Sergio Ortega
Encyclopedia
Sergio Ortega was a Chile
an composer
and pianist
.
, Chile. He studied composition with Roberto Falabella and with Gustavo Becerra-Schmidt
in the National Conservatory at the Universidad de Chile
. After graduating, he worked in the Institute of Musical Extension and was a sound engineer for six years in the University’s Experimental Theater, Teatro Antonio Varas.
Ortega was a force for the leftist movement in Chile. Not only did he compose President Salvador Allende
’s electoral theme song, "Venceremos
" ("We Shall Triumph"), he was also the author of the worldwide anthem of popular resistance, "¡El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido!
" ("The People United Will Never Be Defeated!"). He was also the composer of the anthems of the Partido Radical (Radical Party), the Juventudes Comunistas
(Communist Youth), and the Central Única de Trabajadores. He also turned Salvador Allende’s political plan, embodied in the texts of Julio Rojas, into an album of songs called Canto al Programa, performed by Inti-Illimani
.
Ortega composed some of the seminal works of the movement known as the Nueva Canción Chilena
(New Chilean Song), a fusion of rhythms and styles with a social conscience. In his work, one can find poems, cantata
s, opera
s, songs, and soundtrack
s. Among his most famous works are the songs "El monte y el río” ("The Mountain and the River", lyrics by Nicolás Guillén
), and "Les deux mers” ("The Two Seas"), and a trilogy about the French Revolution
.
Ortega composed a fair number of songs for use in the theater, one of his last works being the opera of fellow communist Pablo Neruda
's epic poem "Fulgor y muerte de Joaquín Murieta" ("Brilliance and Death of Joaquín Murieta"). He also worked on a musical version of Neruda's Canto General
with Gustavo Becerra, which was staged in 1970. In 1978, Ortega wrote a cantata
of Neruda’s "Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme, 1810. Poema sonoro para el padre de mi patria" ("Homage to the Father of my Country"), for the liberator of Chile. Ortega worked with his eldest son, Chanaral Ortega, on an operatic version of Pedro Páramo
, the novel by Mexican writer Juan Rulfo
.
In 1969, Ortega became a professor of composition in the Conservatory. A year later, in 1970, he began to direct the University's TV station, Channel 9, which he continued until 1973. At the end of 1973, after the September 11 coup
, Ortega fled to France, where he resided until his death. He was given permission to return to Chile in 1983, and did so several times. During his exile, Ortega directed L'Ecole Nationale de Musique, in Pantin
, France
.
Ortega died of cancer at the age of 65 on September 15, 2003 in Paris
, four days after the 30th anniversary of the coup d’etat. His remains were repatriated to Chile.
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
.
Biography
Ortega was born in AntofagastaAntofagasta
Antofagasta is a port city in northern Chile, about north of Santiago. It is the capital of Antofagasta Province and Antofagasta Region. According to the 2002 census, the city has a population of 296,905...
, Chile. He studied composition with Roberto Falabella and with Gustavo Becerra-Schmidt
Gustavo Becerra-Schmidt
Gustavo Becerra-Schmidt was a Chilean composer.Becerra-Schmidt lived in Germany since 1973 and taught at Oldenburg University since 1974. Becerra was the most prolific Chilean composer...
in the National Conservatory at the Universidad de Chile
Universidad de Chile (university)
The University of Chile is the largest and oldest institution of higher education in Chile and one of the oldest in the Americas. Founded in 1842 as the replacement and continuation of the former colonial Royal University of San Felipe , the university is often called Casa de Bello in honor of...
. After graduating, he worked in the Institute of Musical Extension and was a sound engineer for six years in the University’s Experimental Theater, Teatro Antonio Varas.
Ortega was a force for the leftist movement in Chile. Not only did he compose President Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende Gossens was a Chilean physician and politician who is generally considered the first democratically elected Marxist to become president of a country in Latin America....
’s electoral theme song, "Venceremos
Venceremos (song)
"Venceremos" is a Chilean song, which was written by Claudio Iturra and composed by Sergio Ortega for the 1970 election campaign of Salvador Allende. The title translates to "We Shall Triumph".-External links:...
" ("We Shall Triumph"), he was also the author of the worldwide anthem of popular resistance, "¡El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido!
El pueblo unido jamás será vencido
"¡El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido!" is one of the most internationally renowned songs of the Nueva Cancion Chilena movement. The music of the song was composed by Sergio Ortega and the text written by Quilapayún...
" ("The People United Will Never Be Defeated!"). He was also the composer of the anthems of the Partido Radical (Radical Party), the Juventudes Comunistas
Communist Youth of Chile
The Communist Youth of Chile is the youth wing of the Communist Party of Chile. It was founded on September 5 of 1932 and it incorporates young communist activists between the ages of 14 to 28...
(Communist Youth), and the Central Única de Trabajadores. He also turned Salvador Allende’s political plan, embodied in the texts of Julio Rojas, into an album of songs called Canto al Programa, performed by Inti-Illimani
Inti-Illimani
Inti-Illimani is an instrumental and vocal Latin American folk music ensemble from Chile. The group was formed in 1967 by a group of university students and it acquired widespread popularity in Chile for their song Venceremos which became the anthem of the Popular Unity government of Salvador...
.
Ortega composed some of the seminal works of the movement known as the Nueva Canción Chilena
Nueva canción
Nueva canción is a movement and genre within Latin American and Iberian music of folk music, folk-inspired music and socially committed music...
(New Chilean Song), a fusion of rhythms and styles with a social conscience. In his work, one can find poems, cantata
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
s, opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s, songs, and soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s. Among his most famous works are the songs "El monte y el río” ("The Mountain and the River", lyrics by Nicolás Guillén
Nicolás Guillén
Nicolás Cristóbal Guillén Batista was a Cuban poet, journalist, political activist, and writer. He is best remembered as the national poet of Cuba.Guillén was born in Camagüey, Cuba...
), and "Les deux mers” ("The Two Seas"), and a trilogy about the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
.
Ortega composed a fair number of songs for use in the theater, one of his last works being the opera of fellow communist Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda was the pen name and, later, legal name of the Chilean poet, diplomat and politician Neftalí Ricardo Reyes Basoalto. He chose his pen name after Czech poet Jan Neruda....
's epic poem "Fulgor y muerte de Joaquín Murieta" ("Brilliance and Death of Joaquín Murieta"). He also worked on a musical version of Neruda's Canto General
Canto General
Canto General is Pablo Neruda's tenth book of poems. It was first published in Mexico in 1950, by Talleres Gráficos de la Nación. Neruda began to compose it in 1938....
with Gustavo Becerra, which was staged in 1970. In 1978, Ortega wrote a cantata
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
of Neruda’s "Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme, 1810. Poema sonoro para el padre de mi patria" ("Homage to the Father of my Country"), for the liberator of Chile. Ortega worked with his eldest son, Chanaral Ortega, on an operatic version of Pedro Páramo
Pedro Páramo
Pedro Páramo is a short novel written by Juan Rulfo, originally published in 1955. In just the 23 FCE editions and reprintings, it had sold 1,143,000 copies by November 1997. Other editions in Mexico, Spain, and other nations have sold countless more copies...
, the novel by Mexican writer Juan Rulfo
Juan Rulfo
Juan Rulfo was a Mexican author and photographer. One of Latin America's most esteemed authors, Rulfo's reputation rests on two slim books, the novel Pedro Páramo , and El Llano en llamas...
.
In 1969, Ortega became a professor of composition in the Conservatory. A year later, in 1970, he began to direct the University's TV station, Channel 9, which he continued until 1973. At the end of 1973, after the September 11 coup
Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende Gossens was a Chilean physician and politician who is generally considered the first democratically elected Marxist to become president of a country in Latin America....
, Ortega fled to France, where he resided until his death. He was given permission to return to Chile in 1983, and did so several times. During his exile, Ortega directed L'Ecole Nationale de Musique, in Pantin
Pantin
Pantin is a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris. It is one of the most densely populated municipalities in Europe. Its post code is 93500.Pantin was once the site of Motobecane's operations...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Ortega died of cancer at the age of 65 on September 15, 2003 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, four days after the 30th anniversary of the coup d’etat. His remains were repatriated to Chile.