Lico Jiménez, the Ebony Liszt

A documentary film about child prodigy José Manuel “Lico” Jiménez, a Cuban pianist and composer (1851-1917) told through the eyes of his great grandchildren who meet for the first time on the cobblestones of Trinidad de Cuba.

Make a donation that is tax deductible while elevating awareness of this inspirational Afro Cuban composer who had been lost in history. Our trusted 501(c)(3) Fiscal sponsor is From The Heart Productions

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Directed by:
Isidro Betancourt

Executive Producer:
Julie Carmen

Producers:
Jaime Fernández Cuña
Mario Rodríguez Cuevas

Purchase Music at: Dosacordes.es

Purchase the Book at: Welttrends.de

Click here for News: palabranahj.org
Contact Us: JoseManuelLicoJimenezBerroa@gmail.com

Social Context::
The 19th century was a period of political and racial turmoil. About 800,000 enslaved African people had been imported to the Spanish colony of Cuba, and racism was a major factor in the several wars that were fought before slavery was finally abolished in 1886. It was during this period that the Jimenez family lived in an area of Trinidad, Cuba as "free Blacks".

Why Now?
Our documentary is told by the descendants of Lico Jiménez as they travel to his homeland. We see them inaugurate the Plaza Jiménez Berroa Zambrana where the Jiménez house stood. We are there when the first Certificate of Excellence in Music or Dance is presented to a brilliant young dancer from Cienfuegos. Click here for PRESS.

We listen to Lico’s great great grandson play Lico’s songs on classical bass in the Palacio de Cantero. We travel to the homes of his living relatives and witness the transgenerational transmission of artistry and resilience. Many of Lico’s offspring have become established artists in their own right.

Our Family Story:
José Manuel “Lico” Jiménez learned piano from his father and from his mother’s sister, Catalina Berroa, the first female composer of Cuba. He was discovered while performing in Trinidad’s Palacio de Cantero and at age 12 was hired by German cellist Carl Werner to be his piano accompanist at Palacio Brunet.

At the recommendation of Werner, Jiménez traveled to Europe in 1867 and went on to win the First Place at the Paris Conservatory, ahead of classmate Claude Debussy. Along with his father José Julian (violin) and his brother Nicasio (cello), the Trio performed throughout Europe. They were house musicians at the Chenonceaux Castle in Tours, France.

"We’ve identified nine generations of musicians in our family lineage, is that nature or nurture or both?"

When Lico returned to Cienfuegos, Cuba (1879-1890), eager to open a School of Music Composition and to introduce German Lied music to Cubans, colonial mentality and racial prejudice forced him to return permanently to Germany, where he was already renowned. Racism on the other hand, did not vary from one continent to another.

Despite being considered by specialists as the first great composer of the Cuban Lied genre, nowadays his music is hardly studied – even less performed – in both European and Cuban music schools.

See our feature article in the Press.

He left behind a son, named Angel Zambrana, who grew up in Cuba and fathered five children, José, Eugenio, Nolga, Miguel and Camilo Zambrana. In Hamburg, Lico married a German woman, Emma Filter and fathered three children, Adolfo, Manuela and Andrea.

Directors Statement:
"What began as a research project to fulfill my musicology degree has become an extraordinary journey. My first contact with this fascinating personality occurred during a conversation with Cuban pianist and researcher, Alberto Joya. As an Afro-cuban musician myself, I became instantly curious about Lico Jiménez’s story.

During the information-gathering phase of my research I had the great fortune to have met Lico Jiménez’s descendants. They allowed me to access their family memories, passed down from generation to generation. They all have shown me how they keep the artistic flame, and we can find many recognized artists among them."

We are happy to present the expertly curated musical scores of José Manuel “Lico” Jiménez, edited by Isidro Betancourt and available for purchase from Dosacordes.es

To compliment the musical scores, we are thrilled to share the hard copy book, “Entre Cuba y Alemania, Vida y obra de la familia de músicos Jiménez” written by Olavo Alén and Gudrun Weber. Available in Spanish and German from Welttrends.de/page/2

"This book is a comprehensive and scholarly exploration of the fascinating story of master composer and pianist Lico Jimenez and his musical family. It is an important contribution to the history of music and the ongoing struggle against racism and colonialism." - George Friedman Jiménez, MD, DrPH

Lico Jiménez, the Ebony Liszt

Music by José Manuel Lico Jimenez
Soprano Vocal by Johana Simón.

By Lico Plenilunio
By Lico El Simoun
By Lico Crepúsculo