Ariel Ramírez (1921-2010)

Argentina | Pianist and folkloric composer

BIOGRAPHY

A composer and pianist, Ariel Ramírez was a significant figure in Argentinian music. Born in Santa Fe, Argentina, he studied at the National Conservatory of Music in Buenos Aires and was a strong proponent of Argentinian folk music, collecting over 400 folk and popular compositions and founding the Compañía de Folklore Ariel Ramírez. He wrote 300 compositions over the course of his career, with notable examples including Misa Criolla (1964), Alfonsina y el mar, and Cantata sudamerica. Ramírez often collaborated with Argentinian historian and lyricist Félix Luna for vocal compositions, and emphasized the use of Argentinian folk music and indigenous instruments in his compositions. Additionally, he composed the music for three films: The Bridge in the Jungle (1970), Good Morning, Night (2003), and The Best Movie (2008). In 1970, Ramírez became the first president of the Society of Authors and Composers of the Argentine Republic. In addition, he served as president of the Consejo Panamericano de Autores and Confederación International de Sociedades de Autores (CISAC).

Ramírez passed away on February 18, 2010 from pneumonia.

OBITUARIES

La Nación

Latin American Herald

Boston Globe

SELECTED WORKS AT IU-BLOOMINGTON LIBRARIES

Scores

View all scores available at the William & Gayle Cook Music Library here.

Ramírez, Ariel., O Catena, Alejandro Mayol, and Jesús Gabriel Segade. Misa Criolla: Para Solistas, Coro y Orquesta. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Editorial Pigal, 1965. 

Ramírez, Ariel, Oscar Escalada, Miguel Brascó, and Nancy Telfer. Santafecino De Veras: SATB, a Cappella. San Diego, California: Neil A. Kjos Music Company, 1997. 

Ramírez, Ariel, O. Catena, Alejandro Mayol, Jesús Gabriel Segade, and Louise Dobbs. Misa Criolla: Folk Mass Based On the Rhythms and Traditions of Hispanic America : for Mixed Chorus and Soloists with Percussion, Guitar and Piano Or Harpsichord Accompaniment. New York: Lawson-Gould, 1965. 

Ramírez, Ariel, and Roland Dyens. Alfonsina y El Mar. Saint-Romuald, Québec: Les Productions d'Oz, 2006.

Ramírez, Ariel, Félix Luna, and Jesús Gabriel Segade. Navidad Nuestra: Para Solistas, Coro y Orquesta. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Editorial Pigal, 1965.

VIDEO RECORDINGS

Alfonsina y el mar, performed by Mercedes Sosa

SOUND RECORDINGS

View all sound recordings available at IU-Bloomington Libraries here.

Media Collections Online (MCO)

Misa criolla para solistas, coro y orquestra 

This resource is only available to authorized users at IU-Bloomington.

Navidad nuestra : para solistas, coro y orquestra

This resource is only available to authorized users at IU-Bloomington.

Alexander Street Press

"Kyrie" from Misa Criolla (London Symphony Orchestra ; Kiri Te Kanawa, soloist) 

This resource is only available to authorized users at IU-Bloomington.

Milona Uruguaya (Paco Peña, soloist)  

This resource is only available to authorized users at IU-Bloomington.

ADDITIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY

WRITINGS BY ARIEL RAMÍREZ

Ramírez, Ariel. “La Plenitud de La Cultura,” Joaquin Rodrigo : 90 Aniversario. Madrid, Spain : Sociedad General de Autores de España (SGAE), 1992, 97–102.  (RILM)

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Bach, Caleb. “Ariel Ramírez: High Fidelity for Folk.” Americas 55, no. 5 (September 2003): 42. (RILM)

Escalada, Oscar, and Aaron Mitchell. "Ariel Ramírez's "Misa Criolla"." The Choral Journal 49, no. 2 (2008): 26-43.  (RILM)

Gonzo, Carroll. “From the Editor.” Choral Journal 49, no. 2 (August 2008): 6. (RILM)

Kleeb, Jean. “Der Komponist Der Misa Criolla: Eine Erinnerung an Ariel Ramírez.” Musik Und Kirche 81, no. 4 (July 2011): 290–93. (RILM)

Koob, Lindsay. “Misa Criolla/Navidad Nuestra/Flor de Chanar (Music).” American Record Guide 67, no. 4 (July 2004): 155–56. (RILM)

Mamani, Ariel. “Heroínas, Mártires y Cautivas: Renovación Folklórica y Usos Políticos Del Pasado En El LP Mujeres Argentinas (1969).” Revista Argentina de Musicología 18 (2017): 143–66. (RILM)Mitchell, Aaron. "Folk Elements in Ariel Ramírez's "Misa Criolla"." The Choral Journal 49, no. 4 (2008): 10-26. (RILM)

Ramírez, Cecilia.  « « Alfonsina y el mar » : hommage et permanence de la figure et de l’œuvre d’Alfonsina Storni », ILCEA [Онлайн], 38 | 2020, Выложить онлайн 31 janvier 2020, Наводить справки в 27 avril 2021. (RILM)

Rosen, Michael. “South of the Border.” Percussive Notes 50, no. 3 (May 2012): 34–36. (RILM)

Sullivan, Jack. “Guide to Records: RAMIREZ.” American Record Guide 64, no. 4 (July 2001): 179. (RILM)

THESES & DISSERTATIONS

Alegria, Andrew David.  "A Conductor 's Guide to Ariel Ramirez 's Misa Por La Paz y La Justicia." DMA Dissertation, Lousiana State University, 2018.  (LSU Digital Commons)

REVIEWS

“CD Reviews—‘Ariel Ramirez: Misa Criolla Navidad En Verano & Nuestra’.” Musical Opinion, vol. 118, Aug. 1995, p. 1.  (Music Index)

Koob, Lindsay. “Guide to Records: RAMIREZ.” American Record Guide 64, no. 5 (September 2002): 158. (Music Index)

Klimko, R. “CD Reviews: Three Latin American Gems--’Latin American Composers: Woodwind Quintets by Paquito d’Rivera, Lorenzo Fernández, Carlos Franzetti, and Ariel Ramírez’ (Testigo).” Double Reed, 2000. (Music Index)

Lipori, Daniel. “Alfonsina y El Mar.” Double Reed 35, no. 3 (September 2012): 155. (Music Index)

Panting, Tim. “Alfonsina Y El Mar.” Classical Guitar 24, no. 6 (February 2006): 51. (Music Index)

Panting, Tim. “Dances from the New World.” Classical Guitar 32, no. 3 (November 2013): 44. (Music Index)

INSTITUTIONAL WEBSITES

Ariel Ramírez served as the president of the Society of Authors and Composers of the Argentine Republic, now known as Sociedad Argentina de Autores y Compositores de Música (SADAIC)

SADAIC website

PROGRAMS & RADIO BROADCASTS

"Programa Especial de la Emabajada Argentina y Radio Filarmonia102.7 con Motivo del 50 Aniversario del Estreno de la Misa Criolla de Ariel Ramírez." Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, Argentina (March 4, 2015)

"Programa especial por Noche Buena. Segunda parte: el disco completo Misa Criolla / Navidad Nuestra." Radio Cut, December 24, 2016.

John Henken, Misa Criolla program notes, LA Philharmonic

"Ariel Ramírez, tres días de luto en Argentina." RFI, February 22, 2010.