Friday, March 2, 2012

José Ánjel Montero



   
José Ánjel Montero was born in Venezuela’s capital of Caracas on October 2, 1832 to a large family of musicians. Born into a musical family he learned much from his father, musician José María Montero. Montero also studied by his own account of European works and composition of the time. He mastered many wind and string instruments, one of which is the flute. From 1869 and on, José Ángel Montero directed the Martial Band of Caracas.


He composed many pieces of work from different genres like waltzes, polkas, contradanzas, zarzuelas, and operas.  Montero has also written stage music, sacred music, band music, and chamber music. He is known for his zarzuelas and his most recognized work is the opera Virginia, released at the Teatro Caracas in 1873. In 1878 Montero created the Musical Art magazine. Montero also composed many religious works, over 30 vocal and musical Masses, when he became the chapel teacher at the Cathedral of Caracas until his death on August 24, 1881. Montero is considered one of the most important composers of 19th Century Venezuela but he and his works are little known due to the early time period. The Division of Music and Sound National Library and the Fundación Vicente Emilio Sojo are working on furthering their knowledge of Montero's life and compositions.   
                                                                                                                                             Discography:Doña Inés or la Política en el Hogar, 1862                                                                                                                                 

Two of his religious works include:
Pater Noster

Quiero tu cruz             
                                                                                                                                                               
 Many of his popular zarzuelas consist of:
La modista (zarzuela in two acts, 1864)                                                                                                                               
Fabio o Estela or el casamiento por Dote, 1865                                                                                                                       
La curiosidad de las Mujeres or El Huésped enamorado, 1865                                                                                            
Los Alemanes en Italia, 1866                                                                                                                                           
Colegialas con colegialas (zarzuela in two acts, 1868)                                                                                                             
La Castañera, 1868                                                                                                                                                                         
El Charlatán Mudo, 1873                                                                                                                                                     
Diamira, 1873 
Tragedia Lírica, 1873                                                                                                                                                                  
Atrás or el Centinela                                                                                                                                                                    
Un baile en Caracas or el Cumpleaños de Leonor (zarzuela in one act, 1865 )    
La ardilla (zarzuela in one act)                                                                                                                                                      
La inocente Serranilla (zarzuela in one act)    
La obertura de la zarzuela La gallina Ciega



References:

http://www2.scielo.org.ve/pdf/ri/v34n69/art11.pdf

http://books.google.com/books?id=TMdf1SioFk4C&pg=PA897&lpg=PA897&dq=jose+angel+montero+venezuela&source=bl&ots=1IrRss-Z_k&sig=H7C1N_DoW5zr8kqztUvB7BTIo9U&hl=en&sa=X&ei=YFhaT4L4BML40gGSssi0Dw&sqi=2&ved=0CFMQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=jose%20angel%20montero%20venezuela&f=false

Images:

José Ánjel Montero drawing from 1967 published book: "Venezuelan classical music" 

Flute + Hands http://fineartamerica.com/featured/flute-hands-richard-le-page.html

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