Lidia Handal was one of the greatest musical composers in Honduras. Originally from San Pedro Sula, part of the department of Cortés, she was one of the greatest exponents of Honduran folk music.
His famous song "El Bananero" has been recorded and covered countless times, and is about a banana seller who takes his cargo to town in a cart.
Biography
He was born in the department of Cortés, specifically in the city of San Pedro Sula, where he studied elementary school.
She later graduated as a bilingual executive secretary and music teacher in the United States, where she also completed her high school studies.
In the same country she was admitted as a member of the Association of Composers, Authors and Editors.
While in the United States he composed and published the album With love from Lidia. This album was dedicated to her son, who died of cancer at 10 years of age.
She was worthy of several recognitions, including the Pablo Zelaya Sierra National Art Award, the gold medal from the Arab-Honduran Cultural Center and the Laurel Leaf awarded by the National Library of Honduras.
His compositions were recorded by labels such as RCA Victor in Mexico, and Kintel Corporation and Pro-Media Studios, both in the United States.
Handal lived a good part of his life in the United States, fleeing the political persecution against him for his ideas and his lyrics during the Cold War, and had assured that he would never return to his native land.
However, during the government of Luis García Bustamante he traveled to Honduras to receive a tribute during the Thrush Festival that Handal herself had founded using the funds obtained in one of her awards.
That trip was a feat, since the composer made it a condition that no one knew the date or time of her visit, and the only interview she offered was in private.
Handal, a symbol of Honduras, died in the United States.
Contributions and legacy
Despite living outside of Honduras for most of her life, Lidia Handal was a very important representative of Honduran music in the world. In addition, during her career she focused on providing opportunities to new artists from her country.
The Zorzales Festival was founded with part of the money obtained by Handal after winning the Pablo Zelaya Sierra National Art Prize. The festival was created with the intention of supporting Honduran singers and artists.
Of his compositions, the one that stands out the most is "El Bananero", recorded countless times by both Honduran national bands such as Los Gatos Bravos and Los Payaquí, as well as the famous version made by Los Duendes de México.
Most of the bands that play Handel's compositions are trios in the style of Los Panchos, and the repertoire of versions extends to pieces like "Jamás", "El Costeño", "Tierra mía" and "Mi viejecita".
References
- EcuRed - Lidia Handal: Biographical Synthesis ecured.cu
- La Prensa - Remembering Lidia laprensa.hn
- El Heraldo - The best songs of Honduran music elheraldo.hn
- Art and Music - Honduran composers and musicians artemusicamarlonbriones.blogspot.com
- XplorHonduras - El Bananero xplorhonduras.com