Modern Music in Guatemala.

Music composition in Guatemala can be characterized by its diversity of styles. The country’s oldest living composer, Juan de Dios Montenegro (1929-) is particularly important for his compositions for piano. His musical style is clearly rooted in post Romanticism. Similarly, Felipe Ortega writes tonal music influenced by popular musical styles. He prefers simple but tuneful melodies supported by a rich palette of harmonies, all within the context of the salon music that was popular at the beginning of the 20th century. The music of Dieter Lehnhoff (1955-), who helped to create Guatemala’s first bachelor’s degree program in music, is also in this category. The music of Joaquín Orellana (1937-) reveals an interest in tonal color; in fact, he uses instruments that he creates himself to produce an original timbral structure. For a brief period Orellana was associated with the Gandarias brothers, who have been important in the area of electroacoustic composition. David Gandarias, for example, has pioneered the blending of Garifuna music with modern electroacoustic principles. A composer whose music reveals popular tendencies is Paulo Alvarado (1960-). His rhythmic language is particularly sophisticated. Lastly, Enrique Anleu Díaz (1940-), whose serial style is enhanced by coherent thematic development, represents more contemporary trends in Guatemala. He is also the author of an important book on the history of music in that country.
Some of that country’s youngest composers include Gabriel Yela, who has been exploring the integration of music and movement by using instrumental resources in real time, as well as electroacoustics, poetry, dance and theater. Composer and pianist Xavier Beteta is currently pursuing his doctorate in the University of California-San Diego. His music reveals a high degree of rhythmic and melodic contrast within a conventional structure. At the same time, there are approximately ten composition students in the National Conservatory who show great promise.
Some of the individuals and ensembles that perform modern Guatemalan music include the Asturias Quartet, the Contemporary Quartet and the Victoria Choir, as well as flutist Gabriela Corleto, oboist Fielding Roldán, clarinetist Sergio Reyes, marimbist Fernando Vásquez and pianist Roberto Chamalé.