Mercedes Arias
Mercedes Arias (1862 – 7 January 1954[1]) was a Puerto Rican musician and composer from Ponce, Puerto Rico.[2] Among her compositions are "Renacimiento" (Renaissance), and "Flores y Perlas" (Flowers and Pearls).
Mercedes Arias | |
|---|---|
.png.webp) Mercedes Arias, c. 1880 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Mercedes Arias Ventura |
| Born | 1862 |
| Origin | Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Died | 7 January 1954 Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Genres | Danza |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, musician, music teacher |
| Instrument(s) | Piano |
| Years active | ca. 1880 – ca.1920 |
Professional career
Arias was trained by Juan Morel Campos and Julio Arteaga. She was "one of the greatest pianists and composers Ponce had". Her compositors are "saturated with beauty." Among them are "Renacimiento" (Renaissance), and "Flores y Perlas" (Flowers and Pearls). She was one of the first musician contracted by Jaime Pericas Díaz in his concert hall orchestra in 1926. She was also highly applauded and regarded in her solo concerts. Under the leadership of Juan Morel Campos, Lizzie Graham and Arias, many representations, concerts, discussions and recitals occurred in Ponce. She also worked at Teatro Delicias interpreting the piano sound synchronization that accompanied the soundless films of the time.[3] During the 1880s, Julio Arteaga, Juan Ríos Ovalle and Mercedes Arias would often perform together at popular events.[4]
Personal life
Arias was a student of Juan Morel Campos.[3] Many people who know about Arias, get their knowledge through stories about Juan Morel Campos, as it is said that Mercedes Arias was Morel Campos's secret love. The story goes that the two saw each other romantically in the evenings in what is now Callejón Amor/Paseo Arias.[note 1] However, due to race issues, her family did not approve of the relationship and they were never married.[5] There was a lot of gossip in the streets of Ponce regarding the platonic love between Morel Campos and Arias.[6]
Music teacher
Among her disciples was the father of Héctor Campos Parsi who, together with his wife, were decisive in influencing the future musical career of little Héctor.[7] Arias would also volunteer for local public school activities related to music classes. For example, in 1904 she funded herself to travel to New York City with a group of public school educators from Ponce in support of two music teachers in that group.[8] In 1892, Arias organized a concert to showcase the advancement her students had made. Among her disciples were Elisa Tavárez, Amelia Serra, Lila Salazar, Leonor Valdivieso, Celina Besosa, María Rodríguez, Panchita Colón, and María Laguna and Mercedes Laguna.[3]
Death
It has been said that in her deathbed, Arias asked to be buried with copies of the musical compositions that Morel Campos had dedicated to her. She was buried at the Cementerio Católico San Vicente de Paul.[3]
Legacy
- *Mercedes Arias is commemorated at the Ponce Park of the Illustrious Ponce Citizens.[9]
Notes
- The Ponce Municipal Government named the street "Paseo Arias" after unrelated Antonio Arias Ventura, general manager of the Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño.
References
- Murray-Irizarry, Nestor. "Mercedes Arias: the eternal love of Juan Morel Campos". Casa Paoli's Puerto Rican Folkloric Research Center. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
- Memorias de don Luis A. Ferré: A continuación un capítulo de la autobiografía de don Luis A. Ferré, narrada por su hija Rosario Ferré en el libro "Memorias de Ponce", libro publicado en 1992. El Nuevo Dia. Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
- Murray-Irizarry, Néstor (7 March 2018). "Mercedes Arias: entre las glorias de la historia musical de Ponce". Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 35 (1788): 8–9. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018.
- Socorro Giron. Ponce, el teatro La Perla, y La Campana de la Almudaina. Ponce, Puerto Rico: Ponce Municipal Government. Third edition. 1992. page 273.
- Caminata Guiada Centro Historico de Ponce:: “Ponce es nuestro; Ponce es del que nos visita.” Archived 4 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Ponce Municipal Government. n.d. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- Socorro Giron. Ponce, el teatro La Perla, y La Campana de la Almudaina. Ponce Municipal Government. 1992. p.285.
- Hector Campos Parsi. Gustavo Batista. 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
- Noticias de Ponce. United States Library of Congress. Chronicling America. La Democracia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 24 June 1904. Page 2. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
- Music. Travel Ponce.com. Retrieved 7 March 2018.