Ariel Ramirez the polifacetic Argentinian Composer has died following a long struggle against Alzheimer’s Dementia. He was 88 years of age and leaves behind a cultural legacy that has enriched Argentina and the World.

He was a pianist and composer who was famous for composing the famous «Misa Criolla» in 1964. The «Misa Criolla» was one of the first masses composed and released as a response to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council which allowed the use of contemporary language in Mass.

The «Misa Criolla» had various interpreters such as the group from Argentina Los Fronterizos, the Argentinian Singer Mercedes Sosa, Jose Carreras, and Placido Domingo. He also composed the «Mass For Peace and Justice» in 1981.

Ariel Ramirez served as President of the SADAIC [Spanish Acronyms for the Argentinian Society of Authors and Composers] from 1970 to 2006.

I remember once seeing the «Misa Criolla» being sung in one of the principal churches of Valencia, Venezuela which belonged to the Salesian Order and housed an agronomics school. This ocurred during the time I lived in that beautiful country in the late 1970’s and early1980’s.

I even participated in one of the songs and was able to appreciate the rich texture of such great music. Ariel Ramirez will always be remembered as one who composed for God in his own way

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