About The Project
In December of 2011, Isabel Quintero, the youngest daughter of the poet, wanted to give her father a Christmas gift.
Her idea was to set one of his original poems to music.
Collaborating with the artist and musician
Gonzalo Córdova, they presented her father with his poem Nocturno y Desesperación set to Córdova's original music
with daughter Quintero on vocals.
La Osa Menor was born.
Quintero and Córdova eventually recorded ten poems
by her father, using different Latin American music genres.
The album features Córdova's guitar, and four guest artists
who contribute harp, accordion, flute, electric guitar, bongos
and cajón, with elements of bolero, samba, rumba,
ranchera, cumbia and jazz.
Why the title La Osa Menor ?
Isabel Quintero is a theater actress
and was a radio DJ in the 90s.
Upon discovering that her father ALSO had an artistic career
in BOTH theater and radio,
she realized she had unknowingly
followed in his footsteps...
Fact:
The Big Dipper in Ursa Major is very useful in navigation
as it points the way to Polaris, the North Star (Alpha Ursae Minoris),
which is a part of another famous asterism,
the Little Dipper in Ursa Minor constellation.
The North Star, the best-known in the Ursa Minor constellation,
is used by travelers as a guide and point of reference.
It is the brightest star in the sky.
Ursa Major (La Osa Mayor/Big Bear)
and Ursa Minor (La Osa Menor/Little Bear).
Incidentally, Isabel's childhood nickname, "El Oso"
(The bear) or El Osito, (teddy bear or the diminutive of bear)
was given to her by her father.
She had always chosen her own path,
yet there were so many similarities.
Surely there was some sort of divine guidance in the stars.
Anyway, it seemed appropriate to name the album La Osa Menor.
**Ever the comedian, her father added a title to her nickname.
While still in diapers, he dubbed her
"El Oso Peligroso" (The Dangerous Bear).
En Diciembre del 2011,
Isabel Quintero, la hija menor del poeta,
quiso darle un regalo de Navidad.
La idea fue musicalizar una
de sus poesías originales.
Colaborando con el artista y músico Gonzalo Córdova, y en la voz de la hija, le presentaron su poema Nocturno y Desesperación en canción, así inspirando la idea de La Osa Menor.
Quintero-hija y Córdova han logrado musicalizar diez poesías del Señor Quintero, en diferentes géneros Latinoamericanos.
El álbum cuenta con la guitarra de Córdova, y cuatro artistas invitados que se encargan del arpa, acordeón, flauta, guitarra eléctrica, bongos y cajón, entre otros, con elementos de bolero, samba, rumba, ranchera, cumbia y jazz.
De donde viene el nombre La Osa Menor?
Actualmente Isabel Quintero es actriz de teatro
y fue locutora de radio. Al descubrir que su padre también tuvo una extensa carrera artística en teatro y radio locución,
Quintero hija se dio cuenta que sin querer, habia seguido los pasos de su padre. Pensó en las constelaciones
Osa Mayor (Ursa en Latín) y Osa Menor.
Es interesante saber que la Estrella Polar, el elemento más conocido de la Osa Menor, lo usan los navegantes como guía y punto de referencia, ya que es la estrella mas brillante del cielo.
Por cierto le pareció muy apropiado ponerle
La Osa Menor al disco ya que su apodo desde niña,
"Osito", se lo regalo su padre.
(Cuando todavía andaba en pañales y haciendo travesuras
su padre la llamaba El Oso Peligroso.
Aparte de romantico, Oscar tambien era muy chistoso).