17-509: Founder Juan Morel Campos The Ponce Municipal Band (Spanish: Banda Municipal de Ponce ), also known as Centenaria Banda Municipal de Ponce , is the band of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico . The band is the oldest continuously-performing band in the Caribbean and the oldest music group in Puerto Rico. It has performed its open-air concerts for over 125 years. The current director
34-863: A removable stage at front of the Ponce City Hall . Concerts are every Sunday evening. In September, 2011, the Band adopted a new venue philosophy called Retretas en la Comunidad , whereby it started to bring its stage to the various communities of Ponce. As "Banda del Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos de Ponce": As "Banda Municipal de Ponce": As of March 2011, the Ponce Municipal Band had 42 members as follows: 18°0′39.132″N 66°36′50.1474″W / 18.01087000°N 66.613929833°W / 18.01087000; -66.613929833 Juan Morel Campos Juan Morel Campos (16 May 1857 – 12 May 1896), sometimes erroneously spelled Juan Morell Campos ,
51-514: Is Juan B. García Germaín. Band master Julio Alvarado was the director of the band at the time of its 1953 reorganization. Gregorio Ledesma was the band conductor in 1859. In late 2010, the Ponce Municipal Government provided the Band its own location for its rehearsals . The new location is next to the legendary Teatro La Perla at a structure named Centro Integrado para el Fortalecimiento de las Artes Musicales (Integrated Center for
68-535: Is Juan García Germaín. It has 42 members between 25 and 83 years old. It operates within the jurisdiction of the Oficina de Desarrollo Cultural (English: Office of Cultural Development) of the autonomous municipality of Ponce. Its headquarters are located at the Centro Integrado para el Fortalecimiento de las Artes Musicales , next to Teatro La Perla . The history of the Ponce Municipal Band dates to its predecessor,
85-568: Is a list of some of Morel Campos's Danzas: Domingo Cruz "Cocolía" became director of the Firefighters' Band upon the untimely death of Morel Campos. Juan Morel Campos suffered a stroke on 26 April 1896 during a concert in Ponce. He died of the stroke soon thereafter on 16 May, in Ponce. In December 1926, his remains were buried on the pedestal of his statue in Plaza Las Delicias. His wife
102-592: Is best known for his danza compositions, but he also composed waltzes , operas , symphonies , marches and overtures . Women and the theme of love inspired most of his musical compositions. His great love was a lady named Mercedes Arias , but her family did not approve of their relationship. It was from that frustrated "love" that many of Morel Campos's beautiful danzas were born, with " Maldito amor " (Damned Love) as an example. Among his other best-known compositions were "Felices días" (Happy Days), "No me toques" (Do Not Touch Me), and "Idilio" (Idyll). The following
119-405: The Caribbean and the oldest music group in Puerto Rico. It has performed its open-air concerts for over 125 years. The current director is Juan García Germaín. It has 42 members between 25 and 83 years old. It operates within the jurisdiction of the Oficina de Desarrollo Cultural (English: Office of Cultural Development) of the autonomous municipality of Ponce. Its headquarters are located at
136-611: The Centro Integrado para el Fortalecimiento de las Artes Musicales , next to Teatro La Perla . The history of the Ponce Municipal Band dates to its predecessor, the Ponce Firefighters' Band, a band that was already operational in 1859. It was founded in September, 1883, by Juan Morel Campos . In 1953, the Band reorganized and was moved from an organization under the Ponce Firefighters Corps to an organization under
153-534: The Dora Colón Clavell Urban Park for some time, and it is currently performing from a removable stage at front of the Ponce City Hall . Concerts are every Sunday evening. In September, 2011, the Band adopted a new venue philosophy called Retretas en la Comunidad , whereby it started to bring its stage to the various communities of Ponce. As "Banda del Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos de Ponce": As "Banda Municipal de Ponce": As of March 2011,
170-520: The Development of the Musical Arts). The Band originally celebrated its concerts from a since-removed second floor stage at Parque de Bombas . It then performed from Paseo Antonio Arias (formerly, Paseo Amor), and has also performed from Concha Acústica de Ponce and Paseo Tablado La Guancha . It also performed from the Dora Colón Clavell Urban Park for some time, and it is currently performing from
187-476: The Ponce Firefighters' Band, a band that was already operational in 1859. It was founded in September, 1883, by Juan Morel Campos . In 1953, the Band reorganized and was moved from an organization under the Ponce Firefighters Corps to an organization under the Ponce Municipal Government. The directors of the band after its founder have been Domingo Cruz (Cocolia), Julio Alvarado, Emilio Alvarado, Eduardo Cuevas, Tomás Clavel, and Eustaquio Pujals. The current director
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#1733085645414204-585: The Ponce Municipal Government provided the Band its own location for its rehearsals . The new location is next to the legendary Teatro La Perla at a structure named Centro Integrado para el Fortalecimiento de las Artes Musicales (Integrated Center for the Development of the Musical Arts). The Band originally celebrated its concerts from a since-removed second floor stage at Parque de Bombas . It then performed from Paseo Antonio Arias (formerly, Paseo Amor), and has also performed from Concha Acústica de Ponce and Paseo Tablado La Guancha . It also performed from
221-407: The Ponce Municipal Government. The directors of the band after its founder have been Domingo Cruz (Cocolia), Julio Alvarado, Emilio Alvarado, Eduardo Cuevas, Tomás Clavel, and Eustaquio Pujals. The current director is Juan B. García Germaín. Band master Julio Alvarado was the director of the band at the time of its 1953 reorganization. Gregorio Ledesma was the band conductor in 1859. In late 2010,
238-759: The founders and directors of the "Ponce Firemen's Band" (La Banda de Bomberos del Parque de Bombas de Ponce). The legendary band was later renamed the Ponce Municipal Band . Later, Morel Campos became a student of the composer Manuel Gregorio Tavárez, "The Father of the Danza". Campos' first danza composition was called "Sopapos". The influence of Tavárez, plus the particular style developed by Morel Campos can be listened to in his music today. Morel Campos had his own dance orchestra, "La Lira Ponceña." Most of his danzas were written for dancing. He modified his compositions so that they may also be played on piano. Morel Campos
255-414: The young age of eight in his hometown under the guidance of Antonio Egipciaco. Morel Campos was a student of Puerto Rican composer and pianist Gonzalo de J. Núñez (1850 - 1915 ), whose students also included the internationally known musicians and composers Manuel Gregorio Tavárez and Arístides Chavier Arévalo . Morel Campos learned to play practically every brass instrument and eventually became one of
272-402: Was Secundina Beltrán Collazo. Their children were Olimpia, Eugenia, Belén, Plácido, and Manuel. Ponce Municipal Band Founder Juan Morel Campos The Ponce Municipal Band (Spanish: Banda Municipal de Ponce ), also known as Centenaria Banda Municipal de Ponce , is the band of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico . The band is the oldest continuously-performing band in
289-530: Was a Puerto Rican composer, considered by many to be responsible for taking the genre of danza to its highest level. He composed over 550 musical works before he died unexpectedly at age 38. Morel Campos (full name: Juan Nepomuceno Morel Campos ) was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico , to Manuel Morel Araujo, from the Dominican Republic, and Juana de Dios Campos Collazo, from Venezuela. He began to study music at
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