Rafael Rincón González
Encyclopedia
Rafael Rincón González was born in the city of Maracaibo
, Zulia
state, Venezuela, on September 30, 1922, specifically in the populated marabino district of El Saladillo. Son of the recognized zuliano painter Neptalí Rincón, from a very young age Rincón felt a strong vocation for music. He later graduated as teacher, and an important part of his educational work is focused on music education.
Toward the end of the 1930s he founded his own musical group Los Hermanitos Rincón, in which his brother Guillermo was the pianist. He later entered into the Trío los Melódicos with guitar teacher Ciro Adarme and the singer Adelina Valbuena; he worked as a music teacher in different schools in which he formed choirs and school music groups. In 1962 he founded and directed the gaiteras
groups Los Tremendos de Ojeda and Los Compadres del Éxito, and two years later founded the choirs Coral Mene Grande, Coral del Liceo Raúl Cuenca, Coral Shell and Coral de la Asociación de Bienestar y Cultura.
Rincón also founded, along with Ciro Adarme, Max Alliey and Nora Romero, the group El Grupo, showcasing his repertoire of compositions. Two guitar
s, a mandolin
and two voices: one his and the other his wife (Nora Romero).
In the period of 1974–1979 he was elected as councillor of the Bolivar district and made efforts with his cultural and educational work in the towns of the eastern coast of the Lake Maracaibo
.
Rincón González is also a composer (of more than 600 songs), essentially waltzes
, danzas, contradanzas, bambucos
and gaitas; among the best known are: “Maracaibo florido”, “Besos inocentes”, “El platanero”, "Cosas del Ayer", “No te puedo Olvidar”, “Danza Zuliana”, “Lamento Goajiro”, “Maracaibera”, “Pregones Zulianos”, “Soberana”, “Mi gaitón”, and “Lago de Maracaibo”.
His songs have been interpreted by Ensamble Gurrufío
, Gualberto Ibarreto
, Simón Díaz
, Jesús Sevillano, Tino Rodríguez, Lila Morillo
, Jesus Reyes “Reyito”,, La Rondalla venezolana, Armando Molero
and the Maracaibo Symphony Orchestra, among others. The song “Pregones Zulianos” was recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London
and features the musician Frank Barber in the zulian suite. His work as teacher, composer and singer has been recognized through the orders San Sebastián and Diego de Losada (1997). His compositions are musical patrimony of the Zulia state by decree, since August 23, 1993.
Maracaibo
Maracaibo is a city and municipality located in northwestern Venezuela off the western coast of the Lake Maracaibo. It is the second-largest city in the country after the national capital Caracas and the capital of Zulia state...
, Zulia
Zulia
Zulia State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is Maracaibo. In June 30, 2010, it had an estimated population of 3,821,068, giving it the largest population among Venezuela's states. It is located in the northwestern part of the country...
state, Venezuela, on September 30, 1922, specifically in the populated marabino district of El Saladillo. Son of the recognized zuliano painter Neptalí Rincón, from a very young age Rincón felt a strong vocation for music. He later graduated as teacher, and an important part of his educational work is focused on music education.
Toward the end of the 1930s he founded his own musical group Los Hermanitos Rincón, in which his brother Guillermo was the pianist. He later entered into the Trío los Melódicos with guitar teacher Ciro Adarme and the singer Adelina Valbuena; he worked as a music teacher in different schools in which he formed choirs and school music groups. In 1962 he founded and directed the gaiteras
Gaita (music style)
Gaita is a style of Venezuelan folk music from Maracaibo in Zulia State. According to Joan Corominas, it may come from gaits, the Gothic word for "goat", which is the skin generally used for the membrane of the furro instrument. Other instruments used in gaita include maracas, cuatro, charrasca and...
groups Los Tremendos de Ojeda and Los Compadres del Éxito, and two years later founded the choirs Coral Mene Grande, Coral del Liceo Raúl Cuenca, Coral Shell and Coral de la Asociación de Bienestar y Cultura.
Rincón also founded, along with Ciro Adarme, Max Alliey and Nora Romero, the group El Grupo, showcasing his repertoire of compositions. Two guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, a mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
and two voices: one his and the other his wife (Nora Romero).
In the period of 1974–1979 he was elected as councillor of the Bolivar district and made efforts with his cultural and educational work in the towns of the eastern coast of the Lake Maracaibo
Lake Maracaibo
Lake Maracaibo is a large brackish bay in Venezuela at . It is connected to the Gulf of Venezuela by Tablazo Strait at the northern end, and fed by numerous rivers, the largest being the Catatumbo. It is commonly considered a lake rather than a bay or lagoon, and at 13,210 km² it would be the...
.
Rincón González is also a composer (of more than 600 songs), essentially waltzes
Venezuelan waltz
- History :Between the hall dances that arrived to Venezuela during the 19th century, waltz has been the one of greater root and dispersion. Waltz consists of a musical expression derived from an Austrian popular dance, the ländler...
, danzas, contradanzas, bambucos
Venezuelan bambuco
This musical genre is typical from the Andean region , it is also found in the States of Zulia, Bolívar, Lara and in the Capital District ; in the latter found in the form of romanticmelodies....
and gaitas; among the best known are: “Maracaibo florido”, “Besos inocentes”, “El platanero”, "Cosas del Ayer", “No te puedo Olvidar”, “Danza Zuliana”, “Lamento Goajiro”, “Maracaibera”, “Pregones Zulianos”, “Soberana”, “Mi gaitón”, and “Lago de Maracaibo”.
His songs have been interpreted by Ensamble Gurrufío
Ensamble Gurrufío
The Ensamble Gurrufío is a celebrated quartet dedicated to the research, arrangement and reinterpretation of Venezuelan instrumental music. Their approach has to do with a new, classically-schooled, educated style, but allowing for improvisation as a fundamental element, leaving ample room for the...
, Gualberto Ibarreto
Gualberto Ibarreto
Gualberto Ibarreto , is a folk singer who plays the mandolin, cuatro, and guitar.During his childhood, he taught himself how to play several instruments after observing popular musicians of the Venezuelan east. He later received some slight knowledge of academic music from Tobías Hernandez and Raul...
, Simón Díaz
Simón Díaz
Simón Narciso Díaz Márquez is a singer and Grammy Award winning composer of Venezuelan music.- Career :Díaz has endeavored to recover the folklore and musical traditions of the llanos, the Venezuelan plains...
, Jesús Sevillano, Tino Rodríguez, Lila Morillo
Lila Morillo
Lila Morillo is a Venezuelan actress and singer.Morillo was born in Maracaibo. She moved to Caracas, to pursue her career in acting. At a young age, she met José Luis Rodríguez "El Puma", who became a singer and actor himself. In 1964, Morillo made her acting debut in Isla de sal...
, Jesus Reyes “Reyito”,, La Rondalla venezolana, Armando Molero
Armando Molero
Armando Molero was a Venezuelan singer known as El Cantor de todos los tiempos...
and the Maracaibo Symphony Orchestra, among others. The song “Pregones Zulianos” was recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
and features the musician Frank Barber in the zulian suite. His work as teacher, composer and singer has been recognized through the orders San Sebastián and Diego de Losada (1997). His compositions are musical patrimony of the Zulia state by decree, since August 23, 1993.