Maria Teresa Lara
The Other Famous Lara
By Yasmine Durazo
Maria Teresa Lara was born in Tlatlauquitepec, Puebla in 1904 to her parents Joaquin M. Lara and Maria Aguirre del Pino. She was the younger sister to world famous composer, singer, and actor, Agustin Lara. Many remember Agustin Lara for his contributions to the world of music with classics such as “Maria Bonita,” “Granada,” and “Solamente Una Vez.”
Maria Teresa Lara contributed to the world of music by composing various boleros and love songs just as her brother did. While we will focus more on “Noche de Ronda” later on in the article, I want to bring attention to one of her other well-known pieces. “Piensa en Mi” was written in 1935 and contains a hauntingly beautiful melody. As with any bolero, it is a song of unrequited love and longing. The longing lyrics and soft strums of the requinto guitar make this classic bolero a favorite of many, including myself. Famous artists that have covered this song include Natalia Lafourcade and Lila Downs. We encourage you to check out their versions.
The song Las Azaleas have chosen to video-release this month is Lara’s “Noche de Ronda.” It was written by Maria Teresa Lara in 1935 and is often times credited to Agustin Lara. It is a bittersweet waltz in which the singer expresses anguish for the love that has left through a conversation with the moon. “Noche de Ronda,” has been covered and interpreted by many artists, ranging from Alejandro Fernandez to Doris Day and even Elvis Presley. It was originally written as a waltz in 3/4 tempo, but has also been interpreted in a 4/4 bolero style. An example of this would be Javier Solis’ cover of the song. The music is dramatic, beginning in a minor key and transitioning to major after the introduction. Luis Miguel’s interpretation of the song includes a full orchestra, and accordion. The beginning is dramatic and dark, which makes the transition from minor to major that much more impactful. Yet, sometimes less is more, as is evident in the styling of Eydie Gormé. Her interpretation is mainly voice and guitar, and is still just as captivating.
Though Maria Teresa Lara was lesser known, her musical compositions and contributions have withheld the test of time. She was just one of the many female pioneers of Latin American music, and through our own interpretation of her song “Noche de Ronda,” we hope to continue her legacy and share her music with the world.
Enjoy our version of Maria Teresa Lara’s “Noche de Ronda”
Diana - Lead voice and piano
Andrea - Lower voice harmony and violin
Yasmine - 1st violin
Dominique - 2nd violin
