Music

Sociedad Musical Lira Orxetana.

The Municipal School of Music was established through an initiative of the “Sociedad Musical Lira Orxetana” (“The Lira Musical Society of Orxeta”)., with a grant from the Orxeta Council.  Its main aim was to introduce the world of music to the local people of the Orxetan area and provide the opportunity for the students, the majority of whom are young musicians, to enjoy music in all its guises, whether in a group, a chorus, an orchestra or any other type of chamber music.  This is not only for enjoyment but also as an activity that, if properly nurtured, could develop and lead to a professional career in music.

In a chronicle of La Vila Joiosa dated to 1753 a reference is made to the musical tradition of Orxeta in which were mentioned: “…the special musicians of Onil, Gorga and Orxeta to take part and play their instruments… for the celebration of the Moors and Christians”.

The Musical Band, although there is no written record, was created at the end of the 19th century and it had about 20 to 25 musicians who compiled a repertoire of dance pieces and other military marches.  The band was directed by one of the musicians, possible the most qualified, who was called “El Mestret”, also known as “El Tío Balbino”.

In the first few years of the last century there was a decline in attendance and the band’s number was severely reduced to the point of nearly disbanding.

In the 1920s there was a reorganisation under the direction of Don Francisco Ferrándiz Lloret, who named the Band “La Sociedad Musical Lira Orxetana” (“The Lira Musical Society of Orxeta”).

The band, for various reasons including the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War,  disappeared for a number of years until 1944 when it was started again under the direction of Don Francisco Ferrándiz Lloret.  The Band’s first performance of this new era was in the festival of Moors and Christians in La Vila Joiosa in 1947, which was followed by performances all over the Alicante province.

At the beginning of the 1950s  Don Simeón Buforn Ferrándiz became director and held the post until 1957 when “La Lira” was once again dissolved. All the instruments were stored and looked after by Don Emilio Lloret Sellés.

In 1975 it was decided to reorganise the Musical Society again, creating a Music School under the direction of Don Alfredo Ferránidiz, Don Salvador Lloret, Don Simeón Buforn and Don Emilio Lloret.  The Band carried out its first performance in Orxeta in November 1976, commemorating the Patron Saint of Music, Saint Cecilia.

In 1977 the Society’s rules were established.

Don Simeón Buforn held the position of Director until 1979, when for health reasons he resigned the post to Don Luis Coloma Cantó, who led the Band to perform at all the fiestas in the local region.

In 1987 Don José Miguel Millá Calvo was named as director of the Band and under his baton the size of La Lira increased significantly, with more than 40 musicians (it should be mentioned that one out of every ten of the villagers were musicians). The Musical Society became very important culturally and socially in the local community.  In charge of the Music School was Don Tomás José Sellés Llinares, a local man and with a degree from the “Conservatorio Superior de Alicante”, whilst at the same time holding the position of President of the Musical Society.

During this period, the Band performed concerts, played at festivals and participated in the XVIII Certamen Provincial de Bandas de Música (The Provincial Competition of Musical Bands) in the third category, which took place in Crevillente.

In January 1990 Don Emilio Montoya was named as the Band’s director. But at the beginning of September 1991 he left the Band and the post was taken up by Don José Domingo Cano who held the post until 1994 when Don José Tomas Moñino took charge until December 1996.  During this period the Musical Society fell into a significant decline.  Once again Don Luis Coloma became the Band’s director.

In October 2002 there was a managerial change and Don Emilio Lloret Sellés returned to hold the position of President, taking over from the previous President Don Vicente Llinares.

In the face of general despondency, in October 2003 the Board of Directors announced an Assembly of the musicians where a general consensus was reached and the performance rules were agreed with the aim to improve the poor state that the Musical Band had found itself in.

There was a large investment in materials, not just in instruments but also in the administration department.  The local Band Hall was revamped, a new repertoire was learnt, the archive was updated and the financial agreement with the Council was renewed.

For the year 2003/04 the number of teaching staff was increased with the addition of Don José Fuster (saxophone and clarinet) and Don Tomás José Sellés (percussion and musical theory).  In charge of the school was Don Luis Colomba, who at the same time taught brass instruments (wind) and musical scales.

In the General Assembly of 18th January 2004 Don Emilio Lloret resigned for personal reasons and Don Ginés Escoda Lloret was elected President. A number of new Society rules were also passed.

The teaching staff was increased to three for the 2004/05 course.

On 16th July 2005 the Band performed in Pozo Cañada (Albacete), where the present day Director Don Antonio Saval Fontán made his debut.

For the 2005/06 course a new plan of studies came into affect under the coordination of Don Tomás Sellés and the number of teachers was increased to five to cope with the 50 students enrolled.

In the current year 2006 the refurbishment of the Music Hall is planned with the aim to improve the quality and comfort of the facilities and to satisfy the needs of the 36 musicians who perform in the Orxeta Band.