María Teresa Vera

María Teresa Vera (Guanajay, February 6, 1895 – Havana, December 17, 1965) was a Cuban singer, guitarist and composer. She was an outstanding example of the Cuban trova movement.[1]

María Teresa Vera
María Teresa Vera with Rafael Zequeira in 1916
Background information
Birth nameMaría Teresa Vera
Born(1895-02-06)February 6, 1895
Guanajay
OriginGuanajay, Cuba
DiedDecember 17, 1965(1965-12-17) (aged 70)
Havana
GenresTrova
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, guitarist
Years active1911–1962
Associated actsRafael Zequeira, Lorenzo Hierrezuelo

Career

She started her career as a singer in 1911 in a theatre where she sang the criolla Mercedes of Manuel Corona. Her first guitar teacher was the cigar-roller José Díaz. Manuel Corona continued her musical education by explaining such things as the different methods for first and second guitar, and eventually taught her his compositions. That was without question of the greatest benefit to the young girl.

She formed a duo with Rafael Zequeira from 1916–1924, when he fell ill and died. They had made over a hundred recordings together in New York, most of which have not survived. Then she met Carlos Godinez, a composer, who taught her more about the guitar; the friendship lasted until his death in 1950.

She then formed the Sexteto Occidente in 1925 with Miguel García as first voice, clavé and Director (because he knew most about music), Ignacio Piñeiro on double bass, Julio Torres Biart on tres, Manuel Reinoso on bongo and Francisco Sánchez on maracas. They were a group of talented musicians who would have sparkling careers.[2]

She joined Lorenzo Hierrezuelo as a duet in 1935, and this duet lasted for 27 years. For much of this time Hierrezuelo ran his duo with Vera alongside his partnership with Compay Segundo (Francisco Repilado), as the duo Los Compadres.

One of her best compositions, the habanera Veinte años,[3] has been performed by a number of Cuban artists; Sólo pienso en ti, a bolero–son, is also well-known. In 1945 she was contracted to Circuito CMQ for the radio program Cosas de Ayer. In the 1950s, she appeared in the TV program El Casino de la Alegría and in the 1960s she received public tributes on her retirement in 1962.

Opinions of her

In his biography Jorge Calderón gives the opinions of 32 Cuban composers and musicians on her career. Silvio Rodríguez said of her:

"Her voice was without vibrato, dry; hitting the notes, only prolonging a note so as to slide from one tone to another, which gave [her voice] a grace, or, much better, a singular character . Her production seemed nonchalent, natural, colloquial... Always there were variations on the original melody, [since] she was always interpreting [the piece] creatively."

Pablo Milanés contented himself with saying "María Teresa is for me the embodiment of Cuban song."[4]

María Teresa Linares, the musicologist, said of her and Hierrezuelo:

"I believe the most important period [for them] was their 27 years as a duet, Lorenzo on first guitar, Vera on second. Hierrezuelo's voice was at its best... [and] María Teresa's voice was unrivalled at the time. The quality of their appoggiaturas, adornments, refinements, and their interpretation... reached its highest point. All in all, it was the most sublime expression of the Cuban song."[5]
Sexteto Occidente, New York 1926
back: Maria Teresa Vera (guitar), Ignacio Piñeiro (double bass), Julio Torres Biart (tres); front: Miguelito Garcia (clavé), Manuel Reinoso (bongó) and Francisco Sánchez (maracas)

Tribute

On February 6, 2020, Google celebrated her 125th birthday with a Google Doodle.[6]

gollark: Oh, also fortnights.
gollark: No, bee lifespans.
gollark: Actually, all SI prefixes plus unofficial ones.
gollark: It also supports most SI prefixes.
gollark: See? BEE LIFESPANS.

References
  1. Calderon, Jorge 1983. Maria Teresa Vera. La Habana.
  2. Tumbao TCD-087 Sexteto Occidente: Yo no tumbo caña liner notes
  3. a bolero–son in the arrangement by Antonio María Romeu
  4. Calderon, Jorge 1983. Maria Teresa Vera. Opinions on pages 110–143; Rodrigues on p137. La Habana.
  5. Ma. Teresa Linares in liner notes to CD NubeNegra INT 3193 2 A María Teresa Vera.
  6. "María Teresa Vera's 125th Birthday". Google. February 6, 2020.
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