Considered the precursor of Cuban nationalism , this pianist, instrumentalist and outstanding composer, was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1817and died on the 14 th of August, 1870, in the
same city.

Born very poor, he studied in an autodidactic way until he was
an adult when he studied piano with Juan Federico Edelmann
and harmony counterpoint, fugue and orquestration with
Mauricio Pike.

He was a member of several cultural societies which shows his interest in acquiring all the knowledge or tendencies that, afterward he would reflect in his work and in some specialized critique written by him for the press of that time under the name of "El Timbalero".

In spite of all his work he acquires his real importance as a composer with his quadrilles for piano made up of two contrasting parts and binary compasses where for the first time appear rhythmic cells of the Cuban popular music listened in the 19 th Century such as "guajiras", "claves", "habaneras" and "criollas".

"La Tedesco", "Los ojos de Pepa", "La Quejosita", "Los Chismes de Guanabacoa", among others, are samples of solid and elaborated creation, where the themes or melodic motif inherent to Cuban music transcends the popular frame and become pure concert work .