ALMA DE GUIJE: PROGRAM NOTES
“El guije” is a character from Cuban mythology that behaves like a goblin; it is capricious and mischievous. There are many testimonials that support the existence of this creature in the north and central region of Cuba, usually in the dense forests and brooks. Although “el guije” is respected and even feared by many Cubans that live in the countryside, there are no stories that corroborate that “el guije” has done any real damage to anyone. Perhaps its only “fault” is to look and behave different than the rest of us. I was always fascinated by this “Cuban goblin” while I was growing up. Today what I see as a “guije’s soul” served as a source of inspiration for my composition.
Video of Alma de Guije by Momenta Quartet: