Sometimes it is hard to know what to listen to on a Caribbean cruise. This Caribbean playlist brings together the elegance of classical piano tradition and the warmth of the islands. Classical music and the Caribbean may not seem an obvious combination at first glance. Yet while researching my book about the travels of composers and musicians between the 18th and 20th centuries, I discovered how frequently artists journeyed from the United States to the Caribbean for performances.

There was even the Havana Opera Company, which regularly travelled to New York during the summer months to perform Italian opera, so highly regarded that other companies feared their quality. Officials sent the company north after the concert-season ended, around the end of February, in order to avoid the yellow fever season.

Caribbean classical music was profoundly shaped by regional rhythms and dances. Composers like Ignacio Cervantes, who first studied in Cuba under Louis Moreau Gottschalk, one of the most important pianist-composers of the 19th century, and later in Paris with Charles-Valentin Alkan, absorbed both local colour and European refinement. Alkan, now a lesser-known name, was one of those extraordinary figures who pushed pianism to new heights in his own way.

Music was immensely appreciated in the Caribbean during the 19th century. We must remember that recordings did not exist yet, and visits from virtuosos like Gottschalk and Sarasate created extraordinary excitement. On several occasions, the Cuban people welcomed Gottschalk with processions. The soldiers carried torches and crowds sang “Glory to Moreau” (his first name).

For my Caribbean Playlist, I decided to honour the Cuban composers Cervantes and Lecuona. Later, I will add pieces by Gottschalk, who himself wrote Cuban-inspired works that celebrate the region’s traditions.

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The Antillean Dances, Wim Statius Muller

Wim Statius Muller left behind are true gems within the musical heritage of the Antilles and Caribbean. With nearly two hundred compositions, he mapped out a musical legacy like no other Antillean composer before him. I will continue updating this Caribbean Playlist with his works, as I believe it is important to honour and document the music he created.

As Muller explains in his own scores, the waltzes that reached the Caribbean by the end of the 18th century were soon transformed by local rhythms and expressions deeply embedded in daily life. Most of his compositions are based on these dances, not only influenced by Vienna, as he clarifies, but also by the Iberian mainland and other Caribbean regions before reaching the Dutch Antilles.

In the 19th century, Antillean parties started with waltzes, dance mazurkas at the height of the evening, and end with the tumba. The government banned the Tumba at one point for being too sensual. The Curaçaoan composer Robert Rojer beautifully describes the Tumba:

“The Tumba had to hide in the kitchen, but dressed in satin, it became the Danza and triumphantly entered by the front door.”

Statius Muller’s music also reflects influences from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, especially in the rhythmic patterns woven into his works. Many of his pieces have charming personal stories: Piet Maal was written as a birthday gift for a famous Curaçaoan dancer, while Nostalgia, one of my personal favourites, was composed on a rainy day in Europe when he longed for home in the Caribbean.

At times I have taken a bit of liberty in interpretation to create stronger contrasts between the works.

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Ernesto Lecuona, Virtuosity and Fire

Ernesto Lecuona is one of my personal discoveries while researching this Caribbean Playlist. His virtuosity and musical depth are remarkable. Although he is best known for his Cuban music, he also composed many Iberian-inspired works. To balance the playlist, I have included several of these particular pieces. Lecuona wrote them in the European tradition, rich in techniques reminiscent of Rachmaninov and Liszt.

Lecuona was not only a gifted composer but also a brilliant performer, bringing his Cuban heritage to audiences worldwide and proudly showcasing where he came from. Today, the extraordinary pianist Jorge Luis Prats continues that legacy.

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The Spirit of Caribbean Classicism

Classical music from the Caribbean is astonishingly diverse. It’s a blend of many cultures, yet always grounded in its own rhythms, dances, and love for life. Their musical heritage is influenced by South America (Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico), North America (Creole traditions), and Europe (particularly Iberian music and instruments). I believe that the Caribbean music retains a voice entirely its own, unmistakably in its sound and soul.

My inspiration to create classical music cruise playlists grew from my collaboration with DeSalvio Travel, a virtuoso affiliated Agency. Together we perform and curate concerts in the U.S. in collaboration with cruise lines such as Viking-Cruises.

Concert & Cruises brings an added layer of depth and enjoyment to your voyage. Listen before your departure, during your journey to enrich the experience, or afterwards to relive your memories through music.

Other free playlists are inspired by European river cruises along the Rhine, Danube, and Seine, the latter two already available for listening.

Happy listening and Cruising!
Robert