán, where she had a magnificent teacher, Margot Rojas, a pedagogue of exceptional merit, and later for more than one academic year at the National School of Art. On one occasion she commented about the teacher: "Margot taught much more than instrument technique; she cultivated your ear, your sensitivity, your way of understanding music taking contexts into account. She formed artists and human beings."

Laura's cultural interests led her to enroll in a Bachelor's degree in Letters and Hispanic-American Literature at the University of La Habana.

In her work life she spent two years as a pianist with the National Symphonic Orchestra, approximately in 1970, substituting none other than Master Pura Ortiz, who at that time was experiencing health problems. Later she worked in the group Ocuje, under the direction of Roberto Blanco, as well as in some recordings requested from her for the Recording and Musical Editions Company (EGREM), while working as a pianist in the National Symphonic Orchestra and the Instrumental Ensemble Nuestro Tiempo, founded by master Manuel Duchesne Cuzán.

During her time at the Symphonic Orchestra, she met Maruja Sánchez, a violinist and researcher; between the two of them they undertook the task of writing a fundamental book, Orquesta Filarmónica de La Habana: memoria 1924–1959.

A grateful woman, she never forgot that her entry into radio was due to the notable composer Calixto Álvarez, who in the mid-1970s collaborated with CMBF and required someone qualified and willing, like Laura, to share responsibilities in writing scripts, so that he could have more time for teaching and personal work. It was as if she had discovered her true calling.

She began working at CMBF as an advisor. Shortly after, in 1976, she began her work as a radio broadcaster and remembers that one of the first programs she made was dedicated to Master Harold Gramatges' 60th anniversary, with whom she shared a great friendship. Thus, as someone knowledgeable about such an eminent musician, she began to write about him, prepared musical production and created a series dedicated to Gramatges that lasted an entire week. She confesses that at that time she had no experience in this work, so she became a radio broadcaster empirically; she appealed to logic and based on her extensive musical knowledge was able to perfect her work.

When recalling her, Master Juan Piñera, National Radio Prize winner, said that it seemed to him that a title like the one he possesses would have been deserved by Laura. Beyond the fact that he is right, the best way to pay the debt contracted with Laura Inclán Narbona passes through the continuity of her work in the daily work of radio broadcasters committed to promoting concert music in our country.

Laura Inclán Narbona speaks about music with full authority. Whenever I listen to her programs on CMBF Radio Musical Nacional or on Habana Radio, I perceive confidence in someone who knows everything she expresses.

In each commentary I glimpse that characteristic intonation and diction of hers, which imprint an air of undoubted certainty. When referring to symphonic music, she evidences the dignity of a teaching. Her clear voice transmits pleasant pedagogy.

This Cuban radio broadcaster whose motto is excellence did not reach this pinnacle through improvisation. Behind her natural ability to communicate her extensive musical knowledge lie years of study and consistent practice of musical work.

Curiously she is not a news announcer; rather she is evaluated as a speaker, but endowed with a grace and charm that is only possible when it comes from someone who enjoys such a talented wealth as she does. Grateful and humble, she does not forget the gratitude she owes to many of her teachers and professors, particularly Master Ángel Vázquez Millares who gave her so much support.

Laura Inclán Narbona lives what she says, for what she expresses and teaches in her music commentaries reflects part of her life. Laura on the Radio, more than giving, delivers herself fully. That is her greatest merit.