José María Vitier and the exquisite lyricism of his music

January 21, 2020

Many follow him with permanent loyalty in each of his presentations in Cuba and on international stages, overflowing with emotions from his exquisite music always infused with fine poetry, achieving ecstasy with that lyricism that only the sensitivity of his inspiration promotes from the profound and intimate expression of his feelings or valuing his virtuosity in all its dimension simply by hearing his name: José María Vitier.

They know it as the fruit of a fertile lineage of intellectuals and artists of recognized prestige, of profound cultural roots and ethical expressions, from which he drank his musical vocation and his permanent spirit of self-improvement that has transcended through time, reaching the sublime maturity of his 66 years that he turned on January 7th.

As he himself has acknowledged, and for Cuba's good fortune, his destiny was to be a musician and he has been one with overflowing quality in his facets as composer, pianist, and conductor. Few know of his beginnings with the Cuban group Síntesis in 1976 and that he later was the author of a notable musical piece of worldwide scope, named "Desde la aldea", with which the International Festival of New Latin American Cinema, celebrated in the country every December, has identified itself since 1990 to the present. Everyone remembers those instrumental compositions from the television series "En silencio ha tenido que ser", which have transcended to the present with the same force with which they were created.

As a versatile and authentically Cuban musician, he has written music for different media such as television, theater, cinema, radio and for many instruments, which transcend through their broad spectrum the influence of rock, jazz and folk song, as well as a creative assimilation of the European classical tradition of which he has made a show. More than 60 cinematographic productions bear his distinctive musical signature and he has been widely awarded at festivals and international events, also linked to his skill as a pianist.

His musical work throughout his lifetime, his high artistic merits and contributions to culture have earned him important recognitions at the national level, among which stand out the Distinction for National Culture in 1988 and the Alejo Carpentier Medal in 1998, both awarded by the Ministry of Culture of Cuba; the Félix Varela Order, the highest distinction granted by the Council of State, as well as the Diploma for Artistic Merit conferred by the Higher Institute of Art.

In his vast discographic work his followers treasure many of his most well-known and outstanding musical creations, which have also been awarded on several occasions by the Recording and Musical Editions Company (Egrem), and the Cuban International Music Fair Cubadisco, where the cultured and the popular unite in perfect harmony.

Vitier is a passionate lover of the poetry that he creates and that throughout his life he received from José Lezama Lima, from his parents Fina García Marruz and Cintio Vitier, from his uncle Eliseo Diego; in addition to Octavio Smith, Samuel Feijóo and Cleva Solís who were great friends of the family and outstanding poets. He has always enjoyed listening to good music, from yesterday and today, among which he prefers those performed by Benny Moré and Bola de Nieve.

Cuba is for Vitier an inexhaustible source of inspiration and always will be, because on this land, alongside his loved ones, he has decided to anchor his roots and musical inspirations of wide range and to leave to future generations a solid and lasting musical work that endures through time, as an effective and ennobling way of communicating.

To the delight of all those who love his creations, he himself acknowledges that he "still has much music left to write", which by all accounts is a good prognosis for the present and future melodious Cuban future, infused with his simplicity and talent.