José Zapiola

José Zapiola (1802-1885) was a Chilean musician, composer and orchestra conductor.

Zapiola was born in Santiago. He early showed great talent for music, and was sent by his parents in 1824 to Buenos Aires to study harmony and composition. On his return in 1826 he participated in the campaign of Chiloe as band-master of the 7th regiment, and in 1830, on the arrival of the first operatic company in Chile, whose orchestra-leader had died, Zapiola was called to occupy his place, and soon acquired fame, so that he was called repeatedly to Lima to lead the orchestra of the opera there.

In 1852 Zapiola was appointed director of the newly founded conservatory of music at Santiago, where he educated many artists, and he may be called the creator of the musical art in Chile. He founded in 1853 the weekly El Semanario Musical and was co-editor of the "Estrella de Chile". In 1864 was appointed director of the choir of the cathedral, which post he held till his death.

His best musical compositions are "Domine ad adjuvandum me" (1835); a "Requiem" (1836); "Himno al triunfo de Yungay" (1840); and "Himno a San Martin" (1842); and he wrote also a book of historical incidents and sketches of Chilean customs, "Recuerdos de treinta años" (2 vols., Santiago, 1872-'6). Zapiola died in Santiago in 1885.

Additional information

External links

• Appleton's Cyclopedia de American Biography, edited by James Grant Wilson, John Fiske and Stanley L. Klos Nueva York: D. Appleton and Co. (1887-1889)