Manuel Gregorio Tavárez Explained

Manuel Gregorio Tavárez Ropero
Background:non_performing_personnel
Birth Date:28 November 1843
Death Date:July 1, 1883
Death Place:Ponce, Puerto Rico
Origin:San Juan, Puerto Rico
Genre:Danza
Occupation:Composer, musician

Manuel Gregorio Tavárez Ropero (November 16, 1843[1] – July 1, 1883), was Puerto Rico's classical and danza composer. He has been called "The Chopin of America".[2]

Early years

Tavárez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the son of a French father and a Puerto Rican mother. San Juan was the city where he first began his musical studies. His first musical mentors were José Cabrizas and Domingo Delgado.[3] Tavárez was a student of Gonzalo de J. Núñez (1850 – 1915[4]), whose students also included the internationally known musicians and composers Juan Morel Campos and Arístides Chavier Arévalo.[5] Tavárez became an accomplished pianist at an early age. He was able to enroll and study music in the Music Conservatory of Paris at the age of 15 with a scholarship granted by "The Economic Society of Friends of Puerto Rico" (La Sociedad Económica Amigos del Pais). Tavárez studied under the guidance of Auber and D'Albert. While in France, Tavárez suffered a stroke which left his hand partially paralyzed.[6]

Tavárez returned to Puerto Rico because of his health problems. He settled down in Ponce where he gave piano lessons. He was able to overcome his health problems and began to put on musical concerts of his compositions.[7]

"Father of the Puerto Rican Danza"

Tavárez is considered to be Puerto Rico's first Romantic era composer. He also composed music in other genres as well. Among his best known works was the funeral march Redención (Redemption), dedicated to the memory of José Campeche; the rhapsody Souvenir de Puerto Rico, and his danzas Recuerdos de Antaño (Remembrance of Yesteryear) and what is considered his greatest work, the danza Margarita. The music created by Tavárez would always be recognized as an integral part of Puerto Rican culture. Tavárez is known as the "Father of the Puerto Rican Danza". Among his most distinguished disciples was the composer Juan Morel Campos.[7] His daughter Elisa Tavárez would also become an accomplished pianist.[6]

Death

Manuel Gregorio Tavárez Ropero died on July 1, 1883, in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. He was 39 years old.

Selection of Danzas by Tavárez

The following is a list of some of Tavárez's Danzas:[8]

Honors and recognitions

Tavárez has been honored by the Government of Puerto Rico with the naming of public buildings and institutions after him. In San Juan, there is a theater named after him. His music can still be appreciated in concerts today. In Ponce, he is recognized at the Ponce Park of the Illustrious Ponce Citizens.[10]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.enciclopediapr.org/ing/article.cfm?ref=09072202&highlight=%2BManuel%20%2BGregorio%20%2BTavarez Manuel Gregorio Tavarez.
  2. https://books.google.com/books?id=wew6AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA6-PA49 A Spanish Pianist Who has Won Fame – Elisa Tavarez.
  3. Web site: Manuel Gregorio Tavárez . January 3, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140104133319/http://caribbeanartmusicwebquest.wordpress.com/2012/03/02/manuel-gregorio-tavarez-28-nov-1843-01-july-1883/ . January 4, 2014 . dead .
  4. http://www.thepanamanews.com/pn/v_09/issue_20/arts_02.html Music: up close and personal.
  5. http://www.josemontalvo.net/diss/ch1.htm CHAPTER I, ISLAND LIFE FROM 1898 TO 1922.
  6. Web site: Manuel Gregorio Tavárez. 2019-07-24. ladanza.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20131021012546/http://www.ladanza.com/tavarez2.htm. October 21, 2013. dead.
  7. http://www.musicofpuertorico.com/index.php/artists/manuel_gregorio_tavarez/ Music of Puerto Rico
  8. Web site: Danza's . October 14, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140331050120/http://www.ladanza.com/sonidos.htm . March 31, 2014 . dead .
  9. Eduardo Neumann Gandia. Verdadera y Autentica Historia de la Ciudad de Ponce. 1913. Reprinted in 1987 by Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña. p. 169.
  10. http://www.travelponce.com/Music.html Music.