Program Notes

The cuatro, so-called because it has four strings (cuatro, in Spanish, means “four”), is the national instrument of Venezuela. The instrument is a descendant of two small guitars of medieval Spain, the guitarrillo and guitarra requinta. While the cuatro’s presence in Venezuela is the result of Spanish imperialism, the Venezuelan people have turned the instrument into something distinctly their own. The cuatro is of central importance to the traditional folk music of rural Venezuela. Played in accompaniment with the harp and maracas, the cuatro provides music for the national folk dance of Venezuela, a stamping dance called the joropo. 

The cuatro is strung in an unusual way. Instead of the strings becoming progressively higher-pitched across the neck of the instrument, the highest-pitched strings are placed in the center of the neck. This is called "re-entrant" tuning and is found on other strummed instruments, such as the ukulele. This string configuration produces the same tone whether the musician is strumming up or down and thus allows the musician to play very fast-paced, energetic music. Venezuelan cuatro players are noted for their unique strumming style, not heard on any other instrument.

ABOUT THE ARTIST Roy Jelinek began his musical studies as a youth in Caracas, studying under the tutelage of his father, Felix Jelinek. He focused first on the accordion and guitar but soon developed an interest in the cuatro. Mr. Jelinek is now a respected and well-known cuatro player. His unique style of playing produces a “singing” tone from the instrument. Jelinek has toured world-wide, performing and teaching in such places as Vienna and, more recently, Trinidad and St. Vincent.  Contact the Artist