Samuel Robles
Encyclopedia
Samuel Robles is a Panama
nian conductor, composer, and writer. His compositions are often influenced by Panamanian folklore and traditions, as evidenced from his earliest works (Dos Piezas para Flauta Sola, Mesano for saxophone quartet) to his most recent ones (Zafra for Orchestra, Piano Sonata). His works have been performed by orchestras and soloists throughout the Americas, Europe and South Africa, most notably the OSJEV, the National Symphony of Panama, clarinetist Ana Catalina Ramírez, violinist Eddy Marcano, Eighth Blackbird
's Michael Maccaferri, and soprano Melissa Gerber. He has served as resident and featured composer in international festivals, including the Forum for Caribbean Composers and the JOCCA Festival.
He has been guest conductor with the Youth Orchestra of Bahia, the Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil del Estado de Veracruz (OSJEV), the Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil de Orizaba, the José Artigas National Symphony of Uruguay, the Bahia Symphony Orchestra, the YOA
Camerata, and the Joven Orquesta y Coro de Centroamérica (JOCCA), among others. He served for seven years as the Music Director for the Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil Istmeña in his native Panama (2003-2010) and has held positions at the Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua
, National Institute of Culture of Panama and the National Concert Association of Panama. He has worked with soloists such as singers Anna Noggle and Ryland Angel, Eddy Marcano, Tracy Wu, and Miguel Ángel Cegarra. He has been called a "wonderfully engaging conductor" by Boston Philharmonic
's Benjamin Zander
.
As a fiction writer, Robles has been awarded several prizes for his short stories and poetry, and has been published by the National Institute of Culture of Panamá, Fundación Signos, and El Duende Gramático.
Samuel Robles holds degrees from the Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua
, the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati
, the University of Chicago
, and North-West University
(South Africa). He began music studies at 10, and has been a pupil of Hannes Taljaard, Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon, Allen Otte, Joel Hoffman
, Rodney Winther, Aristides "Tille" Valderrama, and Dino Nugent. He has taught at Florida State University - Panama, Balboa Academy, and The International School of Panama.
and Anton Webern
. This is audible in his Dos Piezas para Flauta Sola (1996), el cristo llora lágrimas de sangre (1999) for voice and ensemble and amanecer en tiempos de guerra for orchestra (1999). In the latter, commissioned by the National Symphony of Panama and dedicated "to the Panamanian victims of invasion of December 1989", Robles presents angular motives which slowly develop melodically over quartal harmonies.
Later works show clearer influences from Panamanian traditional music and poetry, and a turn to symmetrical harmonic constructions, although still in fourths and seconds. In Coplas (2010), Robles explores the tradition of improvised sung couplets (Four-verse strophes with rhyme scheme ABAB, or ABCB). Anonymous verses are juxtaposed with a piano accompaniment which recalls the 'torrentes' (harmonic and rhythmic patterns from the mejorana tradition of Panama). The use of Panamanian drumming patterns from 'tamborito' music are also a staple of Robles' work. Zafra (2009), for orchestra, is one instance of such use of traditional rhythms. The piece's tempo marking 'Atravesao' is frequently used by Robles, and refers to the 6/8 - 3/4 drumming pattern. The same rhythmic scheme and tempo marking is used in the second of the Dos Miniaturas (originally for flute and piano, also for violin and piano). The first movement, 'En Tiempo de Punto' recalls the colorful couple folk dance of the same name.
There are a handful of tonal works in Robles' catalog, most of which are impressions of Panamanian music genres. His Suite Panameña (2009) is composed of three movements, depicting three styles of folk song and dance: Punto, Mejorana, Atravesao. Another example of this is Lamento y Punto (2009), which calls upon both the mejorana tradition, and the intimate couple dance form.
Works for Unaccompanied Instruments
A considerable portion of Robles' catalog is comprised by works for solo instruments; they are also his most widely performed. Among his earliest examples are Fuego en el Bosque for clarinet and Dos Piezas for flute. More recent pieces in this category include Fantasía and Cabangueando, both for clarinet, and the Piano Sonata, a posthumous homage to Panamanian Composer Roque Cordero
. His ballet for a single percussionist Tian-Ho, based on a Chinese folk legend, was performed at the Tanglewood Festival in 2000 by percussionist Jonathan Bisesi and dancer Meghan Brennan.
Robles' poetry is brief, direct, and filled with landscape images and frequently using nature as a metaphor for human emotion. The evocation of his homeland and its traditions is as frequent in his poetry and stories as in his music.
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
nian conductor, composer, and writer. His compositions are often influenced by Panamanian folklore and traditions, as evidenced from his earliest works (Dos Piezas para Flauta Sola, Mesano for saxophone quartet) to his most recent ones (Zafra for Orchestra, Piano Sonata). His works have been performed by orchestras and soloists throughout the Americas, Europe and South Africa, most notably the OSJEV, the National Symphony of Panama, clarinetist Ana Catalina Ramírez, violinist Eddy Marcano, Eighth Blackbird
Eighth blackbird
eighth blackbird is a Grammy Award-winning contemporary music sextet based in Chicago. The group derives its name from the eighth stanza of Wallace Stevens' poem Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird...
's Michael Maccaferri, and soprano Melissa Gerber. He has served as resident and featured composer in international festivals, including the Forum for Caribbean Composers and the JOCCA Festival.
He has been guest conductor with the Youth Orchestra of Bahia, the Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil del Estado de Veracruz (OSJEV), the Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil de Orizaba, the José Artigas National Symphony of Uruguay, the Bahia Symphony Orchestra, the YOA
YOA Orchestra of the Americas
Led by Artistic Advisor, Plácido Domingo, YOA Orchestra of the Americas is a multicultural symphony orchestra of 100 musicians, ages 18 to 30, from more than 20 countries of the Western Hemisphere. Musicians are selected through a rigorous audition process at local, national and international...
Camerata, and the Joven Orquesta y Coro de Centroamérica (JOCCA), among others. He served for seven years as the Music Director for the Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil Istmeña in his native Panama (2003-2010) and has held positions at the Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua
Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua
The Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua , is a private university in Panama City, Panama. The institution was created as the first private university of Panama, starting on May 27, 1965...
, National Institute of Culture of Panama and the National Concert Association of Panama. He has worked with soloists such as singers Anna Noggle and Ryland Angel, Eddy Marcano, Tracy Wu, and Miguel Ángel Cegarra. He has been called a "wonderfully engaging conductor" by Boston Philharmonic
Boston Philharmonic
The Boston Philharmonic Orchestra is a semi-professional orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1979....
's Benjamin Zander
Benjamin Zander
Benjamin Zander is an American conductor from the United Kingdom.-External links:* *-Interviews:* * * *...
.
As a fiction writer, Robles has been awarded several prizes for his short stories and poetry, and has been published by the National Institute of Culture of Panamá, Fundación Signos, and El Duende Gramático.
Samuel Robles holds degrees from the Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua
Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua
The Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua , is a private university in Panama City, Panama. The institution was created as the first private university of Panama, starting on May 27, 1965...
, the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
, the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, and North-West University
North-West University
The North-West University is a newly merged institution from 1 January 2004 onwards with four campuses at Potchefstroom, Mafikeng, Vanderbijlpark and Mankwe. The Potchefstroom Campus is the largest, and the head office of the University is situated at this location...
(South Africa). He began music studies at 10, and has been a pupil of Hannes Taljaard, Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon, Allen Otte, Joel Hoffman
Joel Hoffman
Joel Hoffman is an American film and television actor. He has starred in Pumpkinhead, Slumber Party Massacre II, and Highway to Heaven and now teaches English at Reedley High School.-External links:...
, Rodney Winther, Aristides "Tille" Valderrama, and Dino Nugent. He has taught at Florida State University - Panama, Balboa Academy, and The International School of Panama.
Compositions
Robles' early work is heavily influenced by the music of the early 20th century, particularly by Edgard VarèseEdgard Varèse
Edgard Victor Achille Charles Varèse, , whose name was also spelled Edgar Varèse , was an innovative French-born composer who spent the greater part of his career in the United States....
and Anton Webern
Anton Webern
Anton Webern was an Austrian composer and conductor. He was a member of the Second Viennese School. As a student and significant follower of Arnold Schoenberg, he became one of the best-known exponents of the twelve-tone technique; in addition, his innovations regarding schematic organization of...
. This is audible in his Dos Piezas para Flauta Sola (1996), el cristo llora lágrimas de sangre (1999) for voice and ensemble and amanecer en tiempos de guerra for orchestra (1999). In the latter, commissioned by the National Symphony of Panama and dedicated "to the Panamanian victims of invasion of December 1989", Robles presents angular motives which slowly develop melodically over quartal harmonies.
Later works show clearer influences from Panamanian traditional music and poetry, and a turn to symmetrical harmonic constructions, although still in fourths and seconds. In Coplas (2010), Robles explores the tradition of improvised sung couplets (Four-verse strophes with rhyme scheme ABAB, or ABCB). Anonymous verses are juxtaposed with a piano accompaniment which recalls the 'torrentes' (harmonic and rhythmic patterns from the mejorana tradition of Panama). The use of Panamanian drumming patterns from 'tamborito' music are also a staple of Robles' work. Zafra (2009), for orchestra, is one instance of such use of traditional rhythms. The piece's tempo marking 'Atravesao' is frequently used by Robles, and refers to the 6/8 - 3/4 drumming pattern. The same rhythmic scheme and tempo marking is used in the second of the Dos Miniaturas (originally for flute and piano, also for violin and piano). The first movement, 'En Tiempo de Punto' recalls the colorful couple folk dance of the same name.
There are a handful of tonal works in Robles' catalog, most of which are impressions of Panamanian music genres. His Suite Panameña (2009) is composed of three movements, depicting three styles of folk song and dance: Punto, Mejorana, Atravesao. Another example of this is Lamento y Punto (2009), which calls upon both the mejorana tradition, and the intimate couple dance form.
Works for Unaccompanied Instruments
A considerable portion of Robles' catalog is comprised by works for solo instruments; they are also his most widely performed. Among his earliest examples are Fuego en el Bosque for clarinet and Dos Piezas for flute. More recent pieces in this category include Fantasía and Cabangueando, both for clarinet, and the Piano Sonata, a posthumous homage to Panamanian Composer Roque Cordero
Roque Cordero
Roque Cordero was a Panamanian composer.-Life:Born in Panama City, he studied composition under Ernst Krenek and conducting under Dimitri Mitropoulos, Stanley Chapple, and Leon Barzin before becoming director of the Institute of Music and Artistic Director and conductor of the National Symphony of...
. His ballet for a single percussionist Tian-Ho, based on a Chinese folk legend, was performed at the Tanglewood Festival in 2000 by percussionist Jonathan Bisesi and dancer Meghan Brennan.
Poetry and Short Story
His interest in writing began concurrently with his first studies in music. His first poetry book, Danza de Espumas, obtained the Signos National Prize in 1991, and was published the same year by the National Institute of Culture of Panama. In the same competition, Robles obtained mention of honor in the Short Story category. A number of his short stories have been published in Panamanian periodicals and in the Maga literary journal. Robles was named one of the "50 under 50" most notable short story writers by Fundación Signos, and as such his El Rescate y la Muerte de Tristán was included in the anthology Hasta el Sol de Mañana, published by the Foundation. His most recent poetry book, ...como vino de palma is being released by Ediciones El Duende Gramático.Robles' poetry is brief, direct, and filled with landscape images and frequently using nature as a metaphor for human emotion. The evocation of his homeland and its traditions is as frequent in his poetry and stories as in his music.