Manuel Corona: the Bard of the Cuban Song
Manuel Corona, who belongs to the lineage of the greatest Cuban troubadours, has an honor place by his own right in the Cuban catalogue of the traditional song
Manuel Corona, who belongs to the lineage of the greatest Cuban troubadours, has an honor place by his own right in the Cuban catalogue of the traditional song in the last century, which impact remains in the soul of the Cuban nation.
The level of composition of this famous composer, makes up the best of the repertoire that took advantage of different rhythms and styles: guaracha, tango, son, song. And he was able to interweave his personal way in the troubadour movement that was already casting roots in the panorama of the most authentic Cuban music of the time.
His life would be marked by episodes of pure minstrel romanticism that would make his figure an emblematic and fascinating character to many sensitivities and, first, for the woman to whom he dedicated an endless number of songs, many of them immortalized through their names: Mercedes, Santa Cecilia, Isabel, Longina; faces that were modifying their appearance, as time passed by, in the minds of his contemporaries who recreated the stories they listened to with moving passion in “bars and canteens”.
He worked in his early years as musician, guitarist and composer of a son group from the Havana’s neighborhood. Then, He took part in the foundation of one of the first sextets in Havana; experience that enabled him to acquire the essential knowledge for his musical work.
Between 1900 and 1920, Corona made his most outstanding production by the quantity, quality and variety of musical genres. Songs like Mercedes, Aurora, Animada, Contrapunto, Mi pecho y mi alma, and those who made him more famous: Longina and Santa Cecilia, are from that time.
Cubans over 40 years couldn’t forget songs by Corona. Santa Cecilia was the song preferred in many homes and its languid rhythm slowly up and down in the recreation of the peaceful Sundays in Habana, shared by the family, usually in the mornings.
Because of your symbolic name of Cecilia,
so supreme that is the musical genius…
Other songs that were much claimed are also from that time, like Mercedes, Adriana, and the guaracha entitled Acelera, Ñico:
Accelerate, Ñico, accelerate,
accelerate and get in first gear …
But Longina, twin sister of Santa Cecilia, is above all. And, it’s impossible to speak about one without having in the lips the lyrics of :
En las sensuales líneas
de tu cuerpo hermoso
hay un tema que destaca
sensibilidad…
(In the sensual lines
of your beautiful body
there is a theme that highlights
sensitivity…)
Manuel Corona loved intensely and he offered all the affection he could to his friends. However, life didn’t award his unconditional dedication nor his inspired texts with the same love he gave to the world.
Despite the successes and glory obtained, the admired musician became sick at an advanced age and practically forgotten. Then, he is welcomed, weak and without resources, in a small room at the cabaret where he worked. Like other musicians of the time and artists of all ages, his life takes a violent turn at being alone and without affection near the end of a fertile existence for many who knew the joy of love through his memorable songs.
So, remember him today is a duty and a beautiful honor. Through him, our parents loved life and held illusions that they later transferred to their children. Through Corona, love was possible in his inspired lyrics, and grooms believed in the thirst for affection as necessary ingredient for erotic approach.
He showed us the romance as unavoidable to give the heart, wise lesson for those who today ignore or try to ignore the beating of their soul because they either do not know or turn a deaf ear to the melodies by Corona.
Others defend his legacy showing its virtues as capable lovers who have a tenderness to test everything, even death.
These lovers still exist. And Manuel Corona nests them.