Gladys de la Lastra

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Gladys de la Lastra
Gladys de la Lastra
Born6 March 1932
Penonomé
Died28 September 2005
Panama City
OccupationMusician

Gladys de la Lastra (Penonomé, 6 March 1932 – Panama City, 28 September 2005) was a drummer, composer and musician from Panama.[1]

Biography[edit]

De la Lastra was born on March 6, 1932 in Penonomé. She studied at the Simeón Conte School and then studied at the National Institute of Panama [es] for her secondary schooling.[2][3] She went on to study at the National Institute of Music.[4] After graduating, de la Lastra taught music at the State of Israel and Old Panama School.[2][3]

De la Lastra's first composition was "La Princesa del Zaratí", which was composed in a bolero-style for the centenary of Coclé, when she was 17 years old.[4] This song highlighted national values.[2][3] De la Lastra believed that her musical ability was a gift from god.[5] Religious and nationalist themes were found throughout her work and she was a member of the Trade Union of Art Workers of Panama (SITAP).[2][3]

De la Lastra died on September 28, 2005 and was hailed as a national hero.[4] Her coffin was pulled by white horses through the streets of Penonomé, which were lined with people.[6]

Music[edit]

Little Panama, I love you beautiful country Little piece of land that God gave me

My Panamanian blood is a warming fire That ignites joy to the heart where I go.

Panama Chiquita (translation)

De la Lastra is famous for her guitar-playing[7] and drumming. She wrote many songs throughout a long career, some of which include:

  • Romance Salinero
  • If the Treaty
  • Bolívar American Hero
  • Portobelo
  • Already Enter the Canal Zone
  • Summer Dreams
  • Sovereignty
  • Chiriquí Grande
  • My Penonomé
  • Cristiano the Church is You
  • A Santa Ana
  • Victoriano Lorenzo
  • El Proyecto del Bayano
  • Ingenio La Victoria
  • La Guerra del Banano
  • Panama Chiquita (one of the last pieces she composed)[2]

De la Lastra composed over 200 songs during her career,[8] as well as anthems for the University of Panama and for the Centenary of the Republic of Panama.[2]

Awards[edit]

1949 – Medal of Honour awarded by the Municipal Council of Penonomé[4]

1960 – Coclé's Favourite Daughter[3]

1961 – Anayansi Award for Publicity Interamericana for the composition Panama Soberana[3]

1981 – Commander of the Order Belisario Porras[3]

1981 – First Prize at the Festival of the Mediterranean and Latin American Tourist Song, held in Estoril (Portugal), the 'Golden Caravel' trophy for the song The Drummer I Have[3]

1996 – Intellectual Woman of the Year selected by the Circle of Intellectual Women of Panama (CIMIP)[2]

2005 – Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa[3]

Legacy[edit]

The Gladys de la Lastra Festival has been held annually since 2013 in Penonomé and is dedicated to the work of the singer.[4] After her death, the mayor Agustín Méndez, hoped to erect a statue and name a street after her.[9] Every November 3rd, schools across Panama sing her song La Angoustoura.[10]

de la Lastra in the Media[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Panamá, GESE-La Estrella de. "La poetisa Gladys De La Lastra vuelve a Coclé". La Estrella de Panamá (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2020-10-01. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "TerraSon Panamá ~ Gladys De La Lastra". www.geocities.ws. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Del Vasto, César. "Gladys de la Lastar". National Library, Panama.
  4. ^ a b c d e Anonymous (2005-09-28). "Muere Gladys de La Lastra". Panamá América (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-01-06.
  5. ^ LatinOLStudio.com (2018-11-09). "Gladys De La Lastra una tamborera muy recordada". LatinOL.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-01-07.
  6. ^ Gladys De La Lastra. despedida Penonomé, retrieved 2020-01-07
  7. ^ "Gladys De La Lastra, tamborera insigne". Día a Día (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  8. ^ "CRITICA EN LINEA: portada". portal.critica.com.pa. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
  9. ^ "Penonomeños recordaron a compositora Gladis de La Lastra". El Siglo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-01-07.
  10. ^ Anonymous (2013-09-29). "Gladys De La Lastra, tamborera insigne". Critica. Retrieved 2020-01-07.