Juventino Rosas
Encyclopedia
José Juventino Policarpo Rosas Cadenas (25 January 18689 July 1894) was a Mexican
composer
and violin
ist.
, Guanajuato
, now renamed Santa Cruz de Juventino Rosas
. Rosas began his musical career as a street musician and playing with dance music bands in Mexico City. In 1884/85 and 1888 he matriculated into the conservatory, both times leaving it without taking any examination.
Most of Rosas's compositions—among them "Sobre las Olas
" ("Over the Waves")—were issued by Wagner y Levien and Nagel Sucesores in Mexico City.
In the late 1880s, Rosas is reported to be a member of a military band, and in 1891 he worked in Michoacán. In 1892-93 he was around Monterrey, before joining an orchestra in 1893 for a tour through the USA. During this tour the group played also at the World Columbian Exposition World's Fair in Chicago, Illinois.
In 1894 he went for a several-month tour to Cuba with an Italian-Mexican ensemble, where he came down with major health problems and had to stay behind in Surgidero de Batabanó. As a result of spinal myelitis
he died there at the age of 26. Fifteen years later, in 1909, his remains were brought back to Mexico.
Rosas was one of the best known Mexican composers of salon music, and the composer with the highest number of editions abroad and of sound recordings, the first of them released in 1898.
Rosas's best known work is "Sobre las Olas" or "Over the Waves". It was first published in Mexico in 1888. It remains popular as a classic waltz, and has also found its way into New Orleans Jazz
and Tejano music
. In the United States
"Sobre las Olas" has a cultural association with funfair
s, and trapeze artists, as it was one of the tunes available for Wurlitzer
's popular line of fairground organ
s. The music was used for the tune "The Loveliest Night of the Year", which was sung by Ann Blyth
in MGM's film The Great Caruso
. It remains popular with country and old-time fiddlers in the United States.
II. Polkas
III. Mazurcas
IV. Schottishes
V. Danzas
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
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 violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist.
Life and career
Rosas was born in Santa Cruz de GaleanaSanta Cruz de Juventino Rosas
Santa Cruz de Juventino Rosas is a Mexican city located in the central east region of the state of Guanajuato. The municipality has an area of 428.64 square kilometres and is bordered to the north by San Miguel de Allende, to the northeast by Comonfort, to the southeast by Celaya, to the south...
, Guanajuato
Guanajuato
Guanajuato officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guanajuato is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 46 municipalities and its capital city is Guanajuato....
, now renamed Santa Cruz de Juventino Rosas
Santa Cruz de Juventino Rosas
Santa Cruz de Juventino Rosas is a Mexican city located in the central east region of the state of Guanajuato. The municipality has an area of 428.64 square kilometres and is bordered to the north by San Miguel de Allende, to the northeast by Comonfort, to the southeast by Celaya, to the south...
. Rosas began his musical career as a street musician and playing with dance music bands in Mexico City. In 1884/85 and 1888 he matriculated into the conservatory, both times leaving it without taking any examination.
Most of Rosas's compositions—among them "Sobre las Olas
Sobre las Olas
The waltz "Sobre las Olas" is the best known work of Mexican composer Juventino Rosas . It "remains one of the most famous Latin American pieces worldwide," according to the "Latin America" article in The Oxford Companion to Music.It was first published by Rosas in 1888...
" ("Over the Waves")—were issued by Wagner y Levien and Nagel Sucesores in Mexico City.
In the late 1880s, Rosas is reported to be a member of a military band, and in 1891 he worked in Michoacán. In 1892-93 he was around Monterrey, before joining an orchestra in 1893 for a tour through the USA. During this tour the group played also at the World Columbian Exposition World's Fair in Chicago, Illinois.
In 1894 he went for a several-month tour to Cuba with an Italian-Mexican ensemble, where he came down with major health problems and had to stay behind in Surgidero de Batabanó. As a result of spinal myelitis
Myelitis
Myelitis is a disease involving inflammation of the spinal cord, which disrupts central nervous system functions linking the brain and limbs. The name is derived from Greek referring to the "spinal cord", and the suffix -itis, which denotes inflammation....
he died there at the age of 26. Fifteen years later, in 1909, his remains were brought back to Mexico.
Rosas was one of the best known Mexican composers of salon music, and the composer with the highest number of editions abroad and of sound recordings, the first of them released in 1898.
Rosas's best known work is "Sobre las Olas" or "Over the Waves". It was first published in Mexico in 1888. It remains popular as a classic waltz, and has also found its way into New Orleans Jazz
Dixieland
Dixieland music, sometimes referred to as Hot jazz, Early Jazz or New Orleans jazz, is a style of jazz music which developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century, and was spread to Chicago and New York City by New Orleans bands in the 1910s.Well-known jazz standard songs from the...
and Tejano music
Tejano music
Tejano music or Tex-Mex music is the name given to various forms of folk and popular music originating among the Mexican-American populations of Central and Southern Texas...
. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
"Sobre las Olas" has a cultural association with funfair
Funfair
A funfair or simply "fair" is a small to medium sized travelling show primarily composed of stalls and other amusements. Larger fairs such as the permanent fairs of cities and seaside resorts might be called a fairground, although technically this should refer to the land where a fair is...
s, and trapeze artists, as it was one of the tunes available for Wurlitzer
Wurlitzer
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes....
's popular line of fairground organ
Fairground organ
A fairground organ is a pipe organ designed for use in a commercial public fairground setting to provide loud music to accompany fairground rides and attractions...
s. The music was used for the tune "The Loveliest Night of the Year", which was sung by Ann Blyth
Ann Blyth
Ann Marie Blyth is an American actress and singer, often cast in Hollywood musicals, but also successful in dramatic roles. Her performance as Veda Pierce in the 1945 film Mildred Pierce was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.-Life and career:Blyth was born in Mount Kisco,...
in MGM's film The Great Caruso
The Great Caruso
The Great Caruso is a 1951 biographical film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by Richard Thorpe and produced by Joe Pasternak with Jesse L. Lasky as associate producer from a screenplay by Sonya Levien and William Ludwig. The original music was by Johnny Green and the cinematography by...
. It remains popular with country and old-time fiddlers in the United States.
Compositions (First editions)
I. Waltzes- Dos pensamientos (before 1888, no Publisher mentioned)
- Sobre las OlasSobre las OlasThe waltz "Sobre las Olas" is the best known work of Mexican composer Juventino Rosas . It "remains one of the most famous Latin American pieces worldwide," according to the "Latin America" article in The Oxford Companion to Music.It was first published by Rosas in 1888...
(Über den Wellen - Over the Waves) (1888, A. Wagner y Levien, Mexico City) - Carmen (1888, A. Wagner y Levien, Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- Amelia (1890, A. Wagner y Levien, Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- Aurora (1890, A. Wagner y Levien, Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- Ensueño seductor (1890; A. Wagner y Levien, Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- Ilusiones juveniles (1890, A. Wagner y Levien, Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- Eva (1888–1891, Publisher not clear, most probably A. Wagner y Levien, Mexico City)
- Josefina (1892, A. Wagner y Levien Sucs., Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- Flores de margarita (1893, Eduardo Gariel, Saltillo/Robert Forberg, Leipzig)
- Soledad (1893, Eduardo Gariel, Saltillo/Robert Forberg, Leipzig)
II. Polkas
- La cantinera (1888, A. Wagner y Levien, Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- Carmela (1890, A. Wagner y Levien, Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- Ojos negros (1891, A. Wagner y Levien, Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- Flores de México (1893, Eduardo Gariel, Saltillo/Robert Forberg, Leipzig)
III. Mazurcas
- Acuérdate (before 1888, A. Wagner y Levien, Mexico City)
- Lejos de ti (before 1888, H. Nagl. Sucs.)
- Juanita (1890, A. Wagner y Levien Sucs., Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- Último adiós (1899, A. Wagner y Levien Sucs., Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
IV. Schottishes
- El sueño de las flores (1888, (before 1888, A. Wagner y Levien, Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- Floricultura-Schottisch (1888, (before 1888, A. Wagner y Levien, Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- Lazos de amor (1888, A. Wagner y Levien Sucs., Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- Julia (1890, A. Wagner y Levien Sucs., Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- Salud y pesetas (1890, A. Wagner y Levien Sucs., Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- Juventa (1892, A. Wagner y Levien Sucs., Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- El espirituano (1894, Autograph Archivo Provincial de Sancti Spíritus, Kuba)
V. Danzas
- A Lupe (1888, A. Wagner y Levien, Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- En el casino (1888, A. Wagner y Levien, Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- Juanita (1888, A. Wagner y Levien, Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- No me acuerdo (1888, A. Wagner y Levien, Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- ¡Qué bueno! (1888, A. Wagner y Levien, Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- ¿Y para qué? (1888, A. Wagner y Levien, Mexico City/Friedrich Hofmeister, Leipzig)
- Flores de Romana (1893, Eduardo Gariel, Saltillo)
External links
- Sheet music for "Sobre Las Olas", F. Trifet & Co., 1895.