José Mariano Elízaga
Encyclopedia
Elízaga Prado, José Damián (Valladolid (Morelia)
, 1786 – Morelia
, 1842) was a Mexican composer, music theorist, pianist
, organist
and teacher. He was the Kapellmeister of emperor Agustín I of Mexico and was the first great Mexican composer of the beginning of the 19th century.
Juan Vicente de Güemes, 2nd Count of Revillagigedo when he was 6.
The viceroy became his main protector and sent him to the Colegio de Infantes de la Catedral.
Elízaga later returned to Valladolid and in 1799 to Morelia
where he worked as an organist. He acquired the best pianoforte of Mexico City
to teach the local aristocracy
.
One of his pupils was Ana María de Huarte y Muñiz
who later became the wife of Agustín de Iturbide
, the emperor
of the First Mexican Empire
.
In 1822, Elízaga was appointed ¨maestro de capilla¨ (Kapellmeister
) of the Capilla Imperial. In 1823 he published his Elementos de música in Mexico city
, a copy can be found in the Biblioteca Nacional
in Mexico.
The end of the First Mexican Empire
, damaged Elizaga's reputation but the Mexican government continued to support him. Elizaga settled the bases for the musical life of Mexico in the 19th century. He promoted the first Philharmonic Society of Mexico.
In 1825 he founded the Philharmonic Academy which became the first conservatory of the american continent. In 1826 he founded the first music press in Mexico where he published his works and of other Mexican composers. Elízaga was soon considered the best Mexican composer of his time.
In 1835 he published his treatise
Principios de la armonía y de la melodía (Principles of harmony and melody) which was a great contribution to the Mexican music theory
in the 19th century. He retired to Morelia in 1842 where he died at 56.
Until today very few scores of Elízaga have survived, since 1994 many of his scores have been found like the Ultimas Variaciones (Last variations) for keyboard
which show a strong influence of Joseph Haydn
.
Secular music: El 16 de Septiembre. Inclito gran Morelos, Seis valses, Vals con variaciones a la memoria de Rossini, Ultimas variaciones.
Morelia
Morelia is a city and municipality in the north central part of the state of Michoacán in central Mexico. The city is in the Guayangareo Valley and is the capital of the state. The main pre-Hispanic cultures here were the P'urhépecha and the Matlatzinca, but no major cities were founded in the...
, 1786 – Morelia
Morelia
Morelia is a city and municipality in the north central part of the state of Michoacán in central Mexico. The city is in the Guayangareo Valley and is the capital of the state. The main pre-Hispanic cultures here were the P'urhépecha and the Matlatzinca, but no major cities were founded in the...
, 1842) was a Mexican composer, music theorist, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
and teacher. He was the Kapellmeister of emperor Agustín I of Mexico and was the first great Mexican composer of the beginning of the 19th century.
Life
Elízaga was a child prodigy. He played before the viceroyViceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
Juan Vicente de Güemes, 2nd Count of Revillagigedo when he was 6.
The viceroy became his main protector and sent him to the Colegio de Infantes de la Catedral.
Elízaga later returned to Valladolid and in 1799 to Morelia
Morelia
Morelia is a city and municipality in the north central part of the state of Michoacán in central Mexico. The city is in the Guayangareo Valley and is the capital of the state. The main pre-Hispanic cultures here were the P'urhépecha and the Matlatzinca, but no major cities were founded in the...
where he worked as an organist. He acquired the best pianoforte of Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
to teach the local aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
.
One of his pupils was Ana María de Huarte y Muñiz
Ana María de Huarte y Muñiz
Ana María Josefa Ramona de Huarte y Muñiz , was the consort of Emperor Agustín de Iturbide of Mexico. She was daughter of the nobleman Isidro Huarte, provincial intendant and descendant of the Marquis of Altamira....
who later became the wife of Agustín de Iturbide
Agustín de Iturbide
Agustín Cosme Damián de Iturbide y Aramburu , also known as Augustine I of Mexico, was a Mexican army general who built a successful political and military coalition that was able to march into Mexico City on 27 September 1821, decisively ending the Mexican War of Independence...
, the emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
of the First Mexican Empire
First Mexican Empire
The Mexican Empire was the official name of independent Mexico under a monarchical regime from 1821 to 1823. The territory of the Mexican Empire included the continental intendencies and provinces of New Spain proper...
.
In 1822, Elízaga was appointed ¨maestro de capilla¨ (Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister is a German word designating a person in charge of music-making. The word is a compound, consisting of the roots Kapelle and Meister . The words Kapelle and Meister derive from the Latin: capella and magister...
) of the Capilla Imperial. In 1823 he published his Elementos de música in Mexico city
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, a copy can be found in the Biblioteca Nacional
National Library of Mexico
The National Library of Mexico is located in Ciudad Universitaria, the main campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City. It was first established on October 26, 1833....
in Mexico.
The end of the First Mexican Empire
First Mexican Empire
The Mexican Empire was the official name of independent Mexico under a monarchical regime from 1821 to 1823. The territory of the Mexican Empire included the continental intendencies and provinces of New Spain proper...
, damaged Elizaga's reputation but the Mexican government continued to support him. Elizaga settled the bases for the musical life of Mexico in the 19th century. He promoted the first Philharmonic Society of Mexico.
In 1825 he founded the Philharmonic Academy which became the first conservatory of the american continent. In 1826 he founded the first music press in Mexico where he published his works and of other Mexican composers. Elízaga was soon considered the best Mexican composer of his time.
In 1835 he published his treatise
Treatise
A treatise is a formal and systematic written discourse on some subject, generally longer and treating it in greater depth than an essay, and more concerned with investigating or exposing the principles of the subject.-Noteworthy treatises:...
Principios de la armonía y de la melodía (Principles of harmony and melody) which was a great contribution to the Mexican music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
in the 19th century. He retired to Morelia in 1842 where he died at 56.
Until today very few scores of Elízaga have survived, since 1994 many of his scores have been found like the Ultimas Variaciones (Last variations) for keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
which show a strong influence of Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
.
Works
Church music: Dúo de las siete palabras, Lamentaciones, Maitines de la transfiguración, Misas, Miserere, Oficios.Secular music: El 16 de Septiembre. Inclito gran Morelos, Seis valses, Vals con variaciones a la memoria de Rossini, Ultimas variaciones.
Sources
- Diccionario de la música española e hispanoamericana tomo 4
- The New Grove Dictionary of music and musicians. Second edition. 8
- Enciclopedia de México. 5