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Alfredo del Mónaco
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(by Carolina Rodríguez)
Born in Caracas, on April 4, 1938, Del Monaco's work has reached
from its beginnings great national and international recognition. A
pioneer and promoter of avant-garde contemporary music and
electroacustic music in Venezuela, he was also the first Venezuelan
composer obtaining a doctorate in music from a United States'
University. Del Monaco has transcended as one of Venezuela's most
important composers in present times. His works have been performed in
international festivals and in concerts by worldwide-distinguished
music ensembles.
Music studies, and other studies and activities
1958-1968: General musical studies
1961: Degree in Law studies from the Andrés Bello Catholic
University. Performs the first Electroacustic Music concert broadcasted
in Venezuela by Radio Nacional
1967: composes his first electroacustic works Cromofonías I and Electronic study at
INCIBA's Electronic Music Phonology study
1968: Music National Award in vocal music with his La noche de las alegorías (The night of the
allegories), this is the first non nationalist composition obtaining
this award
1969: Cofounder of the Venezuelan representation before the International Society for
Contemporary Music (SIMC); he settles in New York City.
1972 - 1974: Lecture of his music works at the New York State University, in Buffalo, and
teaches an Electroacustic Music course at Columbia University
1974: PhD in Music from Columbia University
1976: Nine months stay in Berlin, Europe; former West Germany
1977-1980: Contemporary Music courses for the Juan José Landaeta National Conservatory of
Music, and for the Youth National Orchestra's musicians, by invitation
of the UNESCO
1982-1988: Lectures a course for the University of Puerto Rico
1987: Contemporary Music course at the Humboldt Cultural Association, Caracas
1989: Course on 20th century's Venezuelan composers at the University of Chile
1999: Founder and Outstanding Member of the Latin American Composers Collage
(Mexico)
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Production
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Awards
- Music National Award, vocal music, for Noche de las alegorías (Night of the Allegories) 1968
- Venezuela Music National Award, 1999
List of works
For orchestra:
- Dos fugas académicas para Orquesta de Cuerdas (Two academic fugues for Strings
Orchestra) 1964, first performed by the Venezuela Symphonic Orchestra in 1965
- Cromofonías II 1968
- Tupac-Amarú 1977, by commission from the Latin American Contemporary Music
Festival, City of Maracaibo, 1977, and first performed by the Maracaibo Symphonic
Orchestra
at said festival. Printed in Caracas by the Latin American Music
Research and Studies of Music Institute Vicente Emilio Sojo Editions,
1987
- Tientos de la noche imaginada (Tempting feelings of the imagined
night) for guitar and orchestra, 1990, commissioned by the National
Arts Council (CONAC), and first
performed by the Simón Bolívar Symphonic Orchestra, 1991
- Cantos de la noche alta (Late night's Chants) for female voice and
orchestra, commission from the Vicente Emilio Sojo Foundation, 1992
Chamber music:
- Sonata for two violins, viola and cello, 1965, first performed in 1988 at the
Ateneo de Caracas; Central University of Venezuela Editions, 1968
- Solentiname 1972-73, by commission from the Philadelphia Composer's Forum, first
performed in 1974 at Washington's IV Inter-American Music Festival; printed by the
Vicente Emilio Sojo Foundation, 1989
- Encuentros del eco (Echo's encounters) for 2 pianos and percussionists, 1976, by
commission from the Caracas Contemporary Music Group, 1976. Vicente Emilio Sojo
Foundation Editions, 1979
Vocal music:
- La noche
de las alegorías - Fonograma para ocho voces - (The night of the
allegories - Phonogram for eight voices -) 1968, Music National Award,
1968
- Quartet II for 4 reading voices, 1978
- Visiones del caminante (Wanderer's visions) for two guitars; a commission from
Mavesa's Cultural Project, 1995
For soloists:
- Syntagma B for trombone, commissioned by James Fulkerson and premiered in 1972 at the Mercer Arts Center, New York in 1972
- Chants for flute, 1988, first performed by Luis Julio Toro at the Humboldt Cultural
Association, Caracas, 1988
- Tientos del véspero (Evening's tempting feelings) ballad for
guitar, 1991, Vicente Emilio Sojo Foundation Editions, Caracas, 1992
- Tlalolc miniature for piano, commission from the Fifth Centennial Committee, 1991
- Lyrika for oboe with electroacustic extensions, 1992
Electroacustic works:
- Cromofonías I 1966-67, first performed at Merida's International Music Festival, 1968
- Estudio electrónico I (Electronic study I) for sinusoids,
1968, first performed at the Third Americas and Spain Music Festival,
Madrid, 1970
- Tres ambientes coreográfícos para Sonia Sanoja: Ambiente sonoro I; Ambiente sonoro
II, Metagrama (Three choreographic atmospheres for Sonia Sanoja: Sound atmosphere
I; Sound Atmosphere II, Metagrama) 1970, performed for the first time for a Sonia
Sanoja Dance Presentation in 1970
- (Tropics - testimonial music -) recorded for magnetic tape upon sounds and testimonies from Venezuela's reality, 1972
- Synus 17/251271 for an IBM 360 computer, 1972
- Estudio electrónico III (Electronic study III) recorded for magnetic tape and score with
analysis for thesis' degree work, 1974
Electroacustics and live instruments:
- Alternancias (Alternations) for violin, viola, cello, piano and electronic sounds, 1971
YEARS 1988-89
Conceptual music:
- Quartet II for voices, 1978, first audition at Caracas' Phonology Institute in 1978
- Cronoformantes Forms of Time, for visual arts galleries, 1978
Records:
- Alternancias (Alternations) 'Galzio Quartet', Caracas. Mito Juan Pro Music Foundation, 1971
- Estudio electrónico II y Metagrama (Electronic study II and Metagrama) CRI
Recording, New York, 1970
- Tupac-Amarú Supra-Vox, C 5040, Caracas, 1977
Source:
Encyclopedia of Music in Venezuela, Book II, pages 499-500. Information and material furnished by the composer.
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