XIII Cycle 'Provincial Bands at the ADDA'. Societat Musical Cultural d'Alcoleja
75 Years of the Band
Program:
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, prompting the composer to dedicate this pasodoble to his sister. It has been part of the society’s musical trajectory, performed in numerous concerts both within and outside the municipality of Alcoleja.
MIGUEL PICÓ i BIOSCA. ALCOLECHA – pasodoble – ~5 minutes.
Miguel Picó i Biosca was the band’s second conductor. Out of deep affection for the town and its people, he dedicated the pasodoble *Alcolecha* to them. This piece has become an emblem of the association—especially when played in parades, such as the 50th anniversary celebration of the Federation of Valencian Musical Societies (FSMCV) on Micer Mascó Street in Valencia on 26 May 2018.
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 taught local youth solfège and instrumental technique. As the band’s third conductor—and alongside Ramón Petit—he composed this Christian march dedicated to Don Ramón Vilaplana, Christian captain of the Almogàvars parade group from Ibi (1993). It became a landmark of festive music in the region and an authentic 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 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 it in great esteem and affection. Tomás Olcina i Ribes, native of Gorga, dedicated this pasodoble to him in 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 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 rehearsal hall to practice—note by note—the pieces later enjoyed by the residents of Alcoleja.
This pasodoble honours all those musicians, as well as their teachers and everyone who ever applauded them—sharing in the joy of celebration, fellowship, and the profound sense of 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 in the 1930s by José María Zaragoza i Barber—parish priest and music teacher of Alcoleja, affectionately known to our grandparents as “El Retoret Vellet”. The introduction continues with variations on the *Canto de l’Aurora*, adapted to the joyful, festive character of the pasodoble.
To honour Alcoleja’s folk traditions, we evoke communal singing in the town square: *“Y esto lo digo aquí, en Penàguila y en Benasau”* (“And this I say here, in Penàguila and Benasau”)—the local adaptation of Antonio Molina’s famous song *“Como en España ni hablar”*.
Our final stop is the *Gozos a San Vicente Ferrer*, arguably the most beautiful piece in Alcoleja’s musical repertoire—and the foundation of the pasodoble’s concluding section, known to musicians as “the trio”. Only its harmony is used symbolically; the instantly recognizable motifs of *l’Aurora* return now in counterpoint.
Along our musical journey, we have passed through the town square, church, Patronat, and streets of Alcoleja. At journey’s end, we simply wish that every note of this pasodoble conveys joy, festivity, and fellowship to all Alcolejans—and, above all, express deepest gratitude to the musicians who were part of the band in the past, are part of it today, and will be part of it tomorrow: our beloved *Societat Musical Cultural d’Alcoleja*.
Reserve your tickets by emailing your full name and number of attendees to: taquilla.adda@diputacionalicante.es
· Limited capacity: maximum 4 tickets per person. Tickets will be confirmed and issued starting the week before the concert.
· Doors open one hour prior to the concert.