Antonio Lauro

Born August 3, 1917, Antonio Lauro was a guitarist and composer of orchestra, choir, piano, and voice pieces, although many of these have yet to be published.  Lauro came from a musical family, as his father also played the guitar and sang.  He began his musical education at the Caracas Conservatory studying piano, but switched focus to classical guitar after attending a concert of and being inspired by famed Paraguayan guitarist, Agustín Barrios.  From this point, Lauro became the first Venezuelan to formally study classical guitar.  He went on to complete his formal education at the Academy of Music and Declamation, where he was taught by high caliber Venezuelan musicians and learned various other instruments including the horn, cello, double bass and organ.

Antonio Lauro is most revered for his contribution of valses Venezolanos, or Venezuelan waltzes, as his repertoire continues to inspire new musicians.  He began composing valses in 1938, at a time when the genre was dominated by piano arrangements.  Lauro’s inspiration for this direction stemmed from his admiration of the valses of Venezuelan pianist, Evencio Castellanos. 

Lauro both performed and taught music throughout his life.  In addition to the various teaching positions he held, Lauro acted as the president of the Venezuelan Symphony Orchestra for a period.  The concept of national heritage as expressed through music framed much of these endeavors.  When he played as part of the folk music trio, Los Cantores del Trópico, there was a direct emphasis traveling to neighboring countries for the purpose of introducing Venezuelan musical traditions.  He performed with the country’s first mixed choir, Orfeón Lamas, founded in part by Moisés Moleiro, another integral figure in Venezuelan musical traditions.  Lauro was imprisoned from 1951-1952 by the government of General Marcos Perez Jimenez for his democratic ideals.  He continued to compose during this time, and joined the influential professional guitar trio, Trio Raúl Borges, following his release from prison.  Additionally, Lauro conducted a solo tour, which brought him from Venezuela to London.

Antonio Lauro contributed to the musical history of Venezuela through his mastery of classical guitar and his passion for musical education.  Liceo Fermín Toro, Liceo Luis Razetti, and the Escuela Normal Gran Colombia are among the collections choirs founded and directed by Lauro.  In 1948 and 1959, he was the recipient of the Premio Oficial de Música, a musical prize awarded for his compositions.  Shortly before his death on August, 18 1985, Lauro also awarded the Premio Nacional de Música, which is the highest musical acknowledgement in the country.

Discography:

(Large collections of contemporary artists continue to perform and record Antonio Lauro’s compositions.  The following selections are those that feature solely Lauro’s work, as his pieces frequently appear on countless collections of Venezuelan and South American musical compilations).

2000

Antonio Lauro:  Venezuelan Waltzes for Guitar

Performed by Adam Holzman

2006

Música de Antonio Lauro

Performed by Carlos Perez

2007

Antonio Lauro:  Guitar Music 2

Performed by Victor Villadangos

2011 (released date)

Antonio Lauro:  Suite de Valses

Performed by Antonio Lauro & Orquesta Sinfonica de Madrid

Notable valses:

Natalia (1939)

Tatiana (1939)

Andreina (1939)

Yacambú (1939)

Angostura (1968)

Maria Luisa (1968)

Work Cited
References
http://uboston.naxosmusiclibrary.com.ezproxy.lib.umb.edu/composer/btm.asp?composerid=21857
http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com.ezproxy.lib.umb.edu/subscriber/article/grove/music/43603?q=Antonio+Lauro&search=quick&pos=1&_start=1#firsthit
http://talentovenezolano.blogspot.com/2006/04/el-legado-de-antonio-lauro-sigue.html
http://www.cdbaby.com/Search/YW50b25pbyBsYXVybw%3d%3d/0
http://www.naxos.com/person/Antonio_Lauro_21857/21857.htm

Images
http://avaxhome.ws/music/fdez_latinamerican.html
http://www.last.fm/music/Antonio+Lauro/+images/60717499
http://www.amazon.com/Antonio-Lauro-Suite-de-Valses/dp/B005Q6DBAO
http://www.ariama.com/albums/antonio-lauro-guitar-music-2-(victor-villadangos-naxos-2007)
http://www.amazon.com/Musica-Antonio-Lauro-Carlos-Perez/dp/B000MDH60M
http://www.amazon.com/Lauro-Venezuelan-Waltzes-Guitar-Antonio/dp/B00004NK2H