Clave Magazine Dedicates Its Latest Issue to Laura Vilar
The latest issue of Clave magazine, presented at the Center for Research and Development of Cuban Music (CIDMUC) by musicologist Ailer Pérez, is dedicated to the memory of Laura Vilar, who served as director of the institution from 2006 until 2024. Under her leadership, CIDMUC conducted significant research into Cuban and Caribbean music, contributing to the understanding and preservation of the region’s musical heritage.
Published in digital format, the 64-page issue features several articles by the renowned researcher and professor, who passed away in May of last year. Her works included in this edition are: Tradiciones musicales en el Caribe; Así somos… Justo Pelladito y Afroamérica; Del sonido… sus rastros. Una historia sonora de práctica y estudio. Entrevista a Pedro Raúl Díaz Puig; and Industrias culturales o creativas, un acercamiento.
The editorial note titled “Laura con nosotros”, which opens the issue, was written by musicologist María Elena Vinueza González. In it, she describes Vilar as an essential figure in fulfilling the institution’s mission:
“She knew how to apply her talent and determination to the work of each day, inspiring us with the certainty that everything was possible when it came to studying and preserving the musical culture of our people. That is why her mark remains indelible in Cuban musicology over the past decades.”
Vilar co-authored the reference work Instrumentos de la música folclórico-popular de Cuba (CIDMUC 1996/97), particularly the map folio accompanying the documented history of Cuban instruments and musical ensembles. This issue also highlights her early work as a researcher, which included studies on the cultural interconnections between Cuba and the Caribbean; her documentation of Haitian Vodou music and ritual practices in the eastern region of Cuba; and her participation in field teams that explored musical and dance expressions in neighboring Caribbean nations such as Grenada, Guyana, and Guadeloupe.
Vinueza González’s words summarize the intent of the issue:
“Let these pages serve as a tribute from her colleagues and cooperators — a gesture of affection, admiration, and respect for her life and her vocation of service.”
Clave also republishes a compelling interview with Laura Vilar conducted by musicologist Amaya Carricaburu Collantes on the occasion of CIDMUC’s 40th anniversary — originally published in 2019. The interview explores various aspects of Vilar’s professional journey, tracing her arrival at the institution, the center’s founding mission, its role in Cuba’s musical and academic landscape, and the key challenges, milestones, and goals that have shaped its legacy — and what remains to be done.
The issue includes excerpts from the book Tradiciones musicales en el Caribe: Granada, a CIDMUC-led musicological research project that documented the island’s traditional music through photography and field recordings, creating an audiovisual archive.
Also featured are liner notes written by Vilar for the album Así somos by Justo Pelladito and Afroamérica (Colibrí Productions, 2021). The album, recorded by the group Afroamérica, stands out for its exceptional performing style, placing it among Cuba’s most distinctive folkloric-popular music ensembles.
Another noteworthy piece in this edition is Del sonido… sus rastros. Una historia sonora de práctica y estudio. Entrevista a Pedro Raúl Díaz Puig. In the interview, Díaz Puig — a sound recording expert and key figure in CIDMUC’s history — shares his experiences recording hundreds of hours of music, testimonies, lectures, and events since the institution’s founding. He emphasizes the importance of teamwork and technical innovation in overcoming equipment limitations and preserving the center’s sound archive.
Also included in this issue are Revista Clave: una publicación, una historia, un destino and Color cubano… más que una experiencia teórica, both by Ivón Peñalver; Música de cámara en el siglo XX cubano by Amaya Carricaburu Collantes; and Simposio Cubadisco 2024. Ampliando líneas de análisis y proyecciones by Liliet de la Caridad Villavicencio, Anahi Saura Pérez, Daniela Núñez Bermúdez, and Karla Amanda Pedro. All articles are accompanied by photographs and graphics.
Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez
Photo:Lea Cárdenas's profile / Facebook
