Gonzalo Brenes

Gonzalo Brenes Candanedo (May 18, 1907 – January 5, 2003) was a Panamanian composer, musicologist, civil servant, politician and educator. He was known for his work collecting and publishing Panamanian folk music. His compositions blended Panamanian folk songs with European classical music. He served a term in the National Assembly of Panama, and from 1953 to 1960 he was Panama’s Secretary of Culture. He taught at several institutions in Panama, including serving as the Advisory Director of Panama’s National Institute of Music. Early life and education The son of Don Agustín Brenes and Aurora Candanedo Gutiérrez, Gonzalo Brenes Candanedo was born on May 18, 1907, in David, Chiriquí, Panama. He studied piano in his youth with a variety of teachers, and began his higher education studies in music at the National Institute of Panama after winning a music scholarship through a performance competition in 1923. There he was a pupil of Dr. José Dolores Moscote with whom he studied music until he graduated in 1927. He pursued further studies at the Leipzig Conservatory (now the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig) in Germany where he was a pupil of composer Sigfrid Karg-Elert. He studi