View source for Lita Spena

{{Short description|Argentine composer}}
'''Lita Spena''' (October 4, 1904-1989)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Schiuma|first=Oreste|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VQQLAAAAMAAJ&q=Lita+Spena|title=Cien años de música argentina: precursores, fundadores, contemporáneos, directores, concertistas, escritores|date=1956|publisher=Asociación Cristiana de Jóvenes|language=es}}</ref> was an Argentine composer,<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Ficher|first1=Miguel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S02rvzz60rkC&dq=Lita+Spena&pg=PA621|title=Latin American Classical Composers: A Biographical Dictionary|last2=Schleifer|first2=Martha Furman|last3=Furman|first3=John M.|date=2002-10-16|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-1-4616-6911-1|language=en}}</ref> performer, and teacher who used Argentine folk tunes in her compositions.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hixon|first=Donald L.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/28889156|title=Women in music : an encyclopedic biobibliography|date=1993|publisher=Scarecrow Press|others=Don A. Hennessee|isbn=0-8108-2769-7|edition=2nd|location=Metuchen, N.J.|oclc=28889156}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Stewart-Green|first=Miriam|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/6815939|title=Women composers : a checklist of works for the solo voice|date=1980|publisher=G.K. Hall|isbn=0-8161-8498-4|location=Boston, Mass.|oclc=6815939}}</ref>
Spena was born into a musical family in [[Buenos Aires]].<ref name=":2" /> Her father, composer Lorenzo Spena, emigrated from Naples, Italy, to Buenos Aires in 1901. He founded the Clementi Conservatory and composed at least two operas.<ref name=":1" />
Spena studied music with her parents as a child, then attended the [[Conservatorio Nacional Superior de Música (Argentina)|Conservatorio Nacional Superior de Música Argentina]],<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Frega|first=Ana Lucía|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5WJaAAAAMAAJ&q=Lita+Spena|title=Mujeres de la música|date=1994|publisher=Planeta|isbn=978-950-742-422-9|language=es}}</ref> where she later taught. Her students included Ruben Ferrero and [[Waldo de los Ríos|Waldo de los Rios]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Biography of Waldo de los Ríos|url=http://www.grandorchestras.com/waldo/waldo-biography.html|access-date=2022-01-15|website=www.grandorchestras.com}}</ref> In 1929, she founded and began performing with the Argentine Trio.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Cohen|first=Aaron I.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5VsYAAAAIAAJ&q=strantz+louise|title=International Encyclopedia of Women Composers|date=1987|publisher=Books & Music (USA)|isbn=978-0-9617485-1-7|language=en}}</ref>
Spena used themes from Argentine folksongs in her compositions. She composed songs based on texts by German Berdiales,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=CVC. Rinconete. Música y escena. Lita Spena, por Blas Matamoro.|url=https://cvc.cervantes.es/el_rinconete/anteriores/octubre_04/15102004_02.htm|access-date=2022-01-15|website=cvc.cervantes.es}}</ref> Alfredo R. Bufano, Julia Crespo, [[André Gide|Andre Gide]], Horacio Guillén, Jorge Jantus, Carlos Mingo,and Juan Vignale.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lita Spena (1904 - 1989) - Vocal Texts and Translations at the LiederNet Archive|url=https://www.lieder.net/lieder/get_settings.html?ComposerId=19282|access-date=2022-01-15|website=www.lieder.net}}</ref> Her compositions included:
== Piano ==
*''Preludios<ref>{{Cite book|last=Office|first=Library of Congress Copyright|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PjkhAQAAIAAJ&dq=Lita+Spena&pg=PA419|title=Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series|date=1956|language=en}}</ref>''
*''Sonata''<ref name=":0" />
== Theater ==
''[[Pinocchio]]'' (story by [[Carlo Collodi]])<ref name=":1" />
== Vocal ==
*''30 Children’s songs<ref name=":0" />''
*''Songs from [[Jujuy Province|Jujuy]]<ref name=":1" />''
*''Songs from [[Villa Tulumaya|Tulumaya]]<ref name=":1" />''
*''Songs of Love''<ref name=":1" />
*[https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Lita+Spena Listen to works by Lita Spena]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
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[[Category:Argentine composers]]
[[Category:Argentine women composers]]
[[Category:1904 births]]
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:Composers from Buenos Aires]]