Carlos Bonilla Chávez (†) Classical Guitar 1923-2010

Carlos Bonilla Chavez.
The Father of the Classical Guitar in Ecuador
Guitarist and Contrabass player, Educator, Choral Director and noted Composer
Born in Quito-Ecuador on March the 21st 1923
Songs of the Soul
(Cantares del Alma)

- GUITARIST
Carlos Bonilla Chavez, is one of the pioneering figures in Ecuadorian music for classical guitar.
In 1962 Bonilla founded the first guitar department at the National Conservatory of Music in Quito, Ecuador.
Sought after to perform many of his own compositions which featured solo guitar and orchestra, Bonilla frequently performed with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ecuador and the Colombian Philharmonic Orchestra.

-CONTRABASS PLAYER
Ever since the Ecuadorian National Symphony Orchestra was established in 1956, Bonilla served as principal contrabass until his retirement in 1985. He also performed a contrabass solo, Concert of Canoñery, accompanied on the piano by his brother Hector Bonilla.

- COMPOSER
He wrote numerous unique works and different arrangements for guitar.
Few Ecuadorian composers have fought to elevate the level of the traditional Ecuadorian national music. Adding to its essence, harmonic wealth, and colorful variety. All his works are considered scholarly and yet with a traditional flare for the music of the indigenous Ecuadorian peoples.
Though he wrote hundreds of musical scores, below is a bibliography of his most important symphonic works:
- Andean Suite (Suite Andina) Debut performance took place at the Sucre National Theater in Quito on the 17th of December 1958.
- Thousand Years of Music (Mil Años de Música) This symphonic work made its debut in Quito, 1984. This performance was sponsored by the Central Bank of Ecuador.
- Roots (Raices) (Concert for guitar and orchestra) Raices (Concierto para guitarra y orquesta) Debuted on April 30th 1987 at the Sucre National Theater during a tribute which honored Bonilla's 50 years of involvement with Ecuador's music industry. In May of 1996 Raices was revisited to much acclaim as featured soloist, Fabian Carrera, swept audiences away on melodies similar to the work of Aaron Copeland.
- Minisuite Popular, Debuted in Quito's Sucre National Theater in 1988. This work highlighted Bonilla's writing for popular styled symphonic music.
- Rumiñahui symphony, received the coveted prize Sixto Maria, at the Municipality of Quito in 1989.

Dear Maestro, thank you for being such an outstanding musician, teacher and friend these many years. This small tribute is dedicated to you and your amazing compositions and interpretations of Ecuadorian national music.

Rest in Peace dear Maestro Bonilla.
Quito March 21st, 1923 - January 10th, 2010

=========================

Press Release about his passing (In Spanish)

Falleció el compositor Carlos Bonilla Ch.
http://www.eluniverso.com/2010/01/11/1/1379/fallecio-compositor-carlos-bonill...

Carlos Bonilla deja un gran legado:
http://ww1.elcomercio.com/noticiaEC.asp?id_noticia=327941&id_seccion=7

Bonilla dedico su vida a la música:
http://ww1.elcomercio.com/solo_texto_search.asp?id_noticia=211828&anio=20...

En Monte Olivo se sepultaron los restos de Carlos Bonilla Chávez:
http://www.eluniverso.com/2010/01/14/1/1380/monte-olivo-sepultaron-restos-car...

Murió destacado músico Carlos Bonilla Chavez:
http://www.ecuadorinmediato.com/Noticias/news_user_view/murio_destacado_music...

Ministerio de Coordinación y Patrimonio:
http://www.ministeriopatrimonio.gov.ec/index.php?option=com_content&view=...

From: Univision:
FALLECIO CARLOS BONILLA CHAVEZ EL BETHOVEN DE LA MUSICA ECUATORIANA.
http://foro.univision.com/univision/board/message?board.id=ecuatorianos&m...

Carlos Bonilla Chávez' website:
http://carlosbonillachavez.com/

http://soymusicaecuador.blogspot.com/search/label/Carlos%20Bonilla

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Carlos
• Bonilla
• Chavez
• Classical
• Guitar
• Music
• Ecuador

[JulioEnoc]

Grande maestro Bonilla, sus hermosas obras perduraran como ese pasillo solo tu, inolvidable maestro.

[gatocabrito]

@JulioEnoc Mucha gracias por tu amabilidad y respeto hacia la musica del Maestro Bonilla.

[waldemaral]

¡Gracias gatocabrito por subir esta hermosa canción y sobre todo por permitirme conocer a este gran guitarrista, desde Neuquen, patagonia Argentina!

[gatocabrito]

@waldemaral Un corto homenaje a quien fuera mi Maestro de la Guitarra por màs de 10 años, gracias a ti por tu comentario.

[gatocabrito]

Rest in Peace dear Maestro Bonilla.

Quito- Ecuador

March 21st, 1923 - January 10th, 2010

[gatocabrito]

Es un pasillo titulado:

"Cantares del Alma".

[nominext]

muy linda,soy de thailandia.

[jhavhier22]

Es un honor escuchar una d sus composiciones y haberla podido interpretarla por una persona allegada a usted Fabian Carrera. ERs una composicion muy bueba.

[66lopitos]

Al recordar esta cancion cuando llegues a Ecuador o cuando tu avion esta despegando de suelo ecuatoriano sientes que tu corazon llora como llora la guitarra del maestro Carlos Bonilla, una experiencia total.

[ronaldmcdonald333]

we do not die...we move on

[TillHeartStops777]

is there any tabs for his songs?

[newislandguitar]

really nice music here!

[zenitebluap]

Una cancion tan bella, tan llena de calidez.. Una simple y compleja mezcla de melancolia y gozo. Gracias a Dios por habernos dado un compositor como el Maestro Bonilla. Que siga inspirando a muchos mas.

[xxlalcegaxx]

El Maestro Carlos Bonilla Chàvez es en la guitarra, para los hermanos del Ecuador, lo que es para nosotros el Maestro Peruano: Raùl Garcìa Zàrate. Iconos del folklore Latinoamericano. Vèanlos y disfruten de su arte aqui en Youtubelandia....un abrazo a los amantes del folklore.

nnnn