Luís da Silva Ribeiro Public Library showcases collections belonging to Angra do Heroísmo Military Band
The Regional Directorate for Culture, through Luís da Silva Ribeiro Public Library and Regional Archive, promotes an initiative under the title "Coelho da Silva Family - Musical collections" between November 11 and 22. It will focus on the dissemination of the collections owned by Angra do Heroísmo Military Band, Raul Coelho and family, Mário Coelho and João Carlos Rodrigues. These collections feature scores of military marches, concerts and dances.
Besides the documentary exhibition, the initiative includes a number of complementary activities, such as the organisation of guided tours for schools on November 11, which will be followed by the viewing of scores and listening of musical works, and an explanation about their context. The initiative is primarily directed to artistic education students.
These tours require prior booking by the schools providing this type of education and will take place at 10 AM, 2:30 PM and 3:30 PM.
On the following day, there will be a musical session with free admission at 9 PM. It features the participation of students from the Music School of Porto Judeu Cultural Association and the Sports Dance Association of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
The session aims to explore the sound content of musical collections in terms of band repertoire, such as foxtrot, marches, "paso doble," polka and tango, with choreography by Débora Silveira and Zélia Quadros; the dances will be performed by seven pairs.
The collection of Angra do Heroísmo Military Band evidences collaborative nature of its musicians and the various philharmonic bands of Terceira island. In turn, the other funds featured in this initiative highlight this connection, through the various military musicians who played in philharmonic bands, namely João Carlos Rodrigues, Raul Coelho and Mário Coelho; the latter were also composers. They have contributed to the consolidation of the philharmonic association movement that spread from 1830, not only in the country but also in the Azores, especially on Terceira island.
The Coelho da Silva family played a key and structural role in the revitalisation of philharmonic bands, either in the musical direction of bands or in the composition of pieces.
The patriarch, Manuel Coelho da Silva, identifies himself in the autograph scores as a member of the Society of Authors. He is known to have composed some works, not only for the band but also for string quintet and songs with piano accompaniment.
"Russos e Germanos" (Russians and Germans), "Alied Victory," "Dedicated to Winston Churchill" and "Açores de Portugal" (Azores of Portugal) are some of the works he composed.
Raul Coelho graduated in Harmony and Composition. In addition to Band Music, he composed "revistas" (Portuguese vaudeville acts) and the operetta "Glória ao Divino" (Glory to the Divine). He also composed numerous pieces for philharmonic orchestra there were usually inspired by subjects related to Terceira, namely rhapsodies and fantasias, and chamber music, including a Sonata and an Allegro in D minor for string quartet and piano.
In addition to philharmonic band music, Mário Coelho also composed pieces for "revistas" and marches of São João. He also made arrangements for the Choral Singing lessons that he has taught for several years at Angra do Heroísmo Secondary School.
In turn, the estate of João Carlos Rodrigues features pieces performed by the military bands to which he belonged.
The Regional Directorate for Culture informs that this and other events may be consulted in the Cultural Agenda of CulturAçores Portal at the following address: www.culturacores.azores.gov.pt.