Joan

Joan Casamitjana Alsina

Barcelona , 10 de juliol de 1805
Valencia , 30 de març de 1881

Composer

Composer, director and flautist

He began his musical studies in Mahon, where his family lived during the Peninsular War. He continued his studies in 1815 in Barcelona with Andreví, whilst playing the piccolo in the Band of the Artillery Regiment. In the 1820s, he settled in Paris, where he studied with Pierre Melchor and Eugen Münchs, and became part of the Royal Guard Band. When it dissolved in 1830, he returned to Barcelona and worked as a flautist at the Teatre de la Santa Creu. In 1832 he moved to Santiago de Cuba to conduct the orchestra and military bands. In his time there, he created a music school and a quartet, and composing and transcribing music. In 1850 he moved to Havana and developed the same activities. In 1866, he returned to Barcelona, where he won the composition prize of the Ateneu Barcelonès, created the Societat de Concerts Clàssics, promoted symphonic music and organized the so-called Concerts Casamitjana in various gardens of the city. His compositions are mostly for piano or symphonic orchestra. He enjoyed a great reputation.