Ensamble Gurrufío
Ensamble Gurrufío | |
---|---|
(left-right) Juan Ernesto Laya, David Peña, Cheo Hurtado, and Luis Julio Toro. | |
Background information | |
Origin | Caracas, Venezuela |
Genres | Venezuelan folk music |
Years active | 1984–present |
Labels | Sony Music, Independent |
Associated acts | Serenata Guayanesa, Camerata Criolla, Great Marshal of Ayacucho Symphony orchestra, Moisés Torrealba, Alexis Cárdenas, Ofelía del Rosal |
Website | www.ensamblegurrufio.com.ve |
Members |
Cheo Hurtado Luis Julio Toro David Peña Juan Ernesto Laya |
Past members | Cristóbal Soto |
The Ensamble Gurrufío is a quartet dedicated to the research, arrangement and reinterpretation of Venezuelan instrumental music.
History
The Ensamble Gurrufío was founded on 1984 by three young musicians, Luis Julio Toro (flute), Cristóbal Soto (mandolin), and Cheo Hurtado (cuatro). David Peña (bass) completed the quartet in 1989. All of the four are academy musicians and teachers with considerable background as soloists and performers. A fifth member, Juan Ernesto Laya (maracas ) joined the ensemble since 1998, when Cristóbal Soto moved to a permanent residence in France. The group has occasionally incorporated additional members, such as Jaime Martínez (oboe) and Moisés Torrealba (bandola). The ensemble has performed in collaboration with other Venezuelan groups, such as Serenata Guayanesa, the Camerata Criolla, and the Great Marshal of Ayacucho Symphony orchestra. Similarly, they have recorded together with foreign musicians like Bela Fleck, among others.
Repertoire and Style
Their live performances and recordings are characterized by the addition of long-forgotten pieces, rescued through research and interaction with other scholars experienced in Venezuelan music.
Discography
External links
- Ensamble Gurrufío
- (in Spanish) - Bio of the Ensamble Gurrufío
- "El Cruzao" CD promo, featuring track samples
- Culture in Venezuela: A General View
- (in Spanish) 'Dimedonde Magazine'
References
- The New York Times article of Dec. 6, 1994 – Critic's Notebook – Tuning In to Venezuelan Music and Its Rich Tradition – by Alex Ross Mentions four concerts by Venezuelan artists, including one by Ensamble Gurrufio.