Tania León (born 1943)
Tania León was born in Havana of mixed French, Spanish, Chinese, African, and Cuban heritage. She studied piano at an early age and continued her music studies at New York University after she emigrated to the United States in 1967.
Tania León generally composes in a European modernist idiom, but with much lyricism and often a strong rhythmic drive. She sometimes integrates folk melodies and rhythms from her native country. She has composed piano music, vocal music, numerous chamber works, and several pieces for orchestra.
Her composition Stride was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic and celebrates Susan B. Anthony. It premiered in February 2020 right before the Covid lockdown and won León the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2021. It will receive an encore performance by the New York Philharmonic during the second week of October 2022 when the orchestra returns to their newly renovated home.
A book about Tania León entitled Stride: A Polyrhythmic Life was published in January of this year.
This is her De Memorias for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, and bassoon. It was commissioned by The Mexico City Woodwind Quintet and is here performed by Ensemble Connect.
Here’s her 2012 string trio À Tres Voces:
This is her 2019 composition Rítmicas, inspired by the 1930 work by fellow Cuban composer Amadeo Roldán (Day 6).
Much other Tania León music is available on YouTube as well as interviews. Here is her 2008 orchestra composition Ácana inspired by a poem by Cuban Laureate Poet Nicolás Guillén:
This is Axon for violin and electronics: