Juan F. Acosta
Encyclopedia
Juan F. Acosta was a noted Puerto Rican
composer
and music teacher.
located on the western part of Puerto Rico. His parents, realizedg that their son was gifted with musical talent, enrolled him at a young age to take music classes. He was under the tutorship of Jesus Fiqueroa (1878–1971), an accomplished composer himself, who taught him how to play various musical instruments, among them the clarinet
and the euphonium
. By 1900, when Acosta was only 10 years old, he was able to prepare the musical arrangements for the orchestra
s directed by Fiqueroa. In 1906, when he was 16 years old, Acosta was approached by the director of the San Sebastian Municipal Band, Angel Mislan
(1862–1911) who took him under his wing. Mislan taught Acosta the art of musical composition and harmony. Every town had a Band which played in the town's square. The position of Band director was considered a very important one and when Mislan left San Sebastian, he recommended that Acosta be his successor.
titled Las Carmelas, inspired by the girls. He moved to the town of Adjuntas
where he organized its municipal band and various school bands. It is also where he met his future wife, Ramonita Nieves.
Acosta's artistic talent was soon solicited in other parts of Puerto Rico and he found himself working and visiting other towns. One of his students was a young man by the name of Rafael Alers
, who in the future would also become a distinguished musician himself. He visited over 37 towns, where he instructed teachers in music and helped develop the educational music system of their schools.
On July 7, 1936, Acosta was resting under a pine
tree in the plaza of the town of Hatillo
, which inspired him to write one of his greatest compositions, the danza Bajo La Sombra de un Pino (Under the Shade of a Pine). Among Acosta's many compositions are Asi es la Vida (That's Life); and "Glorias del Pasado" (Glories of the Past). Acosta wrote over 844 musical pieces, including 127 religious hymns.
. According to his wishes, his family planted a pine tree by his grave. Over 300 of Acosta's musical compositions are safeguarded in the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture. In the 1960s, the Institute made a recording of 12 of Acostas greatest compositions, interpreted in piano
by Elsa Salgado Creek (1908–1998).
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...
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...
and music teacher.
Early years
Acosta, who came from a numerous family, was born and educated in the town of San Sebastián, Puerto RicoSan Sebastián, Puerto Rico
San Sebastián is a municipality of Puerto Rico located northwest of the island south of Isabela and Quebradillas; north of Las Marías; east of Moca and Añasco; and west of Lares. San Sebastián is spread over twenty-four wards and San Sebastián Pueblo...
located on the western part of Puerto Rico. His parents, realizedg that their son was gifted with musical talent, enrolled him at a young age to take music classes. He was under the tutorship of Jesus Fiqueroa (1878–1971), an accomplished composer himself, who taught him how to play various musical instruments, among them the clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
and the euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
. By 1900, when Acosta was only 10 years old, he was able to prepare the musical arrangements for the 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...
s directed by Fiqueroa. In 1906, when he was 16 years old, Acosta was approached by the director of the San Sebastian Municipal Band, Angel Mislan
Angel Mislan
Ángel Mislan , was a composer of Puerto Rican Danzas.-Early years:Mislan was born in San Sebastián, Puerto Rico where he was raised and educated. The small town is located in the western part of Puerto Rico. His father was a music teacher who gave private lessons on the use of musical instruments...
(1862–1911) who took him under his wing. Mislan taught Acosta the art of musical composition and harmony. Every town had a Band which played in the town's square. The position of Band director was considered a very important one and when Mislan left San Sebastian, he recommended that Acosta be his successor.
First composition
Acosta had a girlfriend called Carmela who in turn had another friend by the same name. Before moving from San Sebastian, in 1909, at the age of 19, he wrote his first danzaMusic of Puerto Rico
The music of Puerto Rico has been influenced by the Spanish, African, Taíno Indians, France, and the United States, and has become very popular across the Caribbean and across the globe...
titled Las Carmelas, inspired by the girls. He moved to the town of Adjuntas
Adjuntas, Puerto Rico
Adjuntas is a small mountainside municipality in Puerto Rico located central midwest of the island on the Central Mountain range , north of Yauco, Guayanilla and Peñuelas; southeast of Utuado; east of Lares and Yauco; and west of Ponce. Adjuntas is spread over 16 wards and Adjuntas Pueblo...
where he organized its municipal band and various school bands. It is also where he met his future wife, Ramonita Nieves.
Acosta's artistic talent was soon solicited in other parts of Puerto Rico and he found himself working and visiting other towns. One of his students was a young man by the name of Rafael Alers
Rafael Alers
Rafael Alers was a musician, composer, bandleader and the first Puerto Rican to compose the music score for a Hollywood feature film.-Early years:...
, who in the future would also become a distinguished musician himself. He visited over 37 towns, where he instructed teachers in music and helped develop the educational music system of their schools.
On July 7, 1936, Acosta was resting under a pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
tree in the plaza of the town of Hatillo
Hatillo, Puerto Rico
Hatillo is a municipality located on Puerto Rico's north coast, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Lares and Utuado to the south, Camuy to the west, and Arecibo to the east. According to the 2000 US Census Hatillo is spread over 9 wards and Hatillo Pueblo...
, which inspired him to write one of his greatest compositions, the danza Bajo La Sombra de un Pino (Under the Shade of a Pine). Among Acosta's many compositions are Asi es la Vida (That's Life); and "Glorias del Pasado" (Glories of the Past). Acosta wrote over 844 musical pieces, including 127 religious hymns.
Later years
Juan F. Acosta died in 1968 and is buried in QuebradillasQuebradillas, Puerto Rico
Quebradillas is a municipality of the island of Puerto Rico, located in the north-western shore bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of San Sebastián; east of Isabela; and west of Camuy. Quebradillas is spread over swven wards and Quebradillas Pueblo...
. According to his wishes, his family planted a pine tree by his grave. Over 300 of Acosta's musical compositions are safeguarded in the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture. In the 1960s, the Institute made a recording of 12 of Acostas greatest compositions, interpreted in piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
by Elsa Salgado Creek (1908–1998).