The Trova Festival Comes to a Close in Santiago de Cuba

Surrounded by songs, guitars and voices, the people of Santiago de Cuba crowded Mars Square last night to close the doors of Pepe Sanchez International Trova Festival. It was the perfect moment to honor several bands, true representatives of trova in Cuba: “JJ Son”, for 15 years of work; “Son del Yayabo”, from Sancti Spíritus, for 35 years of trova promotion; and “Familia Valera Miranda”, for having spent 20 years on stages in Cuba and the world.

 

The evening put an end to “Pepe Sanchez”, one of the oldest festivals in Cuba as its first edition took place in this city back in 1964, always with the same goal: extoling the figure of tailor and singer Jose Sanchez, who gave a boost to trova in late 19th century, promoted its teaching and created the first bolero with the present structure: Tristezas.

 

These meetings take place in Santiago de Cuba so as to pay tribute to March 19: Pepe Sanchez’s birthday and Troubadour Day.

 

During the closing ceremony, the attendees also honored Makoto Sasaki and Japanese duet Sones de Corazones. Makoto has participated in “Pepe Sanchez Festival” over the past 15 years and he is one of the most popular foreign figures in the Festival, especially because of his fidelity to the authentic and popular Cuban trova.

 

And one of the most internationally acclaimed bands, Septeto Santiaguero, and its director, Fernando Dewar, were recognized for two decades of incessant work to represent Cuban music.

 

The closing ceremony was attended by Emilia Neuris Acuña Lemes, from the presidency of Cuba’s Communist Party (PCC is the Spanish acronym) in the territory; Manuel Falcon, vice-president of the Provincial Administration Council; Tania Fernandez Chaveco, provincial director of Culture; Sergio Recasen, director of the Music & Show Marketing Company, and outstanding troubadour Eduardo Sosa, president of Pepe Sanchez Trova Festival.

 

This musical evening featured a special group of musicians: troubadour Axel Milanes, from Manzanillo, Granma province; duet Melodias Cubanas, with Maestro Gabino Jardines playing the guitar; popular Felipon, one of the most prestigious young figures in the Cuban trova realm, and septet Moneda Nacional played the final note in the event.

 

Mars Square was spruced up with trova-related elements and flowers, along with members of Ojos Teatro project, living sculptures, with the artistic direction of Eliades Quesada.

 

Pepe Sanchez Festival was held on March 18 - 22 and it also included a theoretical space, launch of books, lectures in artistic teaching institutions and the presence of troubadours from several regions of Cuba. The next edition is going to take place in March 2016.

 

Fuente: Caribbean News Digital