FELIPE GUTIERREZ  ESPINOSA (1825-1899)             

     Born in Puerto Rico in 1825, he was a Puerto Rican composer that taught himself to compose music.  He was best known for his musical creations of opera and sacred music.  He won competitions in 1858 for choir master of the San Juan cathedral; prior to that in 1845 he was named a top musician in the Iberia battalion.  Espinosa had organized a free music academy in 1875.  He was given a grant from the San Juan town council to continue his studies throughout Europe.  After a talented musical life with many achievements he was forced to work the last year of his life in concierge with minimal earnings.

Discography:  

     El amor de un pescador

     El Bearnés

     Guarionex

     Macías

     Las siete Palabras

Bibliography:

     Oxford Music Online- June 2011

     Naxos Music Library

JOSE IGNACIO QUINTON   (1881-1925)                              

     Jose was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico.  He was a composer and pianist who learned at a very young age from his father, Don Juan Bautista, who was a church organist and graduate of The Paris Conservatory.  He was taught harmony, counterpoint, and composition. He was influenced by Spanish pianist Ernesto del Castillo and Puerto Rican composer, Angel Mislan.  He had his first concert at age nine and at age eleven, he played piano accompaniment for famous violinist Brindis de Salas, who was impressed with the boy.  Jose went on to teach instrumental music at Coamo Municipal Academy of Music and organized musical groups and a band.  As a pianist, he was one of the first to perform Debussy, Ravel and Schoenberg in Puerto Rico.  He elevated the danza to a level of concert music.  He was a pioneer of his time, always looking for new sound, or "the music of the future" as he called it.  His most popular and recognized piece is "El Coqui, " where he simulated the sound of a tiny frog found only in Puerto Rico on his instruments.  After his death in 1925, the town of Coamo honored him by naming one of its' principal avenues after him and preserving his childhood home as an historical landmark.  There is also The Quinton Academy of Music in Coamo named for him.

Discography
     Amor Imposible
     Cuarteto para instrumentos de cuerdas
     Contia
     El Coqui
     Mi Estrella
     Misa de Requiem
     String Quartet in D
     Varaciones


Bibliography
     Oxford Music Online-Healy Library June 27, 2012
     http://www.ladanza.com/quinton.htm#english