Vytas Brenner

Vytas Brenner (September 19, 1946 - March 18, 2004) was a Venezuelan musician, keyboardist, guitarrist and composer.

He was born in Tübingen, Germany. Like many Europeans on the wake of World War II, his family migrated to Venezuela in 1949 when he was 2 years old. His mother, Margarita Brenner, was an Opera singer.

Raised in Venezuela, he began his musical studies in Caracas at "Colegio Emil Friedman" grammar-K-12 school. At 12 years old, Vytas moved to Italy and then to Spain, where he was part of various music groups, such as "Brenner's Folk", "los Pic-Nic" (featuring female singer, Jeanette). At 21 years old, Vytas moved to Tennessee to study at the University of Tennessee's Music Conservatorium. He took classes with David Van Vactor. Later, at College of Nashville, Vytas took post-graduated courses in Electronic Music with Professor Ghylbert Thrythall, and graduated with honors in 1972. In 1971 forms a duo maned "Vitas & Mafe" with Venezuelan singer María Fernanda Márquez. In 1972 Vytas forms his own band, "La Ofrenda de VB" and recorded 5 very successful LPs until 1979. With "Ofrenda" he started his pioneer work with compositions for combinations of electric and electronic instruments with acoustic instruments and piano; and blending Progressive-Symphonic Rock, Latin rhythms, and Venezuelan traditional themes, with astounding results. He recorded several remarkable LPs, each one a breakthrough, as he was in fact developing a new genre in giant leaps. En 1982 a somewhat reunited "Ofrenda" performed at "Teatro de Bellas Artes de Maracaibo", but was coldly received by the public, followed by strong press criticism. In 1989 the Venezuelan Symphony Orchestra performed his work "Oro Negro / Black Gold" at Caracas' famed "Teatro Teresa Carreño" . In 1989 a new Vytas Brenner CD entitled "Amazonia" was released. He has been commissioned to compose works for "Viajando con Polar", which are short documentaries about Venezuela's beautiful landscapes and inhabitants. Scored for various films, such as "Adiós Alicia", "Se llamaba SN", and Román Chalbaud's "Cármen la que contaba 16 años". All the while, Vytas Brenner was a very successful studio musician, composing and performing in countless radio jingles, tv commercials and presidential campaigns. At the international level, these old and rare vinyl records fetch between U.S. $70 & $220.

Brenner died March 18th, 2004 of a heart attack in Salzburg, Austria at the age of 57. He was recording music for an upcoming CD.

Discography

"La Ofrenda de Vytas" (1973).Tracks: "Morrocoy, Ofrenda de Miguel, Tormenta de Barlovento, Frailejon, La Sabana, Tragavenado, Araguaney, Canto de Pilón".

"Hermanos" (1974).Tracks: "Agua Clara, Madrugada, Amanecer, Danzas de los Pájaros, Gavilán, Pastos, Ganado, Estampida, Ana Karina Rote, Sentado en una Piedra".

""'Jayeche" (1975).Tracks: "Cariaco, Sancocho de Médula, La Restinga, Playa de Agua, Cachunchú Florido, 6 por Electron, Jayeche, Catatumbo, Caracas para Locos, Ávila".

"En Vivo" (1977).Tracks: "Interludio, Morrocoy, Cachunchú Florido, La Restinga, Playa de Agua, Ganado, Cariaco, Ávila, Frailejón, Interludio".

"Ofrenda" (1978).Tracks: "Armonías para cantar, Mandingo, San Agustín, Acuesta, Princesa, Aguacero".

"I Belong" (1981) -with Paulette Dozier-.Tracks: "I belong, I gotta feeling, I´m gonna climb that mountain, Sweet Zita, Decissions, Are you the one?, Feeling much calmer".

"Estoy Como Quiero" (1982).Tracks: "Dorado I, Ponte a valer, 15 partes por millón, Estoy como quiero, Acuesta (grabado en vivo, Maracaibo), Canchunchu florido (grabado en vivo, Maracaibo), Dorado II."

"Vytas" (1983).Tracks: "Playa Sombrero, Un amigo mas, La Chinita, Cristofue, Adicora, Hasta cuando, Amuay."

"El Vals del Mar" (1986).Tracks: "El vals del mar, Eres tu, Los espejos, Sentado en una piedra, Agua clara, Una rosa roja, Dos viajeros, Escalas y armonías, Estoy como quiero."

"Amazonia" (1990).Tracks: "Ofrenda, Karibik, A Bolívar, Techos Rojos (1er Movimiento), Techos Rojos (2do Movimiento), Aruanda, Mestizo, Guacamaya, Autana, Orinokia, Amazonia."

External links

*Non-Official web pages: [http://www.geocities.com/leon9702002/vytas1.htm] [http://www.geocities.com/leon9702002/vytas.htm]