Sierra, Roberto

Sierra, Roberto, Puerto Rican composer; b. Vega Baja, Oct. 9, 1953. He began musical training at the Puerto Rico Cons. of Music and at the Univ. of Puerto Rico (graduated, 1976), and then pursued studies in London at the Royal Coll. of Music and the Univ. (1976–78), at the Inst. of Sonology in Utrecht (1978), and with Ligeti at the Hamburg Hochschule für Musik (1979–82). He was asst. director (1983–85) and director (1985–86) of the Cultural Activities Dept. at the Univ. of Puerto Rico, then dean of studies (1986–87) and Chancellor (1987–89) at the Puerto Rico Cons. of Music. From 1989 to 1992 he was composer-in-residence at the Milwaukee Sym. Orch. In 1992 he joined the faculty of Cornell Univ., where he later became a prof. of music.

Works

Dramatic: El Mensajero de Plata, chamber opera (1984); El Contemplado, ballet (1987). ORCH.: Jubilo (1985); Glosas for Piano and Orch. (1987); Descarga (1988; Milwaukee, Sept. 28, 1989); Preámbulo (Milwaukee, Sept. 28, 1989); SASIMA (San Antonio, Feb. 22, 1990); Idilio (1990); A Joyous Overture (1991); Concierto Evocativo for Horn and Orch. (1991); Tropicalia (Milwaukee, Nov. 14, 1991); Of Discoveries for 2 Guitars and Orch. (Chautauqua, N.Y., July 3, 1992); Imágenes, concerto for Violin, Guitar, and Orch. (1993); Concierto Caribe for Flute and Orch. (1993); Evocaciones, violin concerto (Pittsburgh, Dec. 1, 1994); Ritmo (1995); Saludo (1995); Concertino for Chamber Orch. and Tape (N.Y., Dec. 15, 1995); Con madera, metal y cuero (1998). CHAMBER: Salsa on the C String for Cello and Piano (1981); Bongo-0 for Percussion (1982); Salsa para vientos for Wind Quintet (1983); Cinco bocetos for Clarinet (1984); Concierto Nocturnal for Harpsichord, Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Violin, and Cello (1985); Memorias Tropicales for String Quartet (1985); Toccata y Lamento for Guitar (1987); Essays for Wind Quintet (1987); Mono a mano for 2 Percussionists (1987); Con Tres for Clarinet, Bassoon, and Piano (1990); Trio Tropical for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1992); Segunda Crònica del Descubrimiento for Flute and Guitar (1992); Tercera Crònica del Descubrimiento for Flute and Guitar (1992); Tres Fantasías for Clarinet, Cello, and Piano (1994); Ritmorroto for Clarinet (1995); Tema y Variaciones for Clarinet and Piano (1999). keyboard: Piano: Vestigios Rituales for 2 Pianos (1984); Tres inventos (1987); 2 X 3 for 2 Pianos (1994). harpsichord: Tres miniaturas (1982); Con salsa (1984). VOCAL: Cantos populares for Chorus (1983); Doña Rosíta for Mezzo-soprano and Wind Quintet (1985); Invocaciones for Voice and Percussion (1986); Glosa a la sombra… for Mezzo-soprano, Viola, Clarinet, and Piano (1987); Bayoán, oratorio for Soprano, Baritone, and Orch. (1991; N.Y., Oct. 14, 1994); Concionero Setardi for Soprano, Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano (1999). OTHER: entre terceras for 2 Synthesizers and Computer (1988).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire