Braulio Dueño Colon
Encyclopedia
Braulio Dueño Colón was a Puerto Rican
musician
and composer
.
. At a young age Dueño's father, who also loved music, taught him the basics of music and served as his inspiration. Dueño took music classes with the "Maestro" Aruti, with whom he learned about composition and harmony. When an Opera
or Zarzuela
company visited Puerto Rico, they would hire a local orchestra
to play their musical scores. When Dueño was a young man he would be hired to play the flute
in many of these orchestras.
Dueño participated in many literary-musical contests in the Ateneo Puertorriqueño. He won many prizes and honors for his compositions; amongst the pieces honoured were:
However, it was for series of the "Canciones Escolares" (1912) (School Songs), which were co-written with Virgilio Dávila
and Manuel Fernandez Juncos
, that would give him lasting recognition as one of Puerto Rico's greatest composers. The "Canciones Escolares" not only won the highest honors in the Ateneo but, was also acclaimed and honored at the Pan-American Exposition
of 1901. The "Canciones Escolares" became an important part of the Puerto Rican Culture.
where he died on April 4, 1934. The City of Bayamon honored the memory of Braulio Dueño Colón by naming a school, a suburb and the municipal cemetery after him.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
Early years
Dueño was born in San Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. At a young age Dueño's father, who also loved music, taught him the basics of music and served as his inspiration. Dueño took music classes with the "Maestro" Aruti, with whom he learned about composition and harmony. When an Opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
or Zarzuela
Zarzuela
Zarzuela is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter incorporating operatic and popular song, as well as dance...
company visited Puerto Rico, they would hire a local orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
to play their musical scores. When Dueño was a young man he would be hired to play the flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
in many of these orchestras.
Musical career
In 1879, He composed the music for the Zarzuela "Los Baños de Coamo" (The Baths of Coamo)" which was originally written by Genaro de Arazamendi, in honor of the hot springs in the town by the same name.Dueño participated in many literary-musical contests in the Ateneo Puertorriqueño. He won many prizes and honors for his compositions; amongst the pieces honoured were:
- His OvertureOvertureOverture in music is the term originally applied to the instrumental introduction to an opera...
"La Amistad" (1877) (Friendship); - "Sinfonia Dramatica" (Dramatic Symphony);
- "Noche de Otoño" (1887)(Nights of Fall); and
- "Estudio sobre la Danza Puertorriqueña" (1914) (A Study of the Puerto Rican Danzas).
However, it was for series of the "Canciones Escolares" (1912) (School Songs), which were co-written with Virgilio Dávila
Virgilio Dávila
Virgilio Dávila , was a Puerto Rican poet, educator, politician and businessman. He is considered by many to be one of Puerto Rico's greatest representatives of the modern literary era.-Early years:...
and Manuel Fernandez Juncos
Manuel Fernández Juncos
Manuel Fernández Juncos was a Spanish journalist, poet, author and humanitarian who wrote the official lyrics to La Borinqueña, Puerto Rico's official anthem.-Early years:...
, that would give him lasting recognition as one of Puerto Rico's greatest composers. The "Canciones Escolares" not only won the highest honors in the Ateneo but, was also acclaimed and honored at the Pan-American Exposition
Pan-American Exposition
The Pan-American Exposition was a World's Fair held in Buffalo, New York, United States, from May 1 through November 2, 1901. The fair occupied of land on the western edge of what is present day Delaware Park, extending from Delaware Ave. to Elmwood Ave and northward to Great Arrow...
of 1901. The "Canciones Escolares" became an important part of the Puerto Rican Culture.
Later years
Braulio Dueño Colón lived most of his life in the City of BayamonBayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
where he died on April 4, 1934. The City of Bayamon honored the memory of Braulio Dueño Colón by naming a school, a suburb and the municipal cemetery after him.