Gladys de la Lastra

Gladys de la Lastra (Penonomé, 6 March 1932 - Panama City, 28 September 2005) was a drummer, composer and musician from Panama.[1]

Gladys de la Lastra
Gladys de la Lastra
Born6 March 1932
Penonomé
Died28 September 2005
Panama City
OccupationMusician

Biography

De la Lastra was born on 6 March 1932 in Penonomé. She studied at the Simeón Conte School and then studied at the National Institute of Panama for her secondary schooling.[2] She went on to study at the National Institute of Music.[3] After graduating she de la Lastra taught music at the State of Israel and Old Panama School.[2]

De la Lastra's first compostion was "La Princesa del Zaratí", which was composed in a bolero-style for the centenary of Coclé, when she was aged 17.[3] This song highlighted national values.[2] De la Lastra believed that her musical ability was a gift from god.[4] Religious and nationalist themes were found throughout her work and she was a member of the Trade Union of Art Workers of Panama (SITAP).[2]

De la Lastra died on 28 September 2005 and was hailed as a national hero.[3] Her coffin was pulled by white horses through the streets of Penonomé, which were lined with people.[5]

Music
Little Panama, I love you beautiful country

Little piece of land that God gave me

My Panamanian blood is a warming fire

That ignites joy to the heart where I go.

Panama Chiquita (translation)

De la Lastra is famous for her guitar-playing and drumming. She wrote many songs throughout a long career, some of which include:

  • Romance Salinero
  • If the Treaty
  • Bolívar American Hero
  • Portobelo
  • Already Enter the Canal Zone
  • Summer Dreams
  • Sovereignty
  • Chiriquí Grande
  • My Penonomé
  • Cristiano the Church is You
  • A Santa Ana
  • Victoriano Lorenzo
  • El Proyecto del Bayano
  • Ingenio La Victoria
  • La Guerra del Banano
  • Panama Chiquita (one of the last pieces she composed)[6]

De la Lastra composed over 200 songs during her career,[7] as well as anthems for the University of Panama and for the Centenary of the Republic of Panama.[6]

Awards

1949 - Medal of Honour awarded by the Municipal Council of Penonomé[3]

1960 - Cocle's Favourite Daughter[2]

1961 - Anayansi Award for Publicity Interamericana for the composition Panama Soberana[2]

1981 - Commander of the Order Belisario Porras[2]

1981 - First Prize at the Festival of the Mediterranean and Latin American Tourist Song, held in Estoril (Portugal), the 'Golden Caravel' trophy for the song The Drummer I Have[2]

1996 - Intellectual Woman of the Year selected by the Circle of Intellectual Women of Panama (CIMIP)[6]

2005 - Order Vasco Núñez de Balboa[2]

Legacy

The Gladys de la Lastra Festival has been held annually since 2013 in Penonomé and is dedicated to the work of the singer.[3] After he death the mayor Agustín Méndez, hoped to erect a statue and name a street after her.[8] Every 3 November, schools across Panama sing her song La Angoustoura.[9]

de la Lastra in the Media

References
  1. Panamá, GESE-La Estrella de. "La poetisa Gladys De La Lastra vuelve a Coclé". La Estrella de Panamá (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-01-07.
  2. Del Vasto, César. "Gladys de la Lastar". National Library, Panama.
  3. Anonymous (2005-09-28). "Muere Gladys de La Lastra". Panamá América (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-01-06.
  4. LatinOLStudio.com (2018-11-09). "Gladys De La Lastra una tamborera muy recordada". LatinOL.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-01-07.
  5. Gladys De La Lastra. despedida Penonomé, retrieved 2020-01-07
  6. "TerraSon Panamá ~ Gladys De La Lastra". www.geocities.ws. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
  7. "CRITICA EN LINEA: portada". portal.critica.com.pa. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
  8. "Penonomeños recordaron a compositora Gladis de La Lastra". El Siglo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-01-07.
  9. Anonymous (2013-09-29). "Gladys De La Lastra, tamborera insigne". Critica. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
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