Culture in Camagüey

Camaguey

Founded in 1994 as a response to a growing interest on the part of many Madisonians to find out more about Cuba, the Madison-Camaguey Sister City Association (MCSCA) has endeavored to bring our two communities together in a spirit of mutual respect.

Madison and Camaguey share the distinction of being each country’s “dairyland.” They are both capital cities for their respective province, as well as centers of culture, education, and research and development institutes. They also share that special attitude that characterizes them among their country folk as different and unique.

Cuba’s third largest city, Camaguey was founded in 1514 by Spanish conquers and has always played a key role in the development of the Cuban nation. Last year, it was declared by UNESCO to be a World Heritage Site as it was being overwhelmed by Hurricanes Ike and Paloma. MCSCA has led relief efforts to help those affected by the storms and plans to continue with specific projects designed to help with the restoration of historical buildings.

In spite of restrictions on travel to Cuba imposed by the continuing U.S. embargo on the island, MCSCA has been able to maintain a relationship with Camaguey by working with other humanitarian groups, such as the Wisconsin Medical Project, and just recently commemorated the 15th Anniversary of the sister city program.

Tax deductible donations are welcome and can be made to: MCSCA, P. O. Box 608, Madison, WI 53701. You can also make your contribution online.

Carlos J. Finlay

Carlos Juan Finlay was born in the city of Puerto Principe (now Camaguey), in the Island of Cuba, on the 3rd of December, 1833. His father was Edward, a Scotch physician, and his mother, Isabel de Barres a native of France.While he was still in his infancy the family moved to Havana where the boy grew to his eleventh year, residing at times in the Capital, and at times in Guanimar.We can well imagine that the life of young Finlay in the open awakened his love for the study of Nature.

In 1844 Carlos was sent to France and studied in a school at the Havre until 1846 when he had to return to Cuba on account of an attack of cholera.

He returned to Europe in 1848 to complete his education in France, but the revolutionary movements of that year obliged him to remain for a short time in London, and during one year in a school at Mentz on the Rhine. He entered college at last in Rouen where he continued his studies until 1851 when he returned to Cuba to convalesce from an attack of typhoid fever.
The
Spanish law at the time would not validate for the degree of Bachelor in Arts, the college courses followed in France, and he came to Philadelphia where the said degree was not necessary for the study of Medicine. He graduated in Medicine on the 10th of March 1855 from the Jefferson Medical College,Dr. Finlay incorporated his diploma in the University of Havana in 1857, and began the practice of his profession. On the 16th of October 1865, he married, in the city of Havana, Miss Adela Shine, a native of the Island of Trinidad. In 1881 he went to Washington representing the colonial Government of Cuba at the International Sanitary Conference.

in 1898 He wrote at the time a complete plan of campaign against the yellow fever on the same lines, which were subsequently followed with the brilliant results now familiar to all of us.The great work of Finlay may be expressed in very few words: He discovered the fact that yellow fever is transmitted by the bite of one species of mosquito, and he invented a sure method for the extinction of the disease.

Great as our satisfaction must be, how much greater must be that of the man, illustrious as he is modest, who has made all this possible through a mental effort equaled by very few in the history of the human mind".

PUBLIC LIBRARY JULIO ANTONIO MELLA

The Provincial Library Julio Antonio Mella is located in historical downtown, Camaguey city, across from beautiful Ignacio Agramonte Park . It was founded on June 1, 1963 and it is attended by a technically trained library staff who offers dynamic and efficient services. The Library has more 230000 volumes in stock, 86000 library users per year, and provides 146000 loans and other services –as a result of its wide and systematic activities of extension work and reading promotion, not only in the library itself, but also in the community. Nowadays, it is compiling local bibliographies and developing bibliotecological researches. It functions as both the Provincial Library and as the head of the provincial public libraries system, which comprises 30 libraries located in twelve municipalities and rural areas.

MISSION

Library's mission is directed towards the conservation, protection and dissemination of book collection and the promotion of reading, too by means of different actions and activities.

LENDINDG DEPARTMENT

It is composed of the Registration Department and the rooms dealing with general information, rare books, general literature, literature for children, literature for the young, visuals arts, music, and extension work. Each room keep very valuables collections according to its thematic outline and readers' interest.

PRINCIPAL SERVICES

Book lending, local lending of serials and audiovisuals materials, reference works (by phone and mail); services of bibliographical search, vertical file, cassette recording, musical auditions, concerts, library exhibitions, and other interesting activities.

SELECTION, ACQUISITION AND TECHNICAL PROCESSING DEPARTMENT

It has the responsibility of selecting, acquiring and processing library materials which the Institution obtains through different means. Besides, there are others important areas: Conservation and Computers. The WEB page is update. It is working on the Iberoamerican Digital Library Project.

SPECIAL AREAS

Minerva Book Club. The Public Library founded it five years ago to provide more books to readers. This collection comprises by new books from Cuban and foreign writers, or recently acquired by the National or provincial Libraries.

BLINDS AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE DEPARTMENT

It has a collection of books and magazines in Braille and offers “talking book”, rehabilitation, and teaching services for blinds and visually impaired; as well as home reading and extension work. This Area was founded in 1983.

OUR ACTIVITIES

Our cultural and reading promotion activities have gained real reputation due to the librarians' commitment and dedication. These activities are supported by a close link between the Public Library and different cultural institution.

• Wednesday's Concert. Second Wednesday at 3:00 pm.

• Young Performers. Third Wednesday at 4:00 pm.

- Camagueyana Conversation Last Monday at 5:00 pm.

• Movie Club Glauber Rocha. Third Thursday at 8:00 pm.

• Literature and much more… Last Friday at 10:00 am.

• Literary Saturday for children. Second Saturday at 10:00 am.

FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG

The Children's and Young's Rooms have lovely developed several activities for reading promotion such as reading teams and workshop concerning Braille system, theater, painting, readers, story telling, literature, contest and games. Besides, these rooms have been awarded the International Prize Chamán and the National Prize Cuentería for yours systematic work in story telling for children.

LIBRARY AND THE COMMUNITY

It is a long-range project which serves people's needs in Camaguey city and its sorroundings, but it specially involves the assistance to disadvantaged persons. The Library offers services to people in health institutions, prisons, and also to the handicapped. Children Room carries out a weekly biblioterapy program , and other activities which require our spiritual and human support.

ANNUAL EVENTS

• Camagueyanos Writers Meeting, February

• Braille Workshop Reading , April.

• Scientific Workshop Bibliotecological, June.

• Special Areas Meeting, June.

• Children's Workshop National Story Telling, November.

DESK SCHEDULE

Monday to Friday: 8:00am.- 9:00 pm.

Saturday: 8:00am.-4:00 pm.

Sunday: 9:00am.- 1:00pm.

Dramatic group “Nino Moncada”: quality and sense of belonging

Dramatic Group "Nino Moncada"It is impossible to speak of successes, professionalism and dedication to the radio, without referring to the Dramatic Group “Nino Moncada “, a troupe of actors, directors, playwrights, music consultants, special effects specialists and advisors who convey the audience a rich programming. This programming includes Cuban romances, detective serial Operative Guard, children intended program Pioneers’ World, stories, dramas and many other shows that as Radio Cadena Agramonte’s slogan reads “are in the people’s heart.”

The group was founded on January, 1969 and the first feature programs it produced were the Cuban romance “A New Dawn” and a 12-chapter serial dedicated to Jose Martí’s life. Those actors and actresses who founded it were Deogracia “Nino” Moncada Fontes, Manuel Rodríguez Cruz, José Martínez Estévez, José Luis Cadenas, José “Pepín" Bueno Díaz de Arce, Benito Gil Lacal and Homero de Dios.

The most outstanding of them were Nora Thomas, Mario Crespo, Consuelo Cruz, José Martínez, Martha Queipo, Héctor Vilató, Ángel Olivera, Orosmán Bueno, María Elena Fernández, Yolanda Fonseca, Jorge. A. Morán, Homero de Dios, and others; while the pioneers in narration ere Francisco Rivero and Rafael López Álvarez. quality and sense of belonging.

Nicohlas Guillen

Nicohlas Guillen was born in 1902. He was an Afro-Cuban poet, writer, journalist, and social activist.

Guillen’s father introduced him to Afro-Cuban music when he was very young. His father was a journalist.Guillen began writing about the social problems faced by blacks in the 1920, his first poems appeared in Camaguey Grafico in 1922.

In 1930, he created an international stir with the publication of Motivos de son, eight short poems inspired by the Son, a popular Afro-Cuban musical form, and the daily living conditions of Cuban blacks. Composed in Afro-Cuban vernacular, the collection separated itself from with Spanish literary cannon and established black culture as a legitimate focus of Cuban literature. It was as if Guillen had touched on something that the people of Cuba could recognize as having been on the tips of their tongues waiting for Guillen to articulate it.

In 1940, he ran for mayor of Camaguey and in 1948, Guillen was a senatorial candidate for the Cuban Communist Party; both campaigns were unsuccessful. He truly identified with the plight of blacks beyond his native Cuba, this is reflected in his Elegias (1958). Upon his return to Cuba in 1959, Fidel Castro awarded him the task of designing a new cultural policy and setting up the Union of Writers and Artist of Cuba, of which Guillen became president in 1961. During the next two decades, he wrote and published a number of collections of poetry including Tengo (1964), El gran Zoo (1967), La rueda dentada, and El diario que a diario (1972), and Sol de Domingo (1982). Guillen died in Havana in 1987.

The Maximum River and Los Cangilones

To the southeast of the Sierra of Cubitas, the Maximum River shows splendid Los cangilones.

The most famous natural pool in the Island and one of the emblematics landscapes of the territory Camagüey

By:Jesus Risquet Bueno

Charming site , somebody called this way to this place in that the Maximum River, in the north area of the county of Camagüey, illuminated by the sunbeams, seems a silver cord among the greenery of the area: Los Cangilones .

The river is not very mighty, as most of those of the island, in it a sandy, neither dark bottom is not appreciated; but rather clean, flat and white as if it was an extensive marble flagstone submerged in the water.

This happens because the Maximum River, when crossing an area of very crystallized calcareous rocks, covered by a deep alluvial floor, has settled, with enviable sculptural polish, the bowels to a mantel of underlying calcareous rocks, creating an interesting bed that for more than 350 meters constitutes a natural pool of great beauty, which National Monument was declared: Los Cangilones of the Maximum River.

This interesting place that began to be formed about 28 million years ago, en1867 was visited, for the priest, geographer and Spanish writer Antonio Perpiña who later on captured its impressions of the paradisiac place in the titled book The Camagüey, published in the year 1889. “It was the waves of the waters of the Maximum river. What dilute so crystalline those of that mighty river! What so picturesque margins! It was that a Paradise

The river is born in the central area of the county and finishes diluted in the northern Bay of La Gloria melting with the brackish environment in an extraordinary unrepeatable place.

During a time the waters of the Maximum River suffered a severe contamination caused by waste of a station of a unit of a growinf of sweet waters which damaged also to Los Cangilones, but a plan of rehabilitation of that area of extraordinary beauty has included actions like the cleaning of the bed, the reopening of the bathrooms and of the tourist center in its proximities.

Los Cangilones have always been good as trip place and entertainment for the people of Camagüey and other casual visitors or in passing. This attractive landscape and reference point for many people, continue getting the attention for the opportunities that it toasts for who looks for serenity in a shady and always green atmosphere.

The direction of the near base of Camping controls the use of the referred place whose public use was endorsed by diverse organisms.

Los Cangilones of the Maximum River have a deviation channel that impedes the traffic for the natural pool from the noxious substances to the health, because after being degraded the pours river below.

The Maximum River has a modest itinerary, 66,2 kilometers, but it makes honor to its name with its journey of humidity and fertility for the bigger than the counties of Cuba and Los Cangilones represent a legitimate postcard of the universal patrimony.

“Birth House of Ignacio Agramonte” Museum

During the first decade of the 18th century a shed type house occupied this spot, later on, towards the second half of the century the Agramonte Recio family built the two-story house which now stands in its place.
Ignacio Agramonte y Loynaz who became Major General of the Liberating Army in the 10-year war was born in this house on December 23 1841.
The house occupies a large area and volume, forming angles with the streets Soledad y Candelaria. Its main facade has a wide Spanish door in an elliptical arch flanked by two slender pilasters with threaded moldings, bearing as its only detail the family’s Coat of Arms. The continuous balcony with wooden posts finished with wooden capitals can be found on the front and lateral facades, distinguishing the building and bestowing upon it great architectural value. The mezzanine level is marked on the outside of both facades by two detached balconies. The building’s layout is C-shaped and has balcony with wooden posts looking down unto the interior courtyard, in which we can find five tinajones, and a well with a white marble rim.
Access is gained through the zaguan to the courtyard, secondary dormitories, or to the staitway that rises to the mezzanine level that housed the servants quarters.
On the uppermost floor the magnificent woodwork of the four-sloped roof with trusses, paired struts and fretwork can be observed as well as the exquisite frieze that adorns the spacious main room which is likewise decorated with the beautiful objects of that period.
All the interior and exterior carpentry reproduces faithfully details of the period, windows with shutters and asymmetrical bars, sculpted balusters and Spanish-style doors with smooth panels fixed by iron nails all offering security and beauty to the building.
Throughout time this house was used for different purposes, as the family home, business establishment and Spanish consulate among other uses. On May 11, 1973 it was inaugurated as a memorial house to commemorate the centenary of the Major’s death in combat.Because of this building’s historical and architectural importance it has been declared a national monument.

Vocational School "Máximo Gómez Báez"

Inaugurated on September 1, 1976, day of beginning of the course 1976-1977, our school opens its doors with Fidel Castro speech in which made reference at the escolarization level reached then in the country until that and to the narrow relationship that should exist between the teaching and the science and I mention textually: "Because the education has to go chord with the advances of the science and of the technique"

It was starting from here that the Institute Vocational Preuniversitary of Exact Sciences of Camagüey begins its work of educating to young with vision scientific and future developers from how many advances comes in later times.

Initially it begins with a capacity for 2500 internal students in a surface of construction of 45 000 m2 and following a typical architectural pattern of projects elaborated for the whole plan of schools of the years '70 and that it was characterized for "a very studied interconnection plot that one of the dominant features of the group constitutes " (in other words: you can go without wetting you from an end to another in days of rain)

The main architects of the enclosure were Reinaldo Togores Fernández and Carlos López Quintanilla jointly with the consultants Andrés Garrudo and Heriberto Duverger.

The same as the rest of the vocational schools, the study plan embraced the complete cycle Secondary-Preuniversitario being divided, in a principle, in the following way: 1307 students in Secondary Basic and 1193 in Preuniversitary.

As curious data we have that, according to memories descriptive originals of the institution in their inauguration moment, the regime of productive work (... the field, gentleman) it was of 3 daily hours, sew that later it changed (evidently). The distribution of water was carried out for two nets, one for the cold water and the other one for the hot water (ehhhh..... no way of this) and also the "gym" it had a wooden of 18 x 42 m, bathrooms and box offices for students and professors and local for weights, fencing and table tennis.

Museums in Camagüey

Birth Home of Ignacio Agramonte Birth Home of Ignacio Agramonte Camagüey Cuba

One of the most illustrious sons of the Camagüey province has left to history his endless fight for the liberation of Cuba from Spanish rule. That is proven by the documents, testimonies, and numerous belongings of the family that resided in the very well-preserved house since 1828 or before. The house, located in the center of the city, became a museum in 1973.
Address: Avenida Ignacio Agramonte # 59, Camagüey

Birth home of Nicolás Guillén Birth home of Nicolás Guillén Camagüey Cuba
The Casa Natal de Nicolás Guillén preserves the birthplace of Nicolás Guillén, another revered son of Camagüey. Guillén was a well-respected and celebrated poet, not only in his native land, but throughout all of Latin America as well. Personal items and numerous copies of his poems are on display at this museum. Located at Calle Hermanos Aguero 58 (2 blocks wouth of the Plaza de los Trabajadores, the museum is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Price of admission is FREE.

The Museo Provincial General Ignacio Agramonte

The Museo Provincial General Ignacio Agramonte is a multi-purpose museum that houses collections ranging from archeological items to the fine arts. The museum's holdings also include a natural history collection that feature the flora and fauna of Cuba. The majority of items in this museum, however, center on the fine arts, focusing on local and regional pieces ranging from the early 19th century to modern works. The msueum, located at Avenida de los Martires 2, is open Monday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Price of admission is $2 for adults, and children under the age of 12 are free.

Historic Center of Camagüey

One of the first seven villages founded by the Spaniards in Cuba, Camagüey played a prominent role as the urban centre of an inland territory dedicated to cattle breeding and the sugar industry. Settled in its current location in 1528, the town developed on the basis of an irregular urban pattern that contains a system of large and minor squares, serpentine streets, alleys and irregular urban blocks, highly exceptional for Latin American colonial towns located in plain territories. The 54 ha Historic Centre of Camagüey constitutes an exceptional example of a traditional urban settlement relatively isolated from main trade routes. The Spanish colonizers followed medieval European influences in terms of urban layout and traditional construction techniques brought to the Americas by their masons and construction masters. The property reflects the influence of numerous styles through the ages: neoclassical, eclectic, Art Deco, Neo-colonial as well as some Art Nouveau and rationalism.
Outstanding Universal Value

One of the first seven villages founded by the Spaniards in Cuba, Camagüey played a prominent role as the urban centre of an inland territory dedicated to cattle breeding and the sugar industry. Once settled in its current location in 1528, the town developed on the basis on an irregular urban pattern that contains a system of squares, minor squares, serpentine streets, alleys and irregular urban blocks, highly exceptional for Latin American colonial towns located in plain territories. Religious buildings, associated with the main squares, constitute a system of landmarks in the urban fabric, characterized by its homogeneity. Architectural values are associated with typical domestic architectural typologies and the use of consistent construction materials and techniques, especially the extended use of earthen components, which reveal influences from Andalusia. The use of truncated pilasters at the entrance gates and of clay vessels for water storage are features that identify Camagüey’s domestic architecture. The historic centre continues to act as the city core and the place for social and cultural activities, which reflect a rich intangible heritage.

Criterion (iv): The Historic Centre of Camagüey constitutes an outstanding urban architectural type in Latin America, featured by its irregular urban layout that produced an unusual system of squares, minor squares, serpentine streets, alleys, urban blocks and plots system. Monumental and domestic architecture form a homogeneous urban fabric where it is possible to find architectural expressions corresponding to different periods of the evolution of the town.

Criterion (v): The Historic Centre of Camagüey constitutes an exceptional example of a traditional urban settlement relatively isolated from main trade routes, where the Spanish colonizers were subject to European medieval urban influences in the urban layout and to traditional construction techniques brought to the Americas by the first masons and construction masters.

The nominated property is of adequate size and contains all the necessary material components to guarantee the integrity of the historic centre. The persistence of the original urban layout, of the architectural types and materials, of the traditional craftsmanship and of uses and spirit allows the historic centre to meet the required conditions of authenticity.

The legal protection and the management system and instruments have proved to be adequate for ensuring the proper conservation of the nominated area and its buffer zone.

Camagüey, Cuba: UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site

Part of Camagüey will be officially declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity on February 2, celebrating the 495th anniversary of the traditional date of the foundation of the city.

The ceremony will take place with an artistic show at Agramonte Park, antique Plaza de Armas, where it began the last settlement of Villa de Santa Maria del Puerto del Principe, currently called Camagüey.

The Project, dedicated to one of the first settlements constituted by the Spaniards in the New World, has artistic, literary, historical, political, recreational and sport character.

The program includes activities such as the symposium "Challenges in the handling and management of cities", and the presentation of the Network of Offices of the Historian of the City, which groups entities from five provinces.

UNESCO designed this part of Camagüey a Cultural Heritage of Humanity Site last July. Present at the awarding ceremony will be Herman Van Hoof, representative of UNESCO for Latin America and the Caribbean and other personalities.

Will be declared officially urban historical center of Camagüey Cultural Patrimony of the Humanity

Camagüey Jan 21.The sector of the city of Camagüey declared Cultural Patrimony of the Humanity, will be proclaimed officially with that condition the next February two, anniversary 495 of the traditional date of the foundation of the formerly village .

The ceremony will happen linked with an artistic show in the park Iganacio Agramonte, old Square of Weapons, where began to be born the last location of the Village of Santa María del Puerto del Príncipe, today Camagüey.

Dedicated to one of the first stable populational nucleo constituted by the Spaniards in the New World, the project for the date has artistic, literary, historical, political, recreational and sport character.

The programming includes activities like the symposium “Challenges in the handling and administration of the cities”, and the presentation of the Net of Offices of the Historian and of the Conservative of the City, which contains to entities of five counties.

Among the attractions figure equally the performance of the singers Kelvin Ochoa and Rosa María Ameneiro (Rochy), the first and two of February in the Square of the Workers, subjected at the present time to rebuilding, also in vigor in other areas of the town.

The list of companies to the celebration includes personalities like Herman Van Hoof, representative for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Organization of United Nations for the Education, the Science and the Culture (UNESCO).

In last July, the UNESCO granted the status of Cultural Patrimony of the Humanity to the part of bigger antiquity of the historical urban center of Camagüey, the most extensive in the country and with the category of National Monument.

Santa María del Puerto del Príncipe arose beside the northern bay of Nuevitas,it had it second establishment in the indigenous cacicazgo of Caonao, and in 1528 was transferred to her current location. (AIN).

St. John of God Church

The first reference to this hermitage dates from 1687. It was rebuilt in the second decade of the 18th century, with the financial support of its neighbours and in particular two main benefactors Jaspar Alonso Betancourt Cisneros and his wife. During his visit to the village of Puerto Principe in 1756, the Bishop of Cuba, Pedro Agustin formally announced the creation of the hospital of Our Lady of the Assumption, built next to the church.
Burials were carried out under the main altar and in the nave. Its benefactors are buried here, along with Maria De La Trinidad Cisneros, known as the La Capitana or La Coronela, due to her husband’s military rank. The latter, in 1792 donated the interesting image of the Most Holy Trinity, made of precious wood, which is found on the main altar of the church.
Previously the church had one tower on the right side, but this was demolished and later rebuilt in the centre. The tower is made up of four parts, crowned by a small semicircular dome and has semidetached pilasters. The second floor of the tower and the perfectly symmetrically facade are flanked by two large curved parapets, and in its centre is a small elliptical oculus that enhances the facade. Due to some of the structural designs, this church is said to have a slightly baroque influence, although a Cuban colonial architectural code with Mudejar influence predominates.

Club Friend Mayanabo

Hotel Club Amigo Mayanabo is a three star hotel located on Santa Lucia beach, in Camaguey, Cuba some 110 km away from Camaguey international airport. Mayanabo hotel is situated directly on a beautiful sun drenched beach with excellent snorkeling and diving offshore. The hotel offers value for money, a friendly atmosphere and some of the best entertainment on the island.

225 rooms, some with terrace, and all with 2 double beds, Air-conditioning, Shower, WC, Satellite TV and Telephone. Amenities include Large pool with shallow area suitable for children, Buffet restaurant, Snack bar, Several bars including piano bar and disco, 2 Tennis courts, Table tennis, Billiards, Volleyball, Basketball, Aerobics, Fitness room and more. Santa Lucia lies on Cuba's northern coast of Camaguey Province. Hotel Mayanabo boasts the world's second longest coral reef as well as a beautiful 19 kilometre natural beach.

Adalberto Álvarez: What Is Important Is Music

The so-called Gentleman of Son received the 2008 National Music Award.
Composing is still one of the greatest pleasures for Adalberto Álvarez.

Adalberto Álvarez is a kind of enlightened sonero [player of son, a Cuban rhythm]. A man who knows how to guard himself from fashions and snobbery. He belongs to the group of soneros and salseros who compose music with sobriety and poise. The Álvarez phenomenon became solid with his own band, where he sings, composes and plays the keyboard, always with an identifiable style. His face is usually welcome on television by those fellow countrymen and women who prefer to listen to restrained lyrics. (Adalberto Álvarez. Photo: Archive).

With nearly 40 years on the stage, Adalberto Álvarez continues to be the calm face of Cuban son, a man who knows how to guard himself from fashions and snobbery; and who prefers, despite the current times, to play in the best style of tradition.

Belonging to the group of soneros and salseros who compose with sobriety and poise, Álvarez is one of those rare points of contact between followers and critics of salsa [music], who use him in controversies as the perfect example of the artist who combines both lyrics and music authentically.

The National Music Award just presented to him is a very well-deserved accolade, which he could have had even before.

Although he was popular as a singer in Son 14, a band from some 25 years ago, the Álvarez phenomenon became solid with his own band, where he sings, composes and plays the keyboard, always with an identifiable style as the first notes are heard.

Adalberto Álvarez is a kind of enlightened sonero [player of son, a Cuban rhythm] who does not make any musical transformations out of whims or fashions, but to channel what he calls difficult combination of the merge between the most contemporary sound and tradition.

A charismatic, pleasant man, he is still associated with one of the early songs that gave him fame, A Bayamo en coche, which he wrote during a tour with Son 14 of the central part of the Island. He saw that next to the bus terminal there was one stand for horse-drawn carriages, and he felt like taking one to get to Santiago de Cuba, in the eastern tip.

Popularized in the 80s, it has been one of the most acclaimed pieces in Álvarez’s repertoire, as he likes poised lyrics that delve into the nation’s psychology with finesse and not offending listeners’ sensitivities.

Perhaps that is the reason why his face is usually welcome on television by those fellow countrymen and women who prefer to listen to restrained lyrics and watch a calm stage performance in which, by the way, he attaches more importance to his work than to the display of the singers.

Composing continues to be one of his greatest pleasures, particularly the songs on the CD that is still not on the market. However, he admits that this job is increasingly difficult after nearly four decades of trying to play into the audience’s preference.

“During the first stage of your career, you get eight hits out of eight, or seven out of eight, but it’s different when many years go by. Times are changing; the appeal with the people is different, and we also have work commitments to keep. The problem is not to make music like sausages,” he said about the much-debated issue of quality and popularity.

Álvarez is obsessively careful in composing, for when he senses that a song is not going to be to people’s liking, he dismisses it before it even goes to the repertoire. “I like to produce [music] so it can be seen. I make music for people to dance to,” he ascertained in another interview years ago.

As with nearly everyone else, Adalberto Álvarez is visited by nostalgia every now and then, but not to dwell with melancholy on times past; rather, to give a look of satisfaction at overcome stages, like a glass of water along the road.

With a large résumé of tours of Europe and some visits to the United States, the so-called Gentleman of Son keeps himself as busy as bee. About the controversy of whether Cuban salsa [music] is called timba, he prefers to stay out of the fire, as someone who is very self-assured because, in short, what is important for him is music.