NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Rafael Hernandez

Rafael Hernandez (October 24, 1892 – December 11, 1965), who was born in the town of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, was a composer who is considered by many to be the greatest composer of Puerto Rican music. October 24 is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 68 days remaining. ... 1892 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... December 11 is the 345th day (346th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1965 was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Aguadilla is a small beach town in Northwest Puerto Rico. ...

Hernandez was born into a poor family. As a child, he learned the craft of cigar making, from which he made a modest living. Corona cigar A cigar is a tightly rolled bundle of tobacco leaves that have already been dried and fermented, which is lit for the purpose of inhaling (or merely drawing into the mouth rather than into the lungs) its smoke (see tobacco smoking). ...

As a youngster, he grew to love music and asked his parents to permit him to become a full-time music student. When he was 12 years old, Hernandez studied music in San Juan, under the guidance of music professors Jose Ruellan Lequenica and Jesus Figueroa. He learned to play many musical instruments. Among them the clarinet, tuba, violin, piano and guitar. However, according to many Puerto Rican music historians, it was when he learned how to write music that his life and that the history of Puerto Rican music would change forever. At the age of 14, he played for the Cocolia Orquestra. Hernandez moved to San Juan where he played for the municipal orquestra under the director Manuel Tizol. San Juan, the Spanish for Saint John, is a common toponym in parts of the world where Spanish is or was spoken: Argentina San Juan Province San Juan, Argentina, the capital of that province Cuba San Juan Hill Mexico San Juan, Campeche San Juan, Chihuahua San Juan, Coahuila San Juan... A bass clarinet, which sounds an octave lower than the more common Bb soprano clarinet. ... The tuba is the largest of the low-brass instruments and is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the ophicleide. ... The violin is a stringed musical instrument that has four strings tuned a fifth apart. ... This article is about the modern musical instrument. ... The classical guitar typically has 3 nylon and 3 nickel-wound strings. ...

In 1917, Rafael Hernandez was working as a musician in North Carolina, when the U.S. entered WWI. He enlisted in the Army and served in France. There, he toured Europe with the "Orquestra Europe". 1917 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... State nickname: Tar Heel State Other U.S. States Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Governor Michael Easley Official languages English Area 139,509 km² (28th) - Land 126,256 km² - Water 13,227 km² (9. ... The United States of America — also referred to as the United States, the U.S.A., the U.S., America, the States, or (archaically) Columbia—is a federal republic of 50 states located primarily in central North America (with the exception of two states: Alaska and Hawaii). ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... A nations army is its military, or more specifically, all of its land forces. ... World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ...

After the war, Hernandez moved to New York. In the 1920s, he started writing songs and organized a trio called "Trio Borincano". In 1926, fellow Puerto Rican Pedro Flores joined the Trio. Even though Hernandez and Flores became and always remained good friends, they soon went their separate ways and artistically competed against each other. After the trio broke-up, he formed a quartet called "Cuarteto Victoria" which included singer Myrta Silva, also known as "La Guarachera". With both groups, Hernandez traveled and played his music all over the United States, Latin America, Mexico, Cuba and Puerto Rico. State nickname: Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York Governor George Pataki Official languages None Area 141,205 km² (27th) - Land 122,409 km² - Water 18,795 km² (13. ... Sometimes referred to as the Roaring Twenties. Events and trends Technology John T. Thompson invents Thompson submachine gun, also known as Tommy Gun. ... 1926 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Pedro Flores born (March 9, 1897-July, 1979) in the town of Naguabo, Puerto Rico was one Puerto Ricos best known composers of Ballads and Boleros. ... Myrta Silva (a. ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ...

In 1932, Hernandez moved to Mexico, where the Mexicans treated him as one of their own. He directed an orquestra there and enrolled in Mexico's National Music Conservatory, to further enrich his musical knowledge. Hernandez also became an actor and organized many of the musical scores in Mexico's "golden age" of movies. The Mexicans of the state of Puebla consider his composition "Qué Chula es Puebla" to be their unofficial anthem. 1932 is a leap year starting on a Friday. ... The following are lists of actors: Overall: List of male movie actors (A-K) List of male movie actors (L-Z) List of female movie actors (A-K) List of female movie actors (L-Z) Theater actors: List of male theater actors List of female theater actors Television actors: List... For other uses see film (disambiguation) Film refers to the celluliod media on which movies are printed Film — also called movies, the cinema, the silver screen, moving pictures, photoplays, picture shows, flicks, or motion pictures, — is a field that encompasses motion pictures as an art form or as part of... Puebla is the name of a city and a state in Mexico. ...

In 1937, Hernandez wrote one of his greatest works, "El Lamento Borincano". He also wrote what is considered by many to be his greatest masterpiece, "Preciosa". 1937 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

In 1947, Hernandez returned to Puerto Rico and became the director of the Puerto Rican Symphonic Orquestra. He was also a musical advisor to the government owned radio station, WIPR Radio. 1947 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Rafael Hernandez's talent went beyond composing only patriotic music. He also composed Christmas music, Danzas, Zarzuelas, Guarachas, Boleros, Waltzes and etcetera. Many people in the Dominican Republic consider his composition "Linda Quisqueya" their second national anthem. Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus, at the first Christmas Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. ... The waltz is a dance in 3/4 time, done primarily in closed position, the commonest basic figure of which is a full turn in two measures using three steps per measure. ...

Hernandez's works' include "Ahora Somos Felices", "Campanitas de Cristal" (Crystal Bells), "Capullito de Aleli", "Culpable" (Guilty), "El Cumbanchero", "Ese Soy Yo" (That's Me), "Perfume de Gardenias", "Silencio", and "Tu No Comprendes" (You Don't Understand), among 3,000 others. His music became an important part of the Puerto Rican Culture. Pop culture in Puerto Rico, it can be said, has been historically affected both by the political changes the island has gone through, and by the changes in popular culture around the world. ...

Hernandez was Honorary President of the Authors and Composers Association. He was also the founder of little league baseball in Puerto Rico. President John F. Kennedy baptized him "Mr. Cumbanchero" A view of the playing field at Busch Stadium in Saint Louis, Missouri. ... Order: 35th President Vice President: Lyndon B. Johnson Term of office: January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963 Preceded by: Dwight D. Eisenhower Succeeded by: Lyndon B. Johnson Date of birth: May 29, 1917 Place of birth: Brookline, Massachusetts Date of death: November 22, 1963 Place of death: Dallas, Texas First...

Rafael Hernandez died in the City of San Juan on December 11, 1965. His remains are buried in the National Cementery of Old San Juan.

Puerto Rico has honored his memory by naming Public buildings, avenues and schools after him. The airport in Aguadilla is named Rafael Hernandez Airport. There are schools in Boston, Mass. and in Newark, N.J. named after Rafael Hernandez. Renowned Puerto Rican Sculptor Tomas Batista created a statue of Hernandez which is in the City of Bayamon, Puerto Rico. A North American Airlines Boeing 757 parked at the Rafael Hernández Airport, with Fed Ex and Tradewinds jets nearby. ... Alternative meanings: Boston (disambiguation) The 18th-century Old State House in Boston is surrounded by tall buildings of the 19th and 20th centuries. ... Newark is the name of several places. ... Tomás Batista (born 1935, Luquillo, Puerto Rico) is considered to be Puerto Ricos greatest sculptor. ... Bayam n (not to be confused with Bayamo, Cuba) is a city in northern Puerto Rico. ...