Anselmo Lopez

Born in Chaparrito, Barinas State, on April 21, 1934. The familiar nickname given to him by an aviation captain, along with his friends Panchito Moreno, Chuy Garrido, Florencio Parra and Tirso Urbina, is the best definition of what he knows well to do Anselmo López: to be El Rey de la Bandola.

Even though from a very young age he felt a special inclination for the harp and the cuatro, his true musical impulse appears when he has his first bandola in his hands, which he builds, in a very rudimentary way, at the age of twelve with a totuma. Since then, Anselmo López has dedicated himself to extracting the best melodies from that instrument, managing to rescue it from the oblivion in which he was plunged. His first appearance as a bandit was on the Fiesta Criolla program, broadcast by Radio Barinas, in 1963. From then on, he began an ascending professional career, during which he recorded more than 75 discs in 45 rpm, 27 LP and 7 CDs.

His interest in the bandola encouraged him to teach courses on playing this instrument at the Simón Bolívar University, the Central University of Venezuela, the “Ezequiel Zamora” National Experimental University of Los Llanos and the Barinas School of Music. Additionally, he worked in programs of the Ministry of Education aimed at disseminating the benefits of the bandola.

Anselmo López is also the creator of a technical practice that facilitates the execution of this instrument and inventor of the jalao method, "a counter chant that is produced on the plectrum or plectrum that is used to play and a nail of the right hand of the player. performer". This Venezuelan star has participated in important national and international festivals and has performed on renowned stages in Cuba, Panama, the United States, Colombia, France and Spain, to which he has brought all the beauty of national folklore.

In addition to bandolist and composer, this man from Barinas has also had forays into acting, achieving important participation in the films El Rey y la bandola, Doña Bárbara, Un solo pueblo and Agua Sangre. Some of his works: Alborotao, Bandola de Chaparrito, Carnaval espellejao, El gavilán primo, Galerón barines, La catira vieja, My nostalgia is a rope, Remembering Portuguesa, San Lorenzo, My old dear, The three ladies, You took my love , Buzzer. He passed away at the age of 82 on February 14, 2016.

ANSELMO LOPEZ - ESTA ES MI BANDOLA