Juan Bañez
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Juan Claudio Bañez (September 23, 1908 San Carlos, Pangasinan - April 20, 1965 San Bernardino, California) was a Filipino teacher, composer, arranger, concert pianist, organist, and choral conductor. He is primarily known today as the pianist who reconstructed Francisco Santiago’s Piano Concerto after the original was destroyed.
Life and career[edit]
Juan Claudio Bañez was born on September 23, 1908, in San Carlos, Pangasinan. He was born to a family of musicians: His father, Gregorio Bañez, was an organ player; His mother, Maria Claudio, was a choir singer; and his eldest brother, a priest, was a pianist.
After winning a piano competition he was granted scholarship to the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music, entering in 1929, studying Piano under Francisco Santiago. He graduated in 1932 with the highest honors and obtained the Teacher's Certificate (Diploma). He played his teacher's Piano Concerto on his graduation recital at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.[1]
After graduating he went back to his home province and established the Pangasinan Philharmonic Academy with him as director and choral conductor.
World War 2[edit]
Juan Bañez wasn't that active during the Japanese Occupation, in part due to his Music Academy in Pangasinan closing down due to the outbreak of World War 2. He set up a piano shop near his house in Manila and occasionally performed in chamber and orchestral concerts.
Post-war[edit]
In 1946, he became a Piano Teacher at his the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music and at the Philippine Women's University in 1951. Among the notable students he taught was Carmencita Sipin-Aspiras.
In 1952 he undertook a project reconstructing his late teacher Francisco Santiago's Piano Concerto, after the original score was destroyed during the Libreration of Manila. With the help of his colleagues such as Antonino Buenaventura, they managed to reconstruct the Concerto entirely from memory, and it was premiered in September 1952.[2]
in 1954 he went to the United States in order to pursue a master's degree in Piano at the University of Redlands in California, obtaining it in 1957.[3] He and his family would live in California for the rest of his life.
He died on April 20, 1965.
Personal life[edit]
In the 1930s he married Hermenegilda Mejia and had 3 children.
Compositions and Arrangements[edit]
As a composer, Juan Bañez mostly made difficult arrangements of Filipino folk songs. However, his most famous and important work is his reconstruction of Francisco Santiago's Piano Concerto.
- Santiago - Piano Concerto (reconstruction) – In 3 movements. Reconstructed entirely from memory in 1952.
- Lulay – Arrangement of the Folk Song. Also called "Mountain Serenade"
- Planting Rice – Arrangement of the Folk Song. Also called "Scherzino"
- Fairy Tale – Based on a Filipino Christmas Song.
- Recuerdos de Capiz – a transcription of Julio Nakpil’s Recuerdos de Capiz with additional bravura passages.
References[edit]
- University of the Philippines (March 17, 1961) Inaugural Concert Souvenir Program
- "Concert Pianist From Philippines Takes Graduate Studies at Redlands University". The San Bernardino County Sun. December 1, 1954.
- "Filipino Father and Daughter Will Give Musical Program". The San Bernardino County Sun. April 21, 1956.
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