Javier Iha
Javier Iha Rodríguez (Cuba, 1991) is a composer, pianist, and pedagogue. He graduated in Composition from the University of the Arts (ISA) with a Gold Degree under the mentorship of Maestro Juan Piñera and holds a Master in Management of the Historical-Documentary Heritage of Music from San Gerónimo College, Havana.His creative catalog, with a strong focus on the piano—including concertante works—also extends to chamber music. This is evidenced by his recordings Retrato, Escenas Peregrinas—Cubadisco 2021 Award for Chamber Music—and Sounds of Christmas.His musical language is characterized by an eclectic contemporary aesthetic, often inspired by the emotional resonance he finds in literature, visual arts, and everyday life. His output spans genres ranging from preludes and fugues, sonatas, and nocturnes, to mariachis and habaneras. Each work is grounded in the distinctive qualities of its form to create expressive and unique sonic worlds.He has shared his music at renowned festivals in Cuba and has been recognized with the Conmutaciones Creation Grant (AHS), the Harold Gramatges Composition Prize (UNEAC), and the Musicalia Composition Prize (ISA).
SOUNDS OF CHRISTMASConnects us with the cultural and spiritual diversity of different peoples around the world through music. The remarkable presence of music in human social life and the interpretation of Christmas as a direct bridge to memories, traditions, and the warm festive spirit inspired this album, which emerged like a Christmas star. Sounds of Christmas invites listeners to explore diverse sonic identities and savor their rich nuances, using Christmas as a beautiful pretext to connect with a world that sings and resonates.Record label: Ihacomposer, 2024
RETRATOS Y ESCENAS PEREGRINASPresents cycles of pieces with an inseparable dramaturgical interconnection. This recording invites attentive listening and contemplation; its greatest treasure lies in its ability to elevate the spirit through a sensitive and precise cohesion between literature and music.Chamber music | Record label: Colibrí Productions, 2019 | CUBADISCO Award, 2021
NUEVA MÚSICAPeregrine Tales (violin, clarinet, and piano)
I. Light Is Like Water
II. The Saint
III. The Sleeping Beauty’s AirplaneIncluded in the CD Nueva Música – Premios UNEAC de Composición | Record label: Egrem, 2019
TODO CONCUERA MEJORSon del Llanoby Havana Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Daiana García | Record label: Colibrí Productions, 2018
NETZAJSonata for trumpet and pianoby Dúo NETZAJ | Record label: Colibrí Productions
WORKS
Ocean Scenes for piano four hands
Trio for flute, saxophone and piano, ca. 5’
Arrangements for Mandolin Orchestra | Includes: Hanacpachap Cussicuinin, Ay, Mamá Inés, Prea Comeu, Drume Negrita, La Bella Cubana, Bésame Mucho.
Sounds of Christmas for piano, ca. 23’
Concertino No.2 for Piano, Flute, Trumpet and String Orchestra, ca. 21’
Dúos for drums and piano
Danças do porto for clarinet and piano
Mariachis for piano, ca. 30’
Two Nocturnes for piano
Tango for piano
Preludes & Fugues III (XIII - XVIII) for piano
Vals de Violeta for piano
Retratos de Naipes III for flute and piano
Adagio for string orchestra
Preludes & Fugues II (VII - XII) for piano
Rondó for piano
Suite for clarinet quarter
El niño y el trigal for piano
Postales de viaje for piano
Jitanjáforas for mixed choir and piano. Text by Mariano Brill, Virgilio Piñera, Rafael Alberti, Emilio Ballagas.
Musical arrangements for the Cuban Christmas Concert for soloists, mixed choir, flute, horn, string orchestra, organ, and Cuban percussion.Includes: Noche de Paz (Silent Night), El Tamborilero (The Little Drummer Boy), Cuba le canta al rey, and Venid, fieles todos (O Come, All Ye Faithful)
Testamento del pez, for soprano, tenor, clarinet, piano, and percussion.
Si no existieras for soprano, clarinet, and piano
Habaneras for soprano, clarinet, and piano (text by Nicolás Guillén and Samuel Feijóo)
Colores en el mar for countertenor and piano (text by Carlos Pellicer)
Arial 12 for percusion trio
Motivos for flute, clarinet, violin, two guitars, two cellos, and piano
Tres toccatas for piano
Gymnopédies for piano
Retrato de naipes II for English horn and piano
Cuentos peregrinos II for trombone and piano
Cuentos peregrinos I for violin, clarinet and piano
En homenaje a un plátano maduro for violin, cello and piano
Tres ideas for string quarter
El avión de la Bella Durmiente from Cuentos peregrinos I — version for oboe, bassoon and piano
Diálogos for piano
Tres preludios americanos for piano
Tres vacas cubanas for piano
Tres caricaturas for oboe and basson
La rebelión de los pequeños for flute, cello and piano
Sueño grande for soprano and piano (text by Samuel Feijóo)
Son del llano for string orchestra
Poema con interrogante for piano
Sonata de junio for piano
Berceuse campesina version arranged for clarinet & piano
Escenas a un anochecer for violin & piano, ca. 10’
Variaciones libres for celo & piano, ca. 5’15’’
Escenas para un amanecer for flute, violin and piano, ca. 6’40’’
Escenas de un atardecer for three clarinets.
Concertino No. 1 version for Piano, Marimba, and String Orchestra, ca. 20’
Te convido a que abraces a un árbol, para que te piquen las santanillas y así puedas ver las estrellas for piano, ca. 6’40’’
Preludes & Fugues I (VII - XII) for piano
Trío for flute, cello and piano
Concertino No. 1 for Piano and String Orchestra, ca. 20’
Trío for flaute, bassoon and piano
Historias absurdas for piano
Cinco cuentos for piano
Arcadas en el agua for piano
Preludio e invención for viola & piano
Son for tenor and piano (text Samuel Feijóo)
El pan del bobo for soprano and piano (text by Samuel Feijóo)
Lo que sucede ... for piano
Hechizos for piano, ca. 5’30’’
Berceuse campesina version arranged for viola & piano
Dos piezas for oboe & double bass
Sonata for bassoon & piano
Mi posadero for tenor and piano (text by José Martí)
Cuarteto de cuerdas No. 1, ca. 11’30’’
Two Movements for wind quintet and piano
Twenty-four preludes for piano
Kikirico for piano
Berceuse campesina y Final for piano
Sonatina for flute & piano
Two Sonatinas for violin & piano
Sonata for trumpet & piano, ca. 10’
As a musician and composer, I believe in the power of diversity; this idea, along with consistent work, has accompanied me since the beginning of my compositional journey, when I wrote the Twenty-Four Preludes for Piano, a work inspired by Maestro Juan Piñera. Following this path, I have developed other projects in constant evolution (working progress), including Cuentos Peregrinos, Twenty-Four Preludes and Fugues, Escenas, and Retrato de Naipes.The piano is my primary medium of creation, and I have dedicated much of my work to this instrument. The variety and combination of timbres have led me to a special interest in chamber formats. I compose with freedom and openness to extramusical stimuli, such as visual arts and literature. Guided by pictorial impulses, I created Retrato de Naipes, a sonic and narrative interpretation of the symbolism of the French playing cards. Observing everyday moments—dawn, sunset, nightfall—inspired Escenas, conceived for various instrumental ensembles. I am also interested in exploring the grotesque and caricatural in sound, which has led to works such as Homenaje a un Plátano Maduro and Historias Absurdas.Literature nourishes my vocal music, where words become sound. But I do not conceive it solely as singing or programmatic narrative: its evocative power has also inspired instrumental works, such as Cuentos para Piano and Cuentos Peregrinos. I am also drawn to classical forms, such as preludes, nocturnes, fugues, and habaneras, which always pose new challenges. I value technical learning but also give space to intuition. I seek to balance the rational and the fortuitous, creating an expressive environment even amid chaos. In the future, I hope to continue developing existing projects, embrace new creative challenges, and express in my sonic portraits all that I am fortunate enough to encounter on my peregrine journey.Javier Iha
MEDIA
(+971) 585100338