LACG Artist Los Angeles Classical Guitars Featured Artist

At our favorite coffee hang. L-R, Scott Tennant,
Carlos Rivera, & Felix Bullock.

Carlos Rafael Rivera Composer

Los Angeles based musician Carlos Rafael Rivera was born in Washington, DC, and grew up in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, and Miami. While studying guitar in Miami with Carlos Molina, he began compositional studies with Fred Kaufman and Orlando Garcia. He later continued in Los Angeles with Stephen Hartke, and Donald Crockett.

Being of Cuban/Guatemalan descent, his work as composer is an amalgamation of his passion for cross-cultural folk music. From the Tibetan Buddhist chants of his choral work "Motet for Twelve Singers," through the Afro-Cuban rhythms of his Guitar Quartet "Cumba-Quín," Carlos' eclectic works have been performed throughout the world by such noted ensembles as the LA Guitar Quartet, the Cavatina Duo, and Chanticleer, recorded by the Naxos and Sony Classical labels, published by Mel Bay and Doberman-Yppan, and awarded by BMI, the Guitar Foundation of America, and twice by ASCAP.

One of Carlos’ most noted/performed works is "Whirler of the Dance."

"Whirler of the Dance" was awarded the 1998 ASCAP Foundation / Morton Gould Young Composer Award, and the 1998 Guitar Foundation of America Set Piece Competition Award, published by Doberman-Yppan.

“The title for this work was inspired from the name the Greek poet, Hesiod, gave to Terpsichore, one of the nine ancient muses of Greco-Roman religion.

The first movement is of fanfare like character, and is reminiscent of Spanish folk music. The second movement is of dignified character; a solemn personal prayer, influenced by Brazilian music. The final movement is based on African dance rhythms. Through tense contrasts between Pizzicato and Ordinario playing, the familiar harmonic world of the first movement returns, bringing the Dance to an exhilarating close.”

Available Scores, Books, Recordings & Videos

Whirler of the Dance

Canción Solo Guitar

Aquarelle Solo Guitar

Cumba-Quín (on 4 Guitars)

Pumping Nylon: Intermediate to Advanced Features Study # 1

P. Kearney, Stringendo
features "Whirler of the Dance"

Videos: Denis Azabagic: Classical Guitar
Artistry "Whirler of the Dance" Out of Print

The piece was originally written as a “thank you” present for guitarist Rene Izquierdo, who had been performing some of his earlier guitar compositions. Carlos began working on the piece upon arriving in Los Angeles to begin his Master’s work at USC. Some lines in the second movement were the first to be composed, followed by the main theme of the first movement. But it would be a few months before he could get the third movement to actually work. “I had been listening to some field recordings of African drumming, and was taken by a particular pattern. I made a transcription of it and then forgot it for a few weeks. I later attempted to re-create the pattern on the guitar, which led to the pizzicato style playing of the opening bars in the third movement. Things developed quite slowly after that, but I feel the five months of note by note work paid off.”

“Whirler of the Dance” was first premiered by Matt James at the University of Southern California in April of ‘98 and is featured in the video "Denis Azabagic: Classical Guitar Artistry" by Mel Bay.

In addition, Carlos was the second prize winner at the D'Addario International Guitar Concerto Competition. He has performed with Grammy Award winning Jazz Trumpet Soloist Arturo Sandoval, and with singer/songwriter Randy Coleman, recently opening for “The Who” at the Hollywood Bowl. His recorded work includes performances on soundtracks for Universal Pictures, VH-1 and Showtime Television, as well as studio sessions for Island/Def Jam and Universal Records.

Carlos is pursuing a Doctoral in Musical Arts degree at the USC Thornton School of Music, where he holds a teaching assistantship. He is also appointed faculty in guitar studies at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music.

Carlos has begun development of a lecture series on the great works for classical music. His first lecture, “Three Perspectives on ‘El Concierto de Aranjuez' by Joaquín Rodrigo,” has been presented at the California State University, Fullerton, and Pasadena's "Guitar Nights" Series. His current interests are in composing music for dance.