XIII Cycle 'Provincial Bands at the ADDA'. Societat Musical Cultural d'Alcoleja
75 Years of the Band
Programme:
JUAN TORREGROSA i SEVILA. EMILIA MARTÍN — pasodoble (~5 minutes).
Emilia Martín was the sister of Miguel Ángel Martín i Penalba, founder of the Alcoleja Band and parish priest of the village. Juan Torregrosa maintained a close friendship with him, leading the composer to dedicate this pasodoble to his sister. This piece 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 (~5 minutes).
Miguel Picó i Biosca was the band’s second conductor. His deep affection for the town and its people inspired him to compose the pasodoble *Alcolecha*. It has become an emblematic piece for the association—especially during parades, such as the 50th anniversary celebration of the Federation of Valencian Musical Societies (FSMCV) on 26 May 2018 along Valencia’s Micer Mascó street.
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 connected to Alcoleja, co-founded the Societat Musical Cultural d’Alcoleja in the 1990s after a period of decline. He trained the town’s youth in solfège and instrumental performance. As the band’s third conductor—and together with Ramón Petit—he composed this Christian march in honour of Don Ramón Vilaplana, Christian captain of the Almogàvars parade from Ibi (1993). It has become a landmark of festive music in the region and a true anthem of 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 (~5 minutes).
José Antonio Llinares i Igual succeeded Francisco Carchano as conductor in 2007. His father, Antonio Llinares i Llinares—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 it in great esteem. Tomás Olcina i Ribes, native of Gorga, dedicated this pasodoble to José Antonio in tribute to their 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 (~6 minutes).
A wind band is far more than the sum of its instruments—it is, above all, the people who make them sound. *75 Years of the Band* is a tribute to every musician who, after their daily routine, picked up their instrument and climbed to the Patronat rehearsal hall to rehearse note by note the works later enjoyed by Alcoleja’s residents.
This pasodoble honours those musicians, as well as their teachers and everyone who ever applauded them—sharing the joy of festivity, fellowship, and belonging to our shared home: Alcoleja.
Through *75 Years of the Band*, we journey across a sonic landscape beginning with motifs from the *Hymn to Saint Vincent Ferrer*, composed in the 1930s by José María Zaragoza i Barber—the village’s priest and music teacher, affectionately known to our grandparents as “El Retoret Vellet”. The introduction continues with variations on the *Canto de l’Aurora* (“Song of Dawn”), adapted to the cheerful, festive character of the pasodoble.
Since folk songs are integral to Alcoleja’s musical identity, the piece evokes voices raised boldly in the town square: *“And this I declare here—in Penàguila and Benasau”*, the local adaptation of Antonio Molina’s *“Como en España ni hablar”* (“Not even in Spain!”).
Our final stop is the *Gozos a San Vicente Ferrer* (“Hymns of Praise to Saint Vincent Ferrer”)—perhaps the most beautiful piece in Alcoleja’s musical repertoire—and the basis for the pasodoble’s concluding section (“the trio”). Yet only its harmony is symbolically referenced; the instantly recognisable motifs of *l’Aurora* return prominently in the countermelody.
Along this musical journey, we pass through the town square, church, Patronat, and streets of Alcoleja. At journey’s end, we wish that each note of this pasodoble conveys joy, festivity, and fellowship to all Alcolejans—and, above all, express deepest gratitude to all musicians who have formed, form, and will form part of our beloved band: the Societat Musical Cultural d’Alcoleja.
Reserve your tickets by emailing your full name and number of attendees to: taquilla.adda@diputacionalicante.es
· Limited capacity: max. 4 tickets per person. Tickets will be confirmed and issued starting the week before the concert.
· Doors open 1 hour prior to the concert.