El Cadete Constitucional

Jacobo Rubalcaba, a Cuban composer and musician, played a significant role in the development of danzón, a genre that became the national dance of Cuba. Among his notable compositions is El Cadete Constitucional, a danzón written in 1902, during a time of great transformation in Cuba following its independence from Spain.

Rubalcaba’s El Cadete Constitucional embodies the elegance and rhythmic sophistication characteristic of danzón, blending African and European influences into a danceable yet refined form. This piece, like many danzones of the era, would have been performed by charangas, small orchestras featuring flute, violins, piano, and percussion, which gave the genre its distinctive sound.

Through compositions like El Cadete Constitucional, Rubalcaba helped solidify danzón’s place in Cuban culture, influencing later genres such as mambo and cha-cha-chá. His musical legacy continued through his descendants, including Guillermo Rubalcaba and Gonzalo Rubalcaba, who became celebrated musicians in their own right. 

This transcription is as recorded by Maestro Bobby Ramirez on his 2018 release entitled, "Yo Soy Ritmo! Danzón" for Cuban Charanga Francesa (French-style) band arrangement: piano, bass guitar, drum guide, flute and 2 violins.