To Cuba and Back: The Origin and Evolution of the Polyphonic Choral Habanera

Abstract

The habanera is a music and dance form originating in Havana, Cuba, during the eighteenth-century Spanish colonial period. The Spanish travelers returned to the Iberian Peninsula with the sensual habanera rhythm and fascinating experiences on the island. Cuban composers had initially fused these elements with Spanish romanticism. The habanera caused an immediate impact when it arrived in Europe. Many prominent late romantic composers featured the exotic style in their works. Habaneras were composed in choral arrangements for over a century after their continental arrival. These arrangements gradually produced a twentieth-century Spanish choral art form known as the polyphonic choral habanera. The repertoire has remained unfamiliar to non-Iberian choral communities. This document aims to familiarize ensembles and audiences with this valuable exotic choral repertoire, which captivatingly documents the history of Spanish travel to Cuba.