Juan Bautista Plaza facts for kids
Juan Bautista Plaza Alfonso (born in Caracas, Venezuela on June 19, 1898 – died in 1965) was a famous classical composer. He first started studying medicine at the Central University of Venezuela. But soon, he realized his true passion was music, so he left medicine to focus completely on it. His first music teacher was Jesus Maria Suárez.
From 1920 to 1923, Juan Bautista Plaza studied music in Rome, Italy. There, he earned a special title: professor of sagrada (sacred) composition. This meant he was an expert in writing religious music. When he returned to Venezuela, he was given an important job at Caracas Cathedral. He became the Master of Chapel, which meant he was in charge of all the music for the church services. He held this position until 1948. Plaza also taught at the Caracas Superior Music School. He taught music history and how to appreciate music to many students, including the well-known composer Antonio Lauro and singer Morella Muñoz.
Juan Bautista Plaza's Music and Legacy
Juan Bautista Plaza wrote many important and beautiful pieces of music. Some of his most famous compositions include El picacho abrupto, Poema Sinfónico, and Cantata de Navidad. He also wrote Las campanas de Pascua, Las horas, and La fuente abandonada, which was for a soprano singer and an orchestra. Other notable works are Poema lírico Vigilia, Fuga criolla y Fuga romántica, Elegía para orquesta y timbal, and Elegía para corno inglés and cuarteto de arcos.
Besides these, Plaza also composed a lot of religious music, like Misa en fa, Misa de la esperanza, and Requiem a la meoria de su madre (a special mass to remember his mother). He also wrote lovely music for the piano, such as Sonatina venezolana and Cuatro ritmos de danza. One of his most popular songs, El Curruchá, is a very famous example of joropo, a traditional Venezuelan dance and music style. One of his students was Alba Quintanilla, who also became a composer.
To honor his memory and contributions to music, the National Library of Venezuela has a room named after him.
See also
- Venezuela
- Venezuelan music
