Vincent Emilio Sojo

Vicente Emilio Sojo

Emilio was a Venezuelan composer, conductor, educator, and musicologist. Both his grandparents were chapel masters, so he was indeed born into a musical background. He first began his studies under Regulo Rico in 1896. By 1906 he had moved to Caracas, and entered the school of music. During this period he was also teaching himself humanities. About a decade later he was appointed music professor in the school of music and declamation. Around 1928 he wrote his first polyphonic opus.

He was the founder of Venezuela symphony orchestra, and conductor of the Orfeon Lamas. Along with several other composers, he created the first songbook for Venezuelan children. After the 1930’s he was devoting his time mostly to the music school. At this point he was writing very few music. He music was influenced by impressionism, but was rooted in Venezuelan folklore. He had collected as well as published many traditional songs. Some of his guitar works have become a standard repertoire. In 1982 the institute Vicente Emilio Sojo was founded. Much of the devotion of his institute goes toward music research. He is regarded as a big part of the reason why modern Venezuelan music schools are still around. He also composed and harmonized over two hundred songs of very popular folklore. He is credited as part of the reason why Venezuelan music tradition still exits. Sojo died at the age of 86.


DISCOGRAPHY
1911 Himno a Bolívar
1912 Romanza sin palabras
1913 Cuarteto en Re, for strings
1914 Partitura para festiva
1914 Tres motetes para la iglesia Santa Capilla
1915 Misa Coral
1918 Salve Reina
1920 Obertura Treno
1922 Ave María
1923 Misa Cromática
1924 Ocho responsorias y un Te Deum
1925 Palabras de Cristo en el Calvario
1926–1927 27 canciones de ayer
1928 Por la Cabra Rubia
1929 Requiem Inmemorian Patris Patriae
1930–1933 Misa Breve
1935 Misa a capella en honor a Santa Efigenia y a su fallecida esposa,La Noche, La Carretera, Rondel Matinal and Hondie nos Fulgebit Lux
1939 Tres canciones infantiles
1952 Tres piezas para guitarras
1953 Misa para Santa Cecilia
1958 10 canciones infantiles venezolanas
1964–1969 9 Canciones infantiles


Sources:
Oxford Music Online.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicente_Emilio_Sojo