Nelly Moretto

Nelly Moretto
Born(1925-09-20)20 September 1925
Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina
Died24 November 1978(1978-11-24) (aged 53)
Buenos Aires, Argentina
OccupationsComposer, pianist

Nelly Moretto (20 September 1925 – 24 November 1978) was an Argentine composer and pianist who is considered to be an innovator of electronic music in South America. She also served as the vice-president of the Agrupación Nueva Música from 1970.

Early life and education

Nelly Moretto was born in Rosario, Argentina on 20 September 1925.[1] She attended the Musical Professorship School in Rosario. Subsequently, she studied at the National Conservatory and the Torcuato di Tella Institute in Buenos Aires, and then at the University of Illinois.[2] Upon her return to Argentina after finishing university, she began creating her own chamber and symphonic music compositions. At the same time, she was taught contemporary music techniques by composer Juan Carlos Paz.[1][3]

Career

In 1951, she joined the Agrupación Nueva Música, which had been created by her former teacher Juan Carlos Paz,[4][5] and was considered one of its most active members.[6] Moretto eventually became the group's vice-president in 1970, and served in that role until her death in 1978.[4]

During the 1960s, she began working at the University of Buenos Aires electronic institute, Estudio de Fonología Musical, where she began to experiment with combining traditional electroacoustic techniques with traditional practices.[4] At the studio, she created Composición 9a in 1965 for magnetic tape, dance, lights, and traditional instruments. This was followed by Composición 9b in 1966, also using magnetic tape, and the 1967 piece Coribattenti for string quartet and tape.[7] Due to these compositions and experiments, Moretto became known as an innovator of electronic music in South America.[8]

Death

Moretto died in Buenos Aires on 24 November 1978, at the age of 53.[1]

Works

Selected works include:[9]

  • Composición 9a for two instrumental groups, tape, dance and lights, 1965
  • Composición 9b for tape, 1966
  • Coribattenti for string quartet and tape, 1967
  • Composición No.13: In Memorian J. C. Paz for trumpet and tape, 1972
  • Composición No.14: Bah! le dije al tiempo for violin, trumpet, piano and tape, 1974/1975

References

  1. 1 2 3 Sadie, Julie Anne; Samuel, Rhian (1994). The Norton/Grove dictionary of women composers. W. W. Norton & Company. p. 335. ISBN 9780393034875. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  2. ↑ Boenke, Heidi M. (1988). Flute music by women composers: an annotated catalog. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 85. ISBN 9780313368318.
  3. ↑ Ficher, Miguel (1996). Latin American Classical Composers: A Biographical Dictionary. Scarecrow Press. p. 239.
  4. 1 2 3 de Arias, Raquel C. (20 January 2001). "Moretto, Nelly". Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  5. ↑ López, Ana M.; Balderston, Daniel; Gonzalez, Mike, eds. (2000). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Latin American and Caribbean Cultures Volume 1. Routledge. p. 44.
  6. ↑ "Antonio Tauriello". Musical America. Vol. 77, no. 3. February 1957. p. 177.
  7. ↑ Merrich, Johann (20 July 2021). A Short History of Electronic Music. Arcana. p. 38. ISBN 9788892770461.
  8. ↑ Hunt, El (6 November 2020). "Electronic Ladyland: why it's vital we celebrate the female pioneers of synth". NME.
  9. ↑ "Moretto". Digi-Arts. UNESCO. Archived from the original on 6 November 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2026.