Zenón Rolón (25 June 1856 – 13 May 1902) was an Afro Argentine musician and composer. Born in Buenos Aires, he composed approximately 80 works including operas, operettas, zarzuelas and sacred music. Rolón also founded a music publishing company which published numerous works by contemporary Argentine composers. Many of his manuscripts are now held by the Instituto Nacional de Estudios de Teatro, in Buenos Aires, and by the Museo Histórico de Morón, the city where he died at the age of 45.
Zenón Rolón
Biographyedit
Zenón Rolón
Rolón was born in Buenos Aires to an Afro Argentine family and first studied music in his native city with Alfredo Quiroga, a fellow Afro Argentine and organist of the Iglesia de la Merced (Church of Our Lady of Mercy). In 1873, when he was only 17 years old, he went to Florence for further study and remained there until 1879.[1] In 1877 he wrote Dos palabras a mis hermanos de casta (Two Words to my Caste Brothers), a political pamphlet on the role of Afro Argentines in wider Argentine culture. When it was published in La Juventud, an Afro Argentine newspaper in Buenos Aires, he was severely criticised, but opinion changed in his favour upon his return from Italy.[2] Once back in Buenos Aires, he continued to study music, this time with Basilio Basili, and composed a funeral march in honor of José de San Martín (Argentina's national hero). Rolón himself conducted its premiere performance when San Martín's remains were repatriated to Argentina in 1880.
Rolón married María Quiroga, the sister of his first teacher, and had two children, Dafne and Cloe (Daphnis and Chloe).[3] In the meantime, his musical career began to thrive. In addition to his composing, he also conducted regular concerts at the Jardín Florida and the Hotel La Delicia de Adrogué in Buenos Aires (beginning in 1880 and continuing until 1900). In 1881 he founded a music publishing company, Rolón y Oca, where he published many works by contemporary Argentine composers, and in 1885 he founded a social club for Afro Argentines.[4] Two years later, he was appointed Professor of Music by Concejo Nacional de Educación. Amongst his students were Justin Clérice,[5] Antonio Restano,[6] Prudencio R. DenÍs,[7] and Enrique García Velloso.[8]
Rolón composed about eighty works during his lifetime, including Symphony (1879); the operettasLe Château du Pic Tordu (1885), El castillo hechizado (The Enchanted Castle) (1887), and Strattagemma di Nannetta (Nannetta's Stratagem) (1887); the operasFides (date unknown) and Solané (1899); the zarzuelasChin Yonk (1895), El ensayo de una ópera criolla (The Rehearsal of a Creole Opera) (1899), and Una broma improvisada (An Improvised Joke) (1900); and the cantatas, Stella d'Italia (Star of Italy) (1891) and Adiós a la Virgen (Farewell to the Virgin) (1900). He also composed numerous waltzes, polkas, marches, and barcarolles (several of which were published in Florence during his time there). His sacred music included hymns, music for Holy Week (1893), Misa del Carmen (1901 o 1902), and a Kyrie for three voices (1902), which was probably his last composition.
Rolón died in Morón, Buenos Aires on 13 May 1902 shortly before his 46th birthday and was buried in the Cementerio de La Recoleta in Buenos Aires.[9] Many of his manuscripts were later donated by his children to the Museo Histórico de Morón. There are also some of his works at the Instituto Nacional de Estudios de Teatro, in Buenos Aires.
Notes and referencesedit
^Although some sources, e.g. Andrews (1989), claim that Rolón had a scholarship to study in Florence, Rolón's son said that his father paid all his own expenses there. See Gesualdo (1961) p. 468
^The title is sometimes given as Dos palabras a mis hermanos de raza. For contemporary reactions to the pamphlet, see Cirio (2009) pp. 153-156.
^Rolón's son, Dafne Zenón Rolón, became a noted tango composer.
^Justin Clérice (1863-1908) composed numerous operettas and ballet scores. Born in Buenos Aires to French family, he studied and worked in Paris for most of his adult life. See Baker (1900/2008) p. 118 and Crétel (2008)
^Antonio Restano (1860?-1928) was the first Argentine composer to have his operas performed in Europe. See Petriella and Sosa Miatello (eds.) (1976) p. 20.
^Prudencio R. Denís (1860-1910) was a pianist and composer, primarily of salon music and waltzes. See Casares, López-Calo, et al. (1999) p.455
^Enrique García Velloso (1880-1938) wrote more than 150 plays and libretti, including that for Rolón's zarzuela, Chin Yonk. See Cortés and Barrea-Marlys (2003) p. 25
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zenón Rolón.
Baker, Theodore (1900/2008) "Clérice, Justin" in A Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. Read Books. ISBN1-4437-2847-0.
Casares, Emilio, López-Calo, José, et al. (eds.) (1999). "Denis, Prudencio" in Diccionario de la música española e hispanoamericana, Volume 4. Madrid: Sociedad General de Autores y Editores. ISBN84-8048-303-2 (in Spanish).
Cirio, Norberto Pablo (2009). Tinta negra en el gris del ayer: los afroporteños a través de sus periódicos entre 1873 y 1882. Buenos Aires: Teseo. ISBN987-1354-37-1 (in Spanish).
Cortés, Eladio and Barrea-Marlys, Mirta (2003). "García Velloso, Enrique" in Encyclopedia of Latin American Theater. Westport CT: Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN0-313-29041-5.
Crétel, Bernard (2008) "Justin Clérice", originally published in Opérette n° 119 (in French).
de Estrada, Marcos (1979). Argentinos de origen africano. Buenos Aires: Universidad de Buenos Aires (in Spanish).
Gesualdo, Vicente (1961). Historia de la música en la Argentina. Buenos Aires: Beta (in Spanish).
Petriella, Dionisio and Sosa Miatello, Sara (eds.) (1976). in Diccionario Biográfico Italo-Argentino. Buenos Aires: Asociación Dante Alighieri de Buenos Aires (in Spanish).
Parts of this article were translated from Zenón Rolón on the Spanish Wikipedia where the following further sources were given:
Andrews, George Reid (1989). Los afroargentinos de Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires: Ediciones de la Flor (in Spanish). Also available in English as The Afro-Argentines of Buenos Aires, 1800-1900, University of Wisconsin Press, 1980.
García Acevedo, Mario (2002). "Rolón, Zenón" in Diccionario de la Música Española e Hispanoamericana. Madrid: Sociedad General de Autores y Editores. Volume 9, p. 352 (in Spanish).
January 01, 1970
zenón, rolón, june, 1856, 1902, afro, argentine, musician, composer, born, buenos, aires, composed, approximately, works, including, operas, operettas, zarzuelas, sacred, music, rolón, also, founded, music, publishing, company, which, published, numerous, work. Zenon Rolon 25 June 1856 13 May 1902 was an Afro Argentine musician and composer Born in Buenos Aires he composed approximately 80 works including operas operettas zarzuelas and sacred music Rolon also founded a music publishing company which published numerous works by contemporary Argentine composers Many of his manuscripts are now held by the Instituto Nacional de Estudios de Teatro in Buenos Aires and by the Museo Historico de Moron the city where he died at the age of 45 Zenon RolonBiography edit nbsp Zenon Rolon Rolon was born in Buenos Aires to an Afro Argentine family and first studied music in his native city with Alfredo Quiroga a fellow Afro Argentine and organist of the Iglesia de la Merced Church of Our Lady of Mercy In 1873 when he was only 17 years old he went to Florence for further study and remained there until 1879 1 In 1877 he wrote Dos palabras a mis hermanos de casta Two Words to my Caste Brothers a political pamphlet on the role of Afro Argentines in wider Argentine culture When it was published in La Juventud an Afro Argentine newspaper in Buenos Aires he was severely criticised but opinion changed in his favour upon his return from Italy 2 Once back in Buenos Aires he continued to study music this time with Basilio Basili and composed a funeral march in honor of Jose de San Martin Argentina s national hero Rolon himself conducted its premiere performance when San Martin s remains were repatriated to Argentina in 1880 Rolon married Maria Quiroga the sister of his first teacher and had two children Dafne and Cloe Daphnis and Chloe 3 In the meantime his musical career began to thrive In addition to his composing he also conducted regular concerts at the Jardin Florida and the Hotel La Delicia de Adrogue in Buenos Aires beginning in 1880 and continuing until 1900 In 1881 he founded a music publishing company Rolon y Oca where he published many works by contemporary Argentine composers and in 1885 he founded a social club for Afro Argentines 4 Two years later he was appointed Professor of Music by Concejo Nacional de Educacion Amongst his students were Justin Clerice 5 Antonio Restano 6 Prudencio R DenIs 7 and Enrique Garcia Velloso 8 Rolon composed about eighty works during his lifetime including Symphony 1879 the operettas Le Chateau du Pic Tordu 1885 El castillo hechizado The Enchanted Castle 1887 and Strattagemma di Nannetta Nannetta s Stratagem 1887 the operas Fides date unknown and Solane 1899 the zarzuelas Chin Yonk 1895 El ensayo de una opera criolla The Rehearsal of a Creole Opera 1899 and Una broma improvisada An Improvised Joke 1900 and the cantatas Stella d Italia Star of Italy 1891 and Adios a la Virgen Farewell to the Virgin 1900 He also composed numerous waltzes polkas marches and barcarolles several of which were published in Florence during his time there His sacred music included hymns music for Holy Week 1893 Misa del Carmen 1901 o 1902 and a Kyrie for three voices 1902 which was probably his last composition Rolon died in Moron Buenos Aires on 13 May 1902 shortly before his 46th birthday and was buried in the Cementerio de La Recoleta in Buenos Aires 9 Many of his manuscripts were later donated by his children to the Museo Historico de Moron There are also some of his works at the Instituto Nacional de Estudios de Teatro in Buenos Aires Notes and references edit Although some sources e g Andrews 1989 claim that Rolon had a scholarship to study in Florence Rolon s son said that his father paid all his own expenses there See Gesualdo 1961 p 468 The title is sometimes given as Dos palabras a mis hermanos de raza For contemporary reactions to the pamphlet see Cirio 2009 pp 153 156 Rolon s son Dafne Zenon Rolon became a noted tango composer Gesualdo 1961 p 468 Justin Clerice 1863 1908 composed numerous operettas and ballet scores Born in Buenos Aires to French family he studied and worked in Paris for most of his adult life See Baker 1900 2008 p 118 and Cretel 2008 Antonio Restano 1860 1928 was the first Argentine composer to have his operas performed in Europe See Petriella and Sosa Miatello eds 1976 p 20 Prudencio R Denis 1860 1910 was a pianist and composer primarily of salon music and waltzes See Casares Lopez Calo et al 1999 p 455 Enrique Garcia Velloso 1880 1938 wrote more than 150 plays and libretti including that for Rolon s zarzuela Chin Yonk See Cortes and Barrea Marlys 2003 p 25 de Estrada 1979 p 153 Sources edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zenon Rolon Baker Theodore 1900 2008 Clerice Justin in A Biographical Dictionary of Musicians Read Books ISBN 1 4437 2847 0 Casares Emilio Lopez Calo Jose et al eds 1999 Denis Prudencio in Diccionario de la musica espanola e hispanoamericana Volume 4 Madrid Sociedad General de Autores y Editores ISBN 84 8048 303 2 in Spanish Cirio Norberto Pablo 2009 Tinta negra en el gris del ayer los afroportenos a traves de sus periodicos entre 1873 y 1882 Buenos Aires Teseo ISBN 987 1354 37 1 in Spanish Cortes Eladio and Barrea Marlys Mirta 2003 Garcia Velloso Enrique in Encyclopedia of Latin American Theater Westport CT Greenwood Publishing Group ISBN 0 313 29041 5 Cretel Bernard 2008 Justin Clerice originally published in Operette n 119 in French de Estrada Marcos 1979 Argentinos de origen africano Buenos Aires Universidad de Buenos Aires in Spanish Gesualdo Vicente 1961 Historia de la musica en la Argentina Buenos Aires Beta in Spanish Petriella Dionisio and Sosa Miatello Sara eds 1976 Restano Juan Bautista in Diccionario Biografico Italo Argentino Buenos Aires Asociacion Dante Alighieri de Buenos Aires in Spanish Parts of this article were translated from Zenon Rolon on the Spanish Wikipedia where the following further sources were given Andrews George Reid 1989 Los afroargentinos de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Ediciones de la Flor in Spanish Also available in English as The Afro Argentines of Buenos Aires 1800 1900 University of Wisconsin Press 1980 Garcia Acevedo Mario 2002 Rolon Zenon in Diccionario de la Musica Espanola e Hispanoamericana Madrid Sociedad General de Autores y Editores Volume 9 p 352 in Spanish Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zenon Rolon amp oldid 1146990640, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
