Latin American Electroacoustic Music Collection

Jacqueline Nova (Colombia)


Jacqueline Nova (born in Ghent, Belgium, 1935, moved to Bucamaranga, Colombia, a few months later; died in Bogota, 1975) is considered one of the big names among the composers of new music of Colombia and the most active and prolific composer working with electroacoustic medias during the 60s and 70s.

Nova began her piano studies at an early age and entered to the National Conservatory of Music from National University in 1958, where she received her Master in Composition degree in 1967. On that same year she won a scholarship to study in Buenos Aires at CLAEM-Instituto Di Tella.

Jacqueline Nova composed tape and mixed pieces as well multimedia works using electroacoustic medias. After more than 25 instrumental and vocal pieces, she composed her first works using electroacoustic medias in 1968: "Resonancias 1" for piano and electronic sounds, and "Oposición-fusión" for electronic sounds on tape.

From 1969 are her works: "Luz-sonido-movimiento" for tape; "LM-A 11" for tape, processed voices, strings and percussion; the "WZK" and "?" radiophonic experiences; "Espacios" for sound, light, voice, movement, darkness, silence …, electronics; "Resonancias 1" (second version) for prepared piano, electronic sound clusters and distortion; "Signo de interrogación" for sound recording engineer - experience with different sound sources; "14-35" for orchestra and processed voices on tape; and the music for the theatre piece "Julio César", using voices and electronic sounds.

During 1970 Nova composed "Sincronización" for voice, piano, harmonium, percussion and electronic sounds; "Uerjayas" (Canto de los nacimientos) for voices and electronic sounds; and "HK-70" for piano, double bass, percussion and prerecorded materials (radio tuner, electronic sounds and voices). From 1971 is "Pitecanthropus" for symphonic orchestra, voices and electronic sounds.

From 1972 are "Hiroshima", oratorio for symphonic orchestra, contratenor, contralto, 16 female voices, choir and electronic sounds; and "Omaggio a Catullus", for percussion, piano, harmonium, spoken voices and electronic sounds. Also from that year is one of Nova's best known works: "Creación de la tierra" (also known as "Cantos de la Creación de la Tierra") for processed voice on tape. The only sound material for this piece comes from an original text by people from a community of the North-Eastern region of Boyacá, in Colombia, and speaks about Earth creation. This tape piece was produced at Estudio de Fonología Musical of the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Nova composed in 1974 the electroacoustic music for the film "Camilo el cura guerrillero" by Francisco Norden, and also for "Las camas", an installation by sculptor Feliza Bursztyn presented at the Modern Art Museum from Colombia.

Jacqueline Nova directed "Asimetrías", a radio series with 22 sessions of new music works analysis broadcasted by the National Radio in Bogota (Radiodifusora Nacional) between 1969 and 1970. During those years she also was lecturing and writing articles on new music and electroacoustics medias as well as organizing concerts.

(text updated: October, 2003)

Resources available for this composer:
- List of compositions (3 compositions)

Index: