Julián Rejala

Infobox Artist
bgcolour = #6495ED
name = Julián Rejala


imagesize =
caption =
birthname = Julián Rejala
birthdate = February 16 1907
location = Areguá, Paraguay
deathdate = July 13, 1981
deathplace = Asunción, Paraguay
nationality = Paraguayan
field = Poetry, Dance
training =
movement =
works = "Che reja guive"
"Morena mía"
"Olimpia"
"Morena mí"
patrons =
influenced by =
influenced = Enrique González
awards = Mention of Honor in the First National Exhibit in Paraguay

Julián Rejala was born in a small town of Aregua, in the Central Department of Paraguay, called “Kokué Guazú”, on February 16, 1907.

He studied guitar with Enriqueta González and interested in theatre he work in Julio Correa’s Company, the great creator of Guaraní Theatre.

First steps

In 1934 he formed the Conjunto Folklórico Guaraní (Folkloric Guaraní Group), from which were members Santiago Cortessi, Jorge Caballero, Agustín Cáceres, Agustín Larramendia, José L. Melgarejo, Fidelino Castro Chamorro and others.

This group worked during and after the Chaco War (between Paraguay and Bolivia from 1932 to 1935). In the beginning the group was under the direction of Roque Centurión Miranda with the name “Elenco Chaco Paraguayo” (Paraguayan Chaco Cast). After the war he founded the first group of folkloric dancing in Paraguay, becoming a pioneer in a genre that would continue to develop until these days.

Career

In 1940 he did presentations in Brazil and joined in Asunción, to Erika Milée’s Dance Academy, in Asunción, in quality of professor. In 1944 he continued to teach in the Agrupación Tradicionalista Guaraní (Guaraní Traditional Group).

Many outstanding musicians were in his group. He researched and compiled many folkloric dances and had the great merit of rescuing many traditional dances that were almost forgotten.

Between 1960 and 1965 he did many recordings in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Work

His most spread creations:

* “Che reja guive”
* “Morena mía”
* “Sùplica”
* “Olimpia”
* “Alguna vez”
* “Morena mí”
* “Mi brasileñita”
* “Mi folklore”
* “La conquista de Yrendague”

Awards

Among his awards are the Mention of Honor in the First National Exhibit in Paraguay (1940) and the award to the Best Artistic Direction in the International Folklore Competition in Salta, Argentina (1966). He was founder member of the “Autores Paraguayos Asociados – APA” (Association of Paraguayan Authors) and the “Asociación de Escritores Guaraníes – ADEG (Guaraní Writers Association).

His family

He was married with the great singer and teacher Wilma Ferreira.

Last years

He died in Asunción on July 13, 1981.

References

* [http://www.cabildoccr.gov.py/index.php?pagina=vernovedades&idnovedad=4 Centro Cultural de la República El Cabildo]
* Diccionario Biográfico "FORJADORES DEL PARAGUAY", Primera Edición enero de 2000. Distribuidora Quevedo de Ediciones. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
* EVP - Wikipedia
* [http://www.evp.edu.py/index.php?title=Portada Enciclopedia Virtual Paraguaya - Portal ]

External links

* [http://www.musicaparaguaya.org.py/julianrejala.htm Música Paraguaya]
* [http://www.geocities.com/omartin21/wilma.doc Geocities]
* [http://www.casadelaindependencia.org.py/actividades.php?id=1 Casa De La Independencia]