XIII Cycle 'Provincial Bands at ADDA'. Societat Musical Cultural d'Alcoleja
75 Years of the Band
Programme:
JUAN TORREGROSA i SEVILA. EMILIA MARTÍN – pasodoble – approx. 5’
Emilia Martín was the sister of the founder of the Alcoleja Band, the village priest Don Miguel Ángel Martín i Penalba. Juan Torregrosa and he maintained a close friendship, prompting the composer to dedicate this pasodoble to her. It has been part of the society’s musical journey, performed in numerous concerts both within and beyond the municipality of Alcoleja.
MIGUEL PICÓ i BIOSCA. ALCOLECHA – pasodoble – approx. 5’
Miguel Picó i Biosca was the band’s second conductor. Out of deep affection for the town and its people, he dedicated a pasodoble to them: *ALCOLECHA*. This piece has become an emblem of the association—especially performed during parades, such as the 50th anniversary celebration of the Federation of Valencian Musical Societies (FSMCV) on 26 May 2018 along Micer Mascó Street in Valencia.
MANUEL PENELLA MORENO (Valencia, 1881 – Mexico, 1939). *VALENCIAN RAPSODY* – 5’30”
Composed in 1918.
FRANCISCO CARCHANO i MOLTÓ. *RAMÓN PETIT* – Christian march – 3’30”
Francisco Carchano, deeply rooted in Alcoleja, co-founded the Societat Musical Cultural d’Alcoleja in the 1990s after a period of decline. He trained the village’s youth in solfège and instruments. As the band’s third conductor, alongside Ramón Petit, he composed this Christian march in honour of Don Ramón Vilaplana, Christian captain of the Almogàvars parade from Ibi (1993). The piece became a landmark of festive music in the region and a true anthem for the Moors and Christians festivals.
LEOPOLD MAGENTI CHELVI (Alberic, 1894 – Valencia, 1969). *MEDITERRANEAN SKETCHES* – 25’10”
Composed in 1956.
TOMÁS OLCINA i RIBES. *PRESIDENT LLINARES* – pasodoble – approx. 5’
José Antonio Llinares i Igual succeeded Francisco Carchano as conductor in 2007. His father, Antonio Llinares i Llinares—who served as president of the Nova Musical Society of Alcoi and musical advisor to the Sant Jordi Association—was also a member of the Alcoleja Band, holding great admiration for the society. Tomás Olcina i Ribes, native of Gorga, dedicated this pasodoble to him as a token of friendship.
JOSÉ CALIXTO SERRANO SIMEÓN (Sueca, 1873 – Madrid, 1941). *PRINCE CARNAVAL* – 12’15”
Composed in 1914.
DANI IBORRA PELLÍN. *75 YEARS OF THE BAND* – pasodoble – approx. 6’
A wind band is far more than the sum of its instruments—it is, above all, the people who bring them to life. *75 Years of the Band* is a tribute to every musician who, after their daily routines, picked up their instrument and climbed to the Patronat for rehearsals—note by note—to prepare works later enjoyed by Alcoleja’s residents.
This pasodoble honours all those musicians, as well as the teachers who guided them and everyone who ever applauded them—sharing the joy of celebration, fellowship, and belonging to our shared home: Alcoleja.
Through *75 Years of the Band*, we traverse a sonic landscape beginning with the notes of the *Hymn to Saint Vincent Ferrer*, composed by José María Zaragoza i Barber—the parish priest and music teacher of Alcoleja in the 1930s, affectionately known to our grandparents as “El Retoret Vellet”. The introduction continues with variations on the *Canto de l’Aurora*, adapted to the cheerful, festive character of the pasodoble.
Since popular songs are integral to Alcoleja’s musical identity, the piece evokes our voices raised loud in the town square: *“Y esto lo digo aquí, en Penàguila y en Benasau”*—the local adaptation of Antonio Molina’s *“Como en España ni hablar”*.
Our final stop is the *Gozos to Saint Vincent Ferrer*, arguably the most beautiful piece in Alcoleja’s musical repertoire—and the foundation for the pasodoble’s concluding section (“the trio”). Yet only its harmony is symbolically quoted; the *Canto de l’Aurora* remains unmistakably present—in the countermelody.
Throughout our journey, we have passed through Alcoleja’s plaza, church, Patronat, and streets. At journey’s end, we simply wish that each note of this pasodoble conveys joy, festivity, and brotherhood to all Alcolejans—and, above all, express our deepest gratitude to the musicians who formed the band in the past, form it today, and will form it in the future: our beloved *Societat Musical Cultural d’Alcoleja*.
Reserve your tickets by emailing your full name and the number of attendees to: taquilla.adda@diputacionalicante.es
· Limited capacity: max. 4 tickets per person. Tickets will be confirmed and distributed starting one week before the concert.
· Doors open one hour prior to the concert.