Esteban Salas y Castro (1725-1803) was a Cuban composer, organist, and conductor of African and Spanish heritage. He began his musical studies as a chorister in the Havana church of S Cristóbal and entered seminary to study for the priesthood at age 15. After his father’s death, he withdrew from school and supported his family by working as the organist and choir director at S Cristóbal. His abilities were recognized by the bishop, and he was then appointed music director of the Santiago de Cuba Cathedral in 1764. He was ordained a priest in 1790 and taught philosophy and theology at S Basilio seminary from 1784 until his retirement in 1798.
Salas y Castro composed more than 90 liturgical works, of which more than half are extant in the cathedral archive. Additionally, he wrote his own texts for a number of Christmas villancicos, cantatas, and pastorelas.
Resources
Source
Stevenson, Robert. “Salas y Castro, Esteban.” Grove Music Online. 2001.
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