José María Martín Domingo facts for kids

José María Martín Domingo was a talented Spanish composer and musician. He was born in Mahón on May 23, 1887. He passed away in Madrid on July 16, 1961.

Early Life and Music Training

José María grew up surrounded by music. His father, Cecil Martin, was a military musician. He played in a band on Menorca island. José María started learning music theory when he was just five years old. When he was nine, he moved to Madrid. He attended San Bernardo boarding school there. At school, he met a great teacher named José Chacón (musician). Mr. Chacón helped José María continue his music studies. He even suggested José María learn from Tomas Coronel, a trumpet professor at the Royal Conservatory. Later, Emilio Vega, who led the Alabarderos band, taught him more advanced music skills. These included counterpoint, fugue, and composition.

A Career in Music

When José María was fourteen, he got his first job as a musician. He joined the Cazadores de Barbastro Battalion band in Madrid. The next year, he became part of the Alabarderos Royal Corps Band. He quickly became known as a very skilled musician. He was often asked to play in orchestras for zarzuela (a Spanish musical play) and opera shows. Tomas Coronel, his trumpet teacher, helped him join the Royal Theatre Orchestra. In 1909, when he was 22, the director, Ricardo Villa, started the Madrid Municipal Band. He offered José María the position of first trumpet player. Mr. Villa saw that José María was a great leader. When the vice-director, Miguel Yuste, was away, José María would often take over as conductor. José María also started his own music groups. He led them in popular cafes and cultural spots in Madrid. He became famous not just as a conductor, but also as a composer. He wrote many popular pieces like pasodobles, polkas, waltzes, and habaneras.

In 1918, he became an Army Major musician. He was stationed in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. There, he led public concerts with the military band. He also organized choirs and composed new works. Some of his famous pieces from this time include Ven, Cyrilla, Icod (a pasodoble about the Canary Islands), El Desfile, and El Coronel Mayorga. Later, at the request of Mr. Villa, he asked to be transferred back to mainland Spain. After Miguel Yuste passed away, José María left the army. He became the Vice-director of the Madrid Municipal Band. He worked there for over 30 years. He also continued to compose music. Some of his well-known works include Lagartijilla, Marcial, eres el más grande (dedicated to bullfighter Marcial Lalanda), and Los Dos Adolfos. He became friends with many famous writers and artists of his time. These included Carlos Arniches, Francisco de Cossio, Jacinto Guerrero, Federico Moreno Torroba, and Mariano Benlliure.

Awards and Recognition

In 1953, the Madrid City Council honored him. They gave him the Silver Medal of the City. Years before, the French Republic also recognized his talent. They awarded him the city of Paris medal.

See also

In Spanish: José María Martín Domingo para niños