Benitachell Band
History of the Santa María Magdalena Band of Benitachell 
Day of the inauguration of the band
The Band of Music was officially inaugurated on Sunday, the 3rd of May, 1987 in the festivity of “La Rosa", even though his history begins much earlier. D. Miguel Catalá, who was then the mayor, had the idea first and, after involving D. Vicente Catalá Ahuir, he teempted to fomr a band. In September 1984 they proposed the idea to the children of the school and, at the first meeting there were about 50 children, of between 4 and 14 years, to start the lessons. The teacher was D. Vicente Ivars Ferrer who had been the director of the school for many years. Unfortunately, by the end of the course, there were only 30 children left. After the summer, they held a benefit show, with the students of music and the very famous tenor Cesar Ponce de León, in the gardens of the restaurant in the urbanization Pueblo de Alcazar. The money they received was used to buy new instruments, and being so successful, they repeated this for several years. During the year 1985-86, when the first pupils were undettaking level 2 music, each one received his or her new instrument, during a celebration party. The instruments were bought in "Casa Benavent" of Javea at a total cost of three million old pesetas. There were: 2 flutes, 1 I re-conscript, 10 clarinets, 2 saxos high places, 2 saxos tenors, 2 trumpets, 2 fliscornos, 1 horn, 3 trombonists, 2 bombardinos, 2 tubas, 1 box, 1 bass-drum and 1 pair of cymbols. And after this and on having finished a second show, our Mayor, D. Michael Catalá, summoned several persons of the village to form the board of directors of the band. This was constituted, that night, under the presidency D. Jose Devesa Pascual.
In 1987, with practice three times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday), the improvement of the band was incredible and, even before the arranged exams had been taken, it was proposed that the band would take part in the Good Friday Procession. So the members of the band, dressed in individual clothes (with no uniform), performed together, in public, for the first time, with the processional march "Solemnity". I have to say that, in spite of the nerves that we all suffered, it was a complete success. Sunday 3rd of May of that year was the main day of the fiestas “Virgen de le Rosa”, and the inauguration of our band was celebrated with a parade that went from Secretario Vicente Pastor to the end of the Avenue Jose Antonio with the paso doble " Reina de Fiestas 1960 ". Accompanying us was the majority of the bands of the region Marina Alta, from Orba, Alcalalí, Denia, Beniarbeig, Ondara, Castell de Castells, Verger, Pego, and Benisa. The band of Teulada, unfortunately, had a concert the same day but they gave us a “corbatín”, which was the first one that adorned our flag. Another band that could not come was the band of Calpe, which later gave us a concert in honour to the day. 
Aprox. 1988/89: Fiestas of Santa María Magdalena
A new age then began for the band, we gave our first performance outside the village, in Javea, on June 23 and 24, 1987, in the fiestas of “fogueres de Sant Joan”, with a budget of sixty thousand pesetas. We amazed the people who were there! After this, we continued taking part in Javea's fiestas (Sant Joan, Verge del Loreto and the Moors), Benissa (Moors and Purisima Xiqueta), Verger (Moors), Teulada (Sant Vicent Ferrer), Moraira (Moors and Mare de Deu del Carme), Denia (fail of Sant Josep and Moors), and many other places, every year.
In 1992, after, D. Vicente Catalá Ahuir assumed the presidency. During this period of time, the number of members went from 26 to more than 60. We also moved from the old “Teleclub” to the location we use today, next to the social centre. Afterwards, in 2003, the presidency was assumed by Dª. Josefa Ronda, who remains the chairwoman of the band.
It is necessary to say that, through her determination and work, as with the previous presidents, she keeps alive the spirit and function of the MUSICAL-MUNICIPAL GROUP OF MARIA MAGDALENA OF THE POBLE NOU DE BENITATXELL 
Aprox 1990: Fiesta de San Pancracio
Apart of the great number of performances and concerts of the band in 1998, it took part in the first "apleg" bands of the Marina Alta, in Ondara. In 1999, it took part in the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the band of Beniargeig. Together with the juvenile band of Denia, it held a concert in benefit of the people Saharaui. As for the directors of the band, D. Vicente Ivars Ferrer was our director until January 26, 2003 celebrating his retirement with a concert in Benissa's cathedral. He was succeeded by D. Roberto Sanchis Richart, and in January, 2004, by D. Pedro Molina Gonzalez. The current director is D. Juan Bou Vayà. Many musicians have been part of the band, and over the years, some of them have good memories of their time with us. Others continue enjoying the band, and some have found, with the music of the band, a whole new way of life. At present, the Municipal band of Santa María of Benitachell, along with the Juvenile Band comprises mainly of musicians trained in the school of music, which ensures the future of both. Antonio Jose Catalá Buigues
|
