Ruben Dario Salazar Gallego
1961
Ruben Dario Salazar, born in Colombia, South America, moved to the United States at the age of 25. He completed bachelor's and master's degrees in music at James Madison University in Harrison, Virginia. He continued his education at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music where he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in composition.
In 1998, Salazar moved to Japan, married, and opened a private school in Wakkanai City, where he taught English, Spanish, and violin. Presently, he works for the Sarufutsu Village Board of Education, dividing his time between teaching English and composing music.
Salazar’s music encompasses solo, chamber, and orchestral works which have been performed by ensembles and soloists in Japan, the U.S., and Colombia. He also arranged several Christian songs originally written by his father, Jose Salazar, two of which are included in 99 New Songs, a song book edited by Evelyn Pursely-Kopitzke that was published in 2003.
2004
A Partial list of Compositions by Ruben Salazar
Three Pieces
(9 min.)String Quartet
Duo (3 min)
Violin and Cello
"Grafico De La Petenera" (After Federico Garcia Lorca) (12 min.)
Soprano, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Violin, Cello, Harp and Percussion
Passacaglia (8 min.)
Chamber Orchestra
Dos Canciones De Amor (After Pablo Neruda) (11 min.)
String Quartet with Tenor
Woodwind Quartet (four movements) (9 min.)
Three Pieces "De Profundis" (8 min.)
Clarinet and Piano
De Profundis II (11 min.)
Viola and Piano
Variations (12 min.)
Orchestra
Soliloquy I (12 min.)
Solo Cello
Soliloquy II (three movements) (8 min.)
Solo Bassoon
Soliloquy III (7 min.)
Solo Guitar
Soliloquy IV (5 min.)
Solo Oboe
Soliloquy V (8 min.)
Solo Clarinet
Tryptich (8 min.)
Flute, Clarinet, Cello & Harpsichord
Miniaturas (10 min.)
Solo Guitar
The Cat and The Rat (a musical play for children) (16 min.)
Children’s Voices, Percussion and Piano
Pregon (after J. Amadeo Salazar) (20 min.)
Voice and Piano
Contrastes (8 min.)
Trombone and Marimba
Midaregami: Book I (after Akiko Yosano) (16 min.)
Mezzo-Soprano, Flute, Viola, Harp and Percussion
Midaregami: Book II (after Akiko Yosano) (18 min.)
Mezzo-Soprano, Flute, Viola, Harp and Percussion
Meditacion (4 min.)
Organ
A Trumpet Call: "Is There Anybody Out There?"
Wind Symphony
Saxofonia (6 min.)
Saxophone Quartet
Alabemos Con Cantos (after J. Amadeo Salazar) (14 min.)
Voice and Piano
Moon Reflecting Over a Limpid Sea
Violin and Cello
ricercare
Violin, Marimba and Bass Clarinet
Two Songs (after Kozue Mizusu)
-Me, a Songbird and a Bell
-A Song I Forgot
Mezzo-Soprano, Flute, Viola, Harp and Percussion
Brassofonia (7 min.)
Two Trumpets and two Trombones
To Swing Or Not To Swing (7 min.)
Jazz Band