Modesta Sanginés Uriarte facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Modesta Sanginés Uriarte
Born	Modesta Cesárea Sanginés Uriarte (1832-02-26)26 February 1832 La Paz, Bolivia
Died	5 February 1887(1887-02-05) (aged 54) Paris, France
Nationality	Bolivian
Other names	Modesta Sanginés, Modesta C. Sanginés U.
Occupation	composer, journalist, philanthropist
Years active	1848–1887

Modesta Sanginés Uriarte (born February 26, 1832 – died February 5, 1887) was a very important composer in Bolivia during the 1800s. She wrote more than 50 musical pieces. Many of her works were finally published in 2015. Besides writing music, Modesta was also a journalist. She wrote articles to help women and shared old legends from her home country. She also did a lot of good deeds, helping the elderly, orphans, and poor people. She even helped build a hospital wing for those who couldn't afford care. Modesta used her musical talents to raise money for wounded soldiers and prisoners during the war between Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.

Early Life and Education

Modesta Cesárea Sanginés Uriarte was born in La Paz, Bolivia, on February 26, 1832. Her parents were Manuela Uriarte Sagárnaga and Indalecio Sanginés y Calderón. Back then, it was common for only boys to go to school. But Modesta's parents sent her to a new school started by Dámasa Cabezón. Dámasa was a teacher from Chile who had opened successful schools for girls there. The Bolivian government invited her to open a school in La Paz in 1845.

Modesta studied French and Italian languages, art, and music at this school. She was especially good at playing the piano. She often performed concerts with Adolfo Ballivián, who later became the president of Bolivia. Modesta chose not to get married, even though she had many people who wanted to marry her. She preferred to stay independent. When her parents passed away, she kept her own home instead of moving in with her brother, which was the usual custom.

Modesta's Amazing Career

Modesta Sanginés was known for her beautiful singing voice and her piano skills. In 1863, she and Bernandino Sagárnaga started the Philharmonic Society of La Paz. This was a group for people who loved music.

Music and Compositions

Modesta began writing her own music. She knew the works of famous composers like Beethoven and Mozart. But her own music often focused on patriotic themes (about her country) and religious themes. One of her famous waltzes, Sueños de color de rosa (Rose-colored dreams), showed her gentle and thoughtful style.

She wrote over 50 musical pieces. Many of them were not published during her lifetime, but she did publish two books of her works in Paris. Some of her well-known pieces include:

• El Alto de la Alianza (The Height of the Alliance)
• Arroyuelo (Rivulet)
• Cantos a la Virgen (Songs to the Virgin)
• La brisa del Uchamachi (The Breeze of the Uchamachi)
• Pensamiento (Thought)
• Plegaria a Jusús Crucificado (Prayer to the Crucified Jesus)
• Recuerdo de los Andes (Memories of the Andes)
• Villancicos (Christmas Carols)
• Zapateo Indio (Zapateo Indian)

She also wrote music to honor Rigoberto Torrico, Juan Ondarza, and her brother Bernardino Sanjinées Uriarte. She even wrote Variaciones sobre el tema del Himno Nacional (Variations on the National Anthem).

Writing and Journalism

From a young age, Modesta also loved to write. She translated books by other authors and gave language lessons. She wrote for a newspaper called El Jardincito de Maria (Mary's Little Garden). In this paper, she gave helpful tips for women and advice on managing their homes. She later became the editor of the paper. The newspaper changed its name to Semanario Católico in 1878.

Modesta also published a book called Trabajos de aguja – nociones de economía doméstica – sencillas preparaciones para alimentos (Needlework – home economic notions – simple food preparations) in 1874. She wrote stories too, like Leyenda "El Desertor" (The legend of the Deserter), Las dos Claras (The Two Claras), and El Hijo del Cóndor (Son of the Condor). She also wrote a sad poem about losing her mother.

Helping Others: Philanthropy

Modesta Sanginés cared deeply about the poor and sick. She paid for and helped build a special section at the Hospital Loaiza. This section was for people who had no money, the elderly, orphans, and women. She was a member of the Sociedad de Beneficencia (Society of Charity). She worked on many projects to help people, like feeding those who were hungry during a famine in 1878.

During the War of the Pacific, Modesta organized efforts to help wounded soldiers and prisoners of war. She held musical gatherings and concerts at her home to raise money for the war. After the war ended, Modesta traveled to Europe to continue her education and improve her health. In her will, she left money to many of her female employees, family, and friends. She specifically wanted the money to help these women earn their own living and get an education, without needing men to control their finances.

Death and Lasting Legacy

Modesta Sanginés passed away on February 5, 1887, in Paris, France. Aniceto Arce, who was Bolivia's minister in France (and later became Bolivia's president), and other Bolivians living in Paris honored her. Her body was then brought back to Bolivia to be buried in her family's tomb in the General Cemetery of La Paz.

Modesta Sanginés is remembered as one of the most important composers of her time in Bolivia. In 2011, a Bolivian historian named Patricia Montaño, who was related to Modesta, inherited Modesta's old papers. She offered to sell them to the Center for Documentation in Latin American Literature and Arts (Spanish: Centro de Documentación en Artes y Literaturas Latinoamericanas (Cedoal)) so they could be kept safe. After they were confirmed to be real by Javier Parrado, the center bought them.

A team from the center copied all the documents. They found unpublished musical scores and notes from Modesta's notebooks. They also found a book and other scores that had been published in Paris in 1858 and 1881. All these newly found works were published in a book called Modesta C. Sanjinés Uriarte: Música Boliviana en Partitura (Modesta C. Sanjinés Uriarte: Bolivian Sheet Music) in 2015. This helped more people learn about her amazing contributions to music and her country.

See also

In Spanish: Modesta Sanginés Uriarte para niños