Jacinto
Guerrero

Born in Toledo(16th August 1895) to a father who was director of the city's municipal band,Jacinto Guerrero's musical training began early. After his father'sdeath in 1904 he was enrolled as a chorister at Toledo Cathedral, where hestudied withLluis Ferré, who had been impressed with vocalcompositions such as aSalve in four parts written when Jacinto was onlysix years old. The writing of aHymn to Toledo won for him a grant tostudy at the Madrid Conservatory (1914), where he studied violin as well asharmony and composition. After a brief spell supporting himself as acafé violinist, he quickly obtained a post as a second violinist in theorchestra of the Teatro de Apolo.

As early as1919 he began writing music for the theatre, climbing rapidly to fame through asuccession of three zarzuelas,La alsaciana (1921),La montería (1922) andLos gavilanes (1923) in one, two and threeacts respectively. A series of highly successful works followed, amongst whichEl huésped del Sevillano (1926);La rosa del azafrán (1930) andLa fama del tartanero (1931) are especially noteworthy. Others almosteqaully successful in their day, such asMaría Sol (1925),Martierra (1928) andEl Ama (1933) have faded from the scene.

The composer was also active as a Madrid city councillor, andbecame President of theSociedad de Autores Españoles in 1948.Madrid went into mourning after his sudden death whilst undergoing an operationon 15th August 1951; and his last zarzuelaEl canastillo de fresas -finished by other hands, and featuring a very young Pilar Lorengar - enjoyed amoving triumph later that year.

Guerrero alsoprovided music for a great number ofrevistas as well as quantities offilm music, but his zarzuelas were and are the mainstay of his reputation. Hismelodies are memorable, his vocal lines fluent and natural, his constructionsound. His orchestration is clear, straightforward and effective. Guerrero'smusic may not be distinctively personal or sophisticated; but his best workslive on through a winning combination of immediacy and elegant simplicity, andtheir continued success is well-merited. TheFundación Jacinto yInocencio Guerrero, founded in memory of the composer and his brother,remains a proactive force for the promotion of Spanish music new and old, liveand recorded.