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ANTONIO MARIA ROMEU

Danzon: Rythm and melody. Fine and incomparable. Marvelously smooth and motivating. A gender derived from Cuban native dances that was created in the city of Ma-tanzas in the 19th century by Miguel Failde. A musical gender that was brought to light on January of 1879 in a society club in Matanzas, Cuba, and was part of the most most elegant parlors in the country. Thr first danzon was titled "The Heights of Simpson".

The danzón constitutes the first achievement of Faílde. Later José Urfé integrated it with rhythmic elements that made of Danzon what it is today. Romeu, one of the most important musicians in Cuban musical history gave it a singular touch by utilizing an old ‘son’ piece, he elaborated in the interpretation of "Three Pretty Cubans" in 1926, giving him an unique style that consolidated this gender as the Cuban national dance, and Antonio Maria Romeu as a genuine danzonero.

Antonio María Romeu was born in Jibacoa in 1876. He was known as the Magician of the Piano. He was also a musician, a composer, and an orchestra director.
Romeu's musical compositions include close to 500 danzones. The most outstanding ones are Marcheta, Twenty Century Jibacoa and The magic flute. Other danzones which are famous are: Almond, Dad Montero, The Bombín of Barreto, Gota, Three Pretty Cubans, and The Cadete Constitucional among many other. In 1911, Romeu reached the climax of his popularity when his danzones were vocalized by important Cuban singers such as Fernando Collazo and Barbarito Diez. Without any doubts, Antonio Maria Romeu is known as a favorite musician by danzoneros and with to Barbarito Diez heplaced danzón to go the top.

 

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