SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 23 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Today, the rector of the University of La Laguna, Francisco García, officially accepted the collection of musical scores by the talented musician and composer Enrique Guimerá Corbella. This extensive collection includes compositions dating back to the eighties up until 2004, the year of his passing. The collection features pieces crafted for various musical ensembles such as chamber orchestras, string quartets, duets, four-hand piano, and brass quintets, among others.
The rector expressed that this collection is of immense value, and the University will meticulously preserve it with the intention of making it accessible to the public and serving as a resource for research. Professors Pompeyo Pérez and Javier Marrero played vital roles in facilitating this donation, thereby enriching the university’s archives and providing new reference materials.
The University Library of La Laguna hosts musical events on select Fridays throughout the academic year. During the donation ceremony, discussions were held regarding the performance of some of Guimerá’s compositions by local musicians.
Enrique Guimerá, who studied guitar, piano, and viola at the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Conservatory, also obtained a degree in Biology from the University of La Laguna. He exhibited a keen interest from a young age in blending classical music with popular and urban genres. In the 1970s, he was part of the musical-theatrical ensemble ‘Expresión TUEC’ and later co-founded Almargen, collaborating on numerous multimedia projects involving poetry, dance, and visual art. He also contributed to various albums between 1990 and 2004 that contained his original compositions.
Furthermore, Guimerá was actively involved as a viola player with the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra (OST) and played a pivotal role as a founding member of the Association of Composers and Musicologists of Tenerife. His compositions gained recognition, especially after the OST premiered his orchestral suite ‘Ballet for Women’ at the Visual Music Festival in Lanzarote, sparking interest among instrumentalists in his music.
While Guimerá was known for his percussion-focused pieces, his true passion lied in creating works for orchestras, leading him to record many of his chamber compositions. He also dabbled in jazz both as a musician and an educator, collaborating with various artists and groups like Mestisay, Taburiente, and Añoranza. A true innovator, Guimerá constantly sought new artistic horizons.
Among the contributions to the University of La Laguna, Guimerá’s widow, María Luisa Gordo, emphasised the inclusion of handwritten scores, works in progress, and accompanying texts and illustrations. Additional material such as concert programmes and CDs are anticipated to complement this collection. Gordo believes that through this initiative, the musical legacy of the Canary Islands will receive greater exposure, thereby enhancing the appreciation for this remarkable composer.
