Gisela Hernández

Gisela Hernández Gonzalo (1912−1971) was a Cuban composer. Aware of political necessity, she established ties with the Castro government in return for recognition of her activities as a music teacher and composer. She was also a member of the nationalistic Grupo Minorista that led a movement to incorporate Afro-Cuban sounds into larger forms of music. Hernández taught music at the Hubert de Blanck Conservatory, and with Olga De Blanck Martín, director of the conservatory, she developed a music education system that made significant changes in Mexican music education. With de Blanck, she also co-founded Ediciones de Blanck publishing and became instrumental in publishing critical editions of Ignacio Cervantes’ music. Works Hernández often used Afro-Cuban elements in her compositions. Selected works include: *Triptico, song cycle, 1967 (Text: Guillén, poet) “Palma sola” “¡Ay, señora mi vencia!” “Sangres derramadas” *Deprisa tierra, deprisa (in Nueve canciones) (Text: Juan Ramón Jiménez) *Diálogo (in Nueve canciones) (Text: Dulce María Loynaz) *Huerto de marzo (in Nueve canciones) (Text: Federico García Lorca) *Mi corazón lo tragó el mar (in Nueve canciones) (Text: Mirta Aguirre Carre