In the early hours of this morning, Jorge G\u00f3mez Barranco \u2014 pianist, composer, and director of the iconic Grupo Moncada \u2014 passed away in Havana at the age of 83. This was announced by the Ministry of Culture (MINCULT) and the Cuban Institute of Music (ICM) in a heartfelt message of condolence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Born on January 8, 1943, in Havana, G\u00f3mez Barranco received academic training as a philosophy professor; however, from a very early stage, he began to develop a body of original work characterized by conceptual depth and a meticulous approach to musical language, the statement elaborates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For decades, his work engaged in a dialogue with the country\u2019s reality, with poetry, and with the social concerns of his time. His career was that of a creator who made artistic rigor and aesthetic honesty his very means of enduring legacy, the note adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jorge G\u00f3mez is inextricably linked to the history of the *Nueva Trova* (New Trova) Movement, in which he played an active leading role\u2014approaching it from a perspective that was both intellectually reflective and musically sophisticated\u2014ultimately founding and directing Grupo Moncada starting in 1972. This ensemble remains one of the most significant groups within the Cuban musical landscape of recent decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under his leadership, the collective established itself as a space for sonic and lyrical experimentation\u2014a place where song, jazz, choral music, and elements of the popular traditions of the \u201cGreater Antilles\u201d (Cuba) converged, the message from MINCULT and the ICM further explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He served not only as the musical director but also as one of the group\u2019s principal composers and arrangers, leading the ensemble to perform on some of the world\u2019s most celebrated stages \u2014 most notably during their tours of France, Brazil, and Ethiopia. Under the leadership of the late musician, Moncada participated in several editions of the renowned San Remo Song Festival (Italy), performing alongside figures of the stature of the Spaniard Joan Manuel Serrat, the Italian Anna Oxa, as well as the Englishmen Carl Palmer and Phil Manzanera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Furthermore, the highest cultural authorities in the \u201cGreater Antilles\u201d emphasize that G\u00f3mez Barranco\u2019s creative body of work is characterized by a profound respect for the sung word, and that many of his compositions\u2014interpreted by distinguished vocalists\u2014have served as the soundtrack to pivotal moments in Cuban life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond the stage, he undertook significant work in music pedagogy and intellectual discourse, consistently championing a humanist vision of art. Consequently, his legacy will endure as a living component of Cuba\u2019s sonic heritage\u2014a realm in which song is understood not merely as an aesthetic expression, but as an act of conscience and cultural memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Serving as President of the Cubadisco International Fair until the time of his passing, he also directed and hosted radio and television programs dedicated to Cuban and Latin American music. Additionally, he successfully organized cultural soir\u00e9es and commemorative cantatas\u2014such as those marking the 20th anniversary of the assault on the Moncada Barracks and the 50th anniversary of the *Nueva Trova* movement\u2014among many other events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He served as a Deputy to the National Assembly of People\u2019s Power for four legislative terms (2003\u20132023) and was a member of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC). Concurrently, he held numerous prestigious honors, including the First-Class F\u00e9lix Varela Order (conferred by the Cuban government), the Juan Marinello Order, the Replica of M\u00e1ximo G\u00f3mez\u2019s Machete, and the Distinction for National Culture, among other accolades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe physical passing of Jorge G\u00f3mez leaves a profound void within the musical community, which will remember him for his unwavering commitment and dedication to the Revolution and to Cuban culture. On behalf of the Ministry of Culture (MINCULT) and the Cuban Institute of Music (ICM), we extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends,\u201d the message concludes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For those wishing to bid farewell to the renowned artist, the notice concludes, his body will lie in repose at the Calzada and K Funeral Home starting at 10:00 a.m. this Monday; and his burial is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at the Col\u00f3n Necropolis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
IMAGE CREDIT: ACN Photo: Yenly Lemus<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[ SOURCE: AGENCIA CUBANA DE NOTICIAS ]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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