When I discovered the Cuban Flute School I was very impressed by a performer who combined virtuosity with elegance and flavor. It seemed easy what he was doing with his instrument, until I experienced that it was magic, that not every flutist with refined technique and years of study could make the flute sound with such cubanism. That was how I discovered the talent of composer and flutist Richard Egües (Eduardo Egües Martínez). A little later in my life, I learned that he, who was the third flutist to occupy the payroll of the Aragon orchestra and stay 30 years, from 1954 to 1984, was born in the city of Cruces, on October 26, 1923. His friendship with Rafael Lay and the creative and professional bond between the two musicians would be of utmost importance for the development of the group, which marked his stamp and his mark.

With this flute Richard played El Bodeguero in 1955, in an RCA Victor recording/Photo: Courtesy of Manolo Egües.

Richard first came to the clarinet, the instrument with which he began his career in the Municipal Band of Manicaragua and Santa Clara. Then, the piano with which he joined the Monterrey and Ritmo y Alegría orchestras, both in Santa Clara. Later he joined the jazz band of the García Brothers. Finally, he developed his career as a flutist, first in the Santa Clara Symphony Orchestra, where he also played the piccolo; and later he became a concert player in the Camagüey Symphony Orchestra.

When he joined the Aragón Orchestra, his sense of harmony allowed him to unfold in complex interpretations, which were always novel and earned him unquestionable prestige. He demonstrated his versatility to interpret a diversity of genres. He possessed a fine virtuosity that allowed him to use the most diverse and complicated melodic turns. His extensive cultural background, together with his talent and tenacity, allowed him to create an unmistakable style, which is taken into account by younger flutists.

       Photo: Courtesy of Manolo Egües

He also developed as a composer and arranger. His sense of composition is reflected in his improvisations, which, although spontaneous, never lost the balance of a structure, in which all its elements were conjugated just as they should be in a work of art, without more or less, a reason for his work to transcend him and be admired. His extraordinary interpretative virtuosity assures him a place within the Cuban Flute School.

In the opinion of his son, Manolo Egües Cárdenas: "The figure of maestro Richard Egües has great repercussion internationally, not only as the author of musical works that embraced diverse genres, but also for the legacy he left us in his contribution to Cuban music and specifically to his instrument, the flute.

In May 2007, the prestigious musical instrument factory Orpheus launched a flute model with the purpose of resembling the traditional French-style five-keyed wooden flute. It is the Richard Egües flute model, under the commercial inscription of Item Number 466975 Model PFAPFA201S Orpheus Richard Egües Flute".

                                       Photo: Courtesy of Manolo Egües

For her part, his daughter Gladys, says that on one occasion, while visiting the Yamaha flute factory, she was surprised when one of the employees knelt down, as a sign of infinite respect and admiration for Richard, still incredulous to have him in front of him. He also comments how every place he went was a sensation. He even had students from Japan, China and several European countries. In the year 2000 he was touring several cities in the United States, among them San Francisco, where he arrived three days before his departure to New York, to be with his family. His daughter accompanied him. They found out about his stay in that city and called him that same day at seven o'clock at night, from a famous venue on 7th Avenue to ask him to perform there. It was Wednesday and Richard agreed and was scheduled for the following Friday at ten o'clock at night. They only had Thursday for publicity. On the day of the performance they arrived at eight thirty, surprised that students from 17 countries were there. At ten minutes past nine o'clock, we had to close the place, which was already overflowing with 200 people.
He physically left us on September 1, 2006, leaving behind countless works and contributions to music. Richard Egües has been one of the most universal Cuban flutists. A place that he earned and that will perpetuate him in time.

(Taken from 5 de Septiembre)