Ramón Pelinski

Pelinski, Ramón

Ramón Pelinski. Musicologist, teacher, pianist, b Corpus, Misiones, Argentina, 31 Aug 1932; L PH (Córdoba) 1959, MA musicology (Munich) 1967, PH D musicology (Munich) 1969. Following piano and composition studies at the Cons of Córdoba, Argentina, and philosophy studies at this city's university, he went to Paris 1959-60 where he was admitted to the class of Jacques Chailley (musicology) at the Sorbonne, and to that of Olivier Messiaen (analysis) at the Conservatory. Later on, he studied philosophy 1960-1 at the University of Cracow with Roman Ingarden and musicology at the University of Munich. During the Olympic Games in Munich (1972), he was appointed head of the music section of the exhibition 'World Cultures and Modern Art' (1969-72). Settling in Canada, he first taught musicology at the University of Ottawa (1973-7), and then at the University of Montreal (beginning in 1977). He has specialized mainly in Inuit music, in Argentina's tango and in traditional Spanish music, topics on which he has published numerous articles in Germany, Argentina, Spain, and Canada. His research on Inuit music led to the recording (1984) of the LP Chants des Inuit du Caribou, produced by CBC's Northern Service, and to the CD album (1991) Musiques et chants inuit (UMMUS UMM-202).

Pelinski founded Canada's first group dedicated to Argentinian tango, Tango X 4 (1978-88), comprising himself at the piano, Adolfo Bornstein (violin), Rómulo Larrea (bandonéon) and René Gosselin (double-bass). The ensemble performed in Montreal, Quebec City and Toronto, at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, and in Paris, in addition to recording Tanguissimo (1987, ERM 318-1932). In 1984, he founded Tango X 3, whose repertoire was traditional Argentinian tango, and, in 1989, Métatango, devoted to contemporary tango in the style of Astor Piazzolla. Besides Pelinski (piano and arrangements), the latter group has included Raúl Jaurena (bandonéon), Luis Grinhauz (violin), Zbigniew Borowicz (double-bass), and Richard Lalonde (saxophone), and guest guitarist Alvaro Pierri. For these ensembles, Pelinski has composed such pieces as Tango de malheur, Une image and L'Expatrié. Pelinski has also been responsible for the restoration of St Christopher's Ermitage in the province of Castellón, Spain, dating from the 14th century, where he has organized festivals of traditional music beginning in 1990.

Writings

Ramón Pelinski, Die Weltliche Vokalmusik Spaniens am Anfang des 17. Jahrhunderts (Tutzing, Germany 1971)

'The music of Canada's ethnic minorities,' CMB, 10, Spring-Summer 1975

- and others. Inuit Songs from Eskimo Point (Ottawa 1980)

La Musique des Inuit du Caribou (Montreal 1981)