Fred Elizalde facts for kids

Federico "Fred" Elizalde (born December 12, 1907 – died January 16, 1979) was a talented musician from the Philippines. He was a pianist, composer, conductor, and bandleader. Fred Elizalde was very important in the world of jazz and dance music in Britain during the 1920s. He played both classical music and jazz.

Early Life and Music Journey

Fred Elizalde was born in Manila, Philippines. His parents were José Joaquín Elizalde and Carmen Díaz y Moreau. He had several brothers and a sister. One of his brothers, Joaquín, became a diplomat.

When he was just seven years old, Fred started studying at the Madrid Royal Conservatory in Spain. He was very good at piano. By age 14, he won first prize for his piano skills.

Studying in London and Stanford

Later, he studied in London at St. Joseph's College. In the 1920s, he went to Stanford University in the United States to study law. However, his love for music was stronger. He decided to leave law school in 1926 to focus on music.

At Stanford, he took lessons in composing music from Ernst Bloch. He also started leading a jazz band. This band, the Stanford University Band, played at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. In 1926, he recorded music with the Cinderella Roof Orchestra.

Success in British Jazz

After his time in the US, Fred returned to England. He briefly studied law at Cambridge University. But soon, he formed a new band called the Quinquaginta Band. This band quickly became very popular. They had a big impact on how British jazz music grew in the late 1920s.

Fred believed that British dance music needed more American-style rhythm. His band recorded many songs in 1927. They recorded for companies like Brunswick and Decca. Sometimes they were called the Cambridge Undergraduates.

His band played at the famous Savoy Hotel in London. Many great musicians played with him. These included British jazz players like Norman Payne and Jack Jackson. American musicians like Adrian Rollini also joined his band. In December 1928, he even released a short film called Christmas Party.

Challenges and New Paths

In 1928, Fred Elizalde's band was voted the best popular dance orchestra. This was by a magazine called Melody Maker. However, some older guests at the Savoy Hotel did not like his modern music. His radio shows on the BBC also caused some debate. In July 1929, his contract at the Savoy ended and was not renewed.

Around this time, he visited Germany. He worked closely with Siegfried Wagner, a famous composer. Fred also conducted orchestras in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. In 1928, he wrote music for a silent film called The Way of Lost Souls.

Return to Classical Music

Fred Elizalde broke up his band in 1929. This was partly because of a difficult tour in Scotland. Also, the Great Depression started, which meant many American musicians had to go home. He led a new group in London in 1930. But later that year, he went back to Manila.

In Manila, he became the conductor of the Manila Symphony Orchestra. By now, his parents fully supported his music career. He was only 23 years old at this time.

Composing and Conducting in Europe

In the 1930s, Fred conducted orchestras in Biarritz, Paris, and Madrid. He recorded music one last time in 1933 during a short trip to Britain. During these years, he wrote symphonic poems. These were called Jota, Spiritual, and Moods.

From 1931 to 1933, he lived in Paris. There, he worked closely with famous composers like Maurice Ravel and Darius Milhaud. He even conducted the first performances of some of Milhaud's pieces. In 1932, he wrote songs for singer Conchita Supervía. He also wrote music for a play by Rafael Alberti.

While in Spain, Fred studied with Manuel de Falla, another important composer. Falla thought Fred was one of the best at playing his music. Once, Fred conducted Falla's Harpsichord Concerto. Falla himself played the harpsichord during the performance. Fred also set music to plays by Federico García Lorca, with whom he was good friends.

War and New Compositions

In 1936, Fred returned from France to Spain. He joined a Basque regiment called the Requeti troops of Navarre. He fought in the Spanish Civil War until 1939. He was wounded during the war and received awards for his bravery.

After the war, he moved to Manila, then to France. He lived under German occupation in a house near Bayonne. During this time, he composed many new works. These included:

• An opera about the life of artist Paul Gauguin. It was broadcast on French radio in 1948.
• A violin concerto. The famous violinist Ginette Neveu played it first in Paris in 1944.
• A string quartet.
• A piano concerto. Leopoldo Querol played it first in Paris in 1947. Fred Elizalde himself also played this concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO).

Later Career and Achievements

In 1948, Fred Elizalde returned to Manila again. He conducted the Manila Symphony Orchestra once more. He also started the Manila Little Symphony Orchestra. He became the president of the Manila Broadcasting Company.

He conducted in Japan and led the London Symphony Orchestra in London in 1951. After that, he mostly worked in the Philippines until he retired in 1974. He had a music show on Philippine television with Bob Stewart. It was called The Maestro and Uncle Bob.

Outside of music, Fred Elizalde was also an amazing sharpshooter. He was the captain of the Philippines shooting team. He won gold medals at the 1954 Asiad.

See also

In Spanish: Federico Elizalde para niños