CARRIQUE, Ana

Ana Carrique was an Argentine composer, pianist and music educator, born in Buenos Aires on 19 July 1886. She studied at the Conservatory of Music of Buenos Aires, where her composition teacher was Julián Aguirre. She later continued her piano studies at the National Conservatory of Music and Declamation and studied harmony and counterpoint with Athos Palma.

Carrique was active as a concert pianist in Argentina and Europe, but her most important contribution was as a composer of Argentine chamber songs. Her musical language combines elements of French Impressionism with melodies and rhythms derived from Argentine folk traditions, particularly the huayno, vidala and other musical forms associated with the north-western regions of the country.
A large part of her output consists of songs for voice and piano, including Copla, Idilio, Sevilla, Vidala rústica, Canción serrana, Canción de cuna, Caminito de la sierra, Presentimiento, Son de huankara, Piquillín, Dije al pájaro blanco and El payador. She also composed educational songs for children and schools, as well as works for piano and four-part choir.
One of her most important works is Coplas puntanas, a song cycle inspired by the traditions and landscape of San Luis Province. The cycle was performed at the Salle Chopin in Paris in 1939 and received favourable attention from the French press. Her piano music includes Melodías camperas, also known as Suite campera, Sonatina in E-flat major, Preludio criollo, Preludio pampeano, a sonata, a mazurka, a Gato and an Impromptu. These compositions likewise combine European forms