Amadeo Roldán

Amadeo Roldán (1900–1939) was a Cuban composer and violinist, born in Paris. He and came to Cuba in 1919 after, graduating the Madrid Conservatory in 1916. In the mid-1920s, he was appointed concertmaster of the Orquesta Filarmónica of Havana and later he assumed the position of conductor in 1932. During this period, Roldán, one of the leaders of the Afrocubanismo movement, wrote the first symphonic pieces to incorporate Afro-Cuban percussion instruments. Roldán's compositions included Overture on Cuban Themes, Three little poems, and two ballets: La Rebambaramba - his best-known composition and El milagro de Anaquille. There followed a series of Rítmicas, Poema negra and Tres toques. His last work was Piezas infantiles for piano (1937). Roldán died at the peak of his creative powers at 38.