PARES | Spanish Archives

Identification

Type:

Person

Preferred form:

Pérez Casas, Bartolomé (1873-1956)

Fechas de existencia:

Lorca (Murcia, España) 1873-01-24 - Madrid (España) 1956-01-15

History:

Spanish composer, conductor, clarinettist and educator.

Born on 24 January 1873 in Lorca (Murcia), and passed away on 15 January 1956 in Madrid. He initially studied music with his grandfather, Juan Casas.

In 1893 he graduated from the Conservatorio de Madrid. He was director of the band of the Royal Corps of Halberdier Guards in Madrid from 1897 to 1911.

His greatest achievement as a composer was the suite "A mi tierra", completed in 1898, which received a prize from the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in 1904, along with Falla's "Amor brujo". The work was premiered by the Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid at the Teatro Real in 1907.

In 1908 Pérez Casas wrote the definitive arrangements of the "Marcha Granadera", which Franco later declared to be the Spanish national anthem on 17 July 1942.

In 1911 he competed for and won the position of professor of harmony at the Real Conservatorio de Música de Madrid. A long-cherished dream came true in 1915 with the creation of the Orquesta Filarmónica de Madrid, an ensemble dedicated to sharing and teaching symphonic music. He made his debut with the new orchestra on 8 March at Madrid's Teatro Price. He was inducted into the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in 1924. He became the first conductor of the Orquesta Nacional de España (ONE), formed in 1937 in the midst of the civil war and reassembled in 1942.

In 1949, the Ministry of National Education named Pérez Casas General Commissioner of Music, a post which he held until his death in 1956.