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Diana Arismendi
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(by Carolina Rodríguez)
Caracas, February 8, 1962
The composer's musical production includes orchestral and choral music,
opera, numerous chamber music, voice soloist, as well as electronic
music. Her compositions have been performed in the most important
concert halls in Venezuela and by important orchestras in the country.
Abroad, her work has been performed by outstanding soloists and
chamber groups in different countries of Europe such as France,
England, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Luxemburg and
Iceland, and in other countries in North and South America, namely,
Ecuador, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia, El Salvador, Cuba, United
States and Canada.
Currently, Arismendi carries out - parallel to her intense creative
work - an investigation in the field of Latin American music which has
taken her to dictate lectures and conferences, as well as to publish
articles on the topic.
Two compact disks have been dedicated exclusively to her creative work:
'Ficciones' (Fictions) produced in 1996, and Fiestas Solemnes (Solemn
Feasts) in 1998. Some of her work is present in different
anthologies.
Music studies
- 1982-1986: in these years she studies composition at the École
Normale de Musique in Paris, France. She is the only woman in obtaining
the superior composition diploma in this institution in the last ten
years.
- 1984 - 1985: she works with Paris' "Groupe de Recherches Musicaux" (GRM) in the
practice and creation of electroacustic music.
- 1986-90: she teaches at National Youth Orchestra's Simon Bolivar Music Conservatory.
Also during this period, she is an active member of the Venezuelan Society for
Electroacustic Music.
- 1990: she is granted with the prestigious PRA Scholarship from the American
Organization of States (OAS) to carry out graduate degree studies at The American
Catholic University in the city of Washington, DC
- 1992: she obtains her Master Degree in Music with special mention in
composition and Latin American music at the American Catholic
University in Washington
- 1993: she works as assistant to the Postgraduate Studies Degree
directorship of the Latin American Center of Musical studies from the
Catholic University in Washington
- 1994: she obtains at Washington University her Doctorate in music
specialized in theory and composition under the guidance and
supervision of the Czech-North American composer Helmut Braunlich. In
that same year, she ends an intense research activity at this
University's Superior Center for Latin American Musical Studies
- 1994-1996: she works as Academic Programs Coordinator of the Simon
Bolivar Music Conservatory. As from September of year 1994, she works
as Professor to the Simon Bolivar University's Department of Social
Sciences. She also lectures classes and seminars in the Latin American
Musicology Master studies from the Central University of
Venezuela
- 1996: from this year on, she is the Executive Director of the Latin American Music
Festivals.
- 1997 - 2000: she works as Art Coordinator for the Simon Bolivar University.
- 1999: she becomes a member of the Board of Directors of the Venezuelan Society for
Contemporary Music (SVMC)
- 2001: currently, she is Composition teacher and Coordinator for the Master in
Music from the Simon Bolivar University
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Production
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List of works
Opera:
- El gato y la golondrina: Una historia de amor (The cat and the swallow: A love story)
1992-93, the composer's libretto based on a Jorge Amado's short tale. Premiere: Casa Manilva Festival, Spain, 1993
Symphonic:
- Dinago, un éxodo imaginario (Dinago, an imaginary exodus) 1988. First performed at
the II Contemporary Music Festival, Quito, Ecuador, 1988
- Ficciones (Fictions) 1990-91, for mezzo-soprano and orchestra. Texts by Jorge Luis
Borges. Premiered at the VI Latin American Music Festival, Caracas, 1992
- Escenas de la Pasión según San Marcos (Scenes from the
Passion according to Saint Marcus) 2000, for Symphonic Orchestra (and
optional narrator)
Orchestra and solo instrument:
- Inerrantes (Non-wanderings) concertino for marimba and chamber orchestra, 1993-94,
first performed at the VIII Latin American Music Festival, Caracas, 1994
Chamber music:
- Guimel for strings quartet, 1984 premiered at the Salle Cortot, Paris, France 1984
- Mural-circular 1986, for ensemble
- Ciento cincuenta días (Hundred fifty days) for percussion
quartet, 1987. First performed at the José Felix Ribas Music
Hall, Caracas, 1987
- Duetto for marimba and vibraphone 1989. Premiere: 'Ateneo de Caracas', 1989
- Irreverencias (Irreverence) for oboe and recording tape, 1989. Premiered at the
Humboldt Cultural Association, Caracas, 1989
- Dos espacios (Two spaces) for clarinets quartet 1989-1990, first performed at the VII
Latin American Music Festival, Caracas, 1993
- Dúo (Duet) for bassoon and piano, 1991
- Las aguas lustrales (Lustrum waters) for strings quartet, 1993
- Clamores (Clamors) for two pianos and two percussionists, 1996-97
- Tres Hexagramas (Three Hexagrams) for flute and guitar, 1998 (vibraphone & piano
version)
- Blanco (White) for winds quintet, 1998
- Cantos (Chants) for flute and harp, 1999
- Casas (Houses) for percussion quartet, 1999
Voice and instruments:
- De visiones (Of visions) for voice, clarinet, vibraphone and contrabass, 1980, upon
text from the composer
- Imágines (Images) for narrator, percussion and piano, 1984,
with texts from the I Ching and first performed at the Salle Cortot,
Paris in 1984
- Paraíso perdido (Lost paradise) for mezzo-soprano and piano, 1989, with texts from
Rafael Alberti and premiered at the Bolivar Hall, House of Miranda, London, 1990
- Serus for soprano, guitar, flute in G and percussion, 1992, with
texts from Mario Vargas Llosa. Premiered at Ward Hall, Washington, 1993
- Fiestas solemnes (Solemn Feasts) for soprano and brass quintet, 1996
For Choir:
- Rituel for mixed choir, brass octet, 1985
- Díptico (Diptych) 1991, with texts from Sister Juana Inés de la Cruz and Octavio Paz.
Premiered at the XV New Music Forum, Mexico, 1993
For solo instrument:
- Taira for piano four hands, 1983
- Alp for contrabass, 1985, first performed at the Salle Cortot, Paris, in 1985
- Tres noches sin luna (Three nights with no moon) for clarinet, 1987. Premiered at the
Simon Bolivar Music Conservatory, Caracas, in 1988
- Cantos (Chants) for piano, 1992. First performed at the Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts, Washington, in 1992
- Cantos (Chants) for flute solo, 1995
- Aves mías (Birds of mine) for piano, 1997
- Señales en el cielo (Signs in the sky) for piano, 2000
For Recording Tape:
- Parábolas (Parables) 1981. First audition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Caracas, 1991
- A nadie (To no one) 1985. First audition: Radio France, Paris, 1985
Sources:
- Peñín, José and Walter Guido: Encyclopedia of Music in Venezuela - Caracas, Bigott
Foundation, 1998, Book I, pages 90-91
- Information furnished by the composer.
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