Google, the search engine giant, celebrates Manuel Ponce Cuellar’s 139th Birthday with a Google Doodle. It will be available on December 8, 2022.
Manuel Ponce Cuellar was who?
Manuel Maria Ponce Cuellar, a Mexican composer, was active during the 20th century. His contributions as a musician, teacher, and scholar of Mexican musical history connected the concert scene with a Mexican folklore and popular song tradition that was mostly forgotten. Many of his compositions are heavily influenced by the harmonies and forms that traditional songs offer.
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Manuel Maria Ponce was born in Fresnillo (Zacatecas) on December 8, 1882. He moved to Aguascalientes with his family shortly after his birth. He remained there until the age of 15.
His musical prodigy was what made him famous. Biographers say that he used to sit at the piano and interpret one of the pieces he heard as a child. He had listened attentively to Josefina, his sister’s piano lessons. His parents ordered him immediately to learn musical notation and piano.
Manuel Ponce Cuellar, a composer and pianist, entered the National Conservatory of Music in 1901. He remained there until 1903, when he returned to Aguascalientes. This was the beginning of his travels. In 1904, he went to Bologna to study advanced music at Conservatorio Giovanni Battista Martini.
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Manuel Ponce Cuellar was a student at Martin Krause’s Stern conservatory in Berlin between 1906 and 1908.
Ponce was a piano teacher and music historian at the National Conservatory of Music between 1909 and 1915, and 1917 to 1922 after he had spent time abroad. He lived in Havana (Cuba) between 1915 and 1917.
Manuel Ponce Cuellar’s most famous composition, “Estrellita”, (the “little star”) was composed in 1912. Contrary to popular belief it is not a typical love song, but “Nostalgia Via” (live nostalgia).
The same year, Ponce performed in the “Arbeau Theatre” a memorable concert featuring Mexican popular music. This performance shocked passionate defenders European classical music and was a landmark in history of the national song.
Manuel Ponce Cuellar was awarded the title “Creator for the Modern Mexican Song” because of his contributions to Mexican music promotion and the writing of songs such as “Estrellita,” A la orilla de un palmar,” and “Alevantate,” as well “Marchita el Alma,” which was also the first Mexican song to be broadcast on the international stage.
In 1947, Manuel Ponce Cuellar received the National Science and Arts Prize.
Manuel Ponce married Clementina Maurel. She died in Mexico City next to him. Ponce is remembered with a prominent monument on the main square in Aguascalientes. This is where he was born and studied music for his first time.
Ponce composed music that was suitable for solo instruments, chamber ensembles, orchestras, and chamber orchestras. His piano and guitar pieces are more well-known than those dedicated to solo instruments in the collection. Estrellita is Ponce’s most well-known work.
“Estrellita”, a Manuel Ponce Cuellar melody, can be heard in many arrangements today.
Google featured a Doodle in Mexico on its homepage for Manuel Ponce Cuellar’s birthday, December 8, 2022.