Centre Instructiu Musical de Mislata

The Centre Instructiu Musical de Mislata (also known as Centro Instructivo Musical de Mislata) is a non-profit musical association based in Mislata, in the Valencian Community of Spain. Its primary purpose is the maintenance and promotion of a wind band (banda de música), and it forms part of the network of sociedades musicales that are a defining cultural feature of the Valencia region. The organisation traces its origins to the early 20th century, when many men in Mislata had served in military bands and brought that musical experience back to the town. In 1907 the band known as the "Nova" (New) was created, incorporating a training section for wind instruments. Its first concert took place on 15 August 1907. The first president was Severino Pérez Brell and the first director was José María Abad Rius. Over the following decades the society changed names and premises. In 1924 new statutes were drawn up and it became Unión y Fomento. Under the presidency of Enrique Pérez Prieto, the Casino Musical (popularly the Casino de la Nova) was completed in 1926. In 1932, for economic reasons, the society sold the theatre portion of the building and adopted the name Centro Instructivo Musical. The Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) interrupted activities and the casino was requisitioned. After the war, in 1942, the Casino Musical was closed by government order and the society was dissolved, with its assets seized; the band was forced to operate within the Obra Social de Educación y Descanso. Support from so-called socios protectores and the municipal government helped sustain the band, and in 1970 and subsequent years new instruments were purchased. With the return of democracy, the society petitioned for the return of its patrimony and name. In 1977, by Royal Decree of 10 October, new statutes for the Centro de Instrucción Musical de Mislata were approved, the old patrimony was recovered, and rehabilitation of the Casino de la Nova began; more than five hundred members joined within days. The band grew to over one hundred musicians and a small school of learners (Escuela de Educandos) was started, with veteran musicians teaching solfège and instruments. In 1991, under president Tomás Honorato Ibáñez, the society acquired the premises of the old casino of "la vella" on Calle Miguel Hernández, and members of the Centro Recreativo y Cultural de Mislata were invited to integrate as full members. These premises have since been used for band concerts and recreational activities, while the Casino de la Nova serves as the school. In September 2006 a new Escuela de Educandos was inaugurated on Calle Mayor, refurbished with financial help from the Diputación Provincial de Valencia, and in 2007 the façade was completed and the rehearsal and concert hall soundproofed. On 15 November 2008 the band, under director Andrés Valero, performed with the rock group Barón Rojo in a project described as unprecedented in Spain at the time. The Centre Instructiu Musical de Mislata remains an active non-profit association dedicated to music education and performance, operating its own band, school, and social premises in Mislata.

The Centre Instructiu Musical de Mislata is a non-profit association whose purpose is the maintenance of a wind band. Its history mirrors that of the musical societies that are a major cultural focus of the Valencian Community. The band's origin lies in the many men of Mislata who had served in military bands in the early 20th century. The town had string ensembles that performed rounds and songs, but little wind representation. For this reason, from the creation of the band known as the "Nova" in 1907, a training section for wind instruments was incorporated. The band, composed of a good number of string instruments, cornets, drums, and wind instruments, was founded under the name Banda Nova (New Band), perhaps because another band called La Vella (the Old) already existed, attached to the casino still standing on Calle Miguel Hernández, now owned by the society. Its first concert was on 15 August 1907. Its first president was Severino Pérez Brell and its first director was José María Abad Rius. Later, on 17 March 1924, new statutes were drawn up and it became Unión y Fomento. Under the presidency of Enrique Pérez Prieto, construction of the Casino Musical (popularly the Casino de la Nova) was completed. It had a social area facing Calle Mayor and an assembly hall facing Calle Salvador Giner, with a built area of 600 m². The works and the deed for the new building were completed on 13 March 1926. For economic reasons, the society had to sell the part of the building intended as a theatre, and its new owner turned it into a cinema. With this action the society changed its name from Unión y Fomento to Centro Instructivo Musical. This was in 1932, under president Francisco Pérez Requeni. On Sunday 20 August 1933, more than 150 people gathered at a banquet to celebrate the band's 25th anniversary, with mayor Juan Llorens at the head; an anecdote was that more than 100 people suffered food poisoning, attributed to the ice cream eaten as dessert. Activities were interrupted in 1936 because of the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), and the casino was requisitioned for services related to the events. After the war, social activity resumed. In 1942, by government order, the Casino Musical (Casino de la Nova) was closed, accused of being "a nest of reds." The society was ordered dissolved and all assets seized to be liquidated later by public auction, which was never carried out. The band, in order to perform, was obligatorily placed within the Obra Social de Educación y Descanso. This seizure had very negative effects on the band's growth, as it was deprived of the social base needed to develop. In part this lack of income was offset by the selfless contributions of the so-called socios protectores, people who gave small fixed amounts. The municipality also provided the services of the director, a municipal official and member of the corps of wind band directors. This group of people provided the funds necessary to purchase new instruments in 1970 and subsequent years. Despite all these vicissitudes, the Banda de Música de Mislata was among the first to join the Federación Regional Valenciana de Sociedades Musicales, founded in 1968 to bring together the interests of the region's bands. With the end of the dictatorship and the arrival of democracy, the return of the patrimony and the society's name was demanded. In 1977, by Royal Decree of 10 October, the new statutes of the Centro de Instrucción Musical de Mislata were accepted. The old patrimony was recovered and rehabilitation and adaptation of the Casino de la Nova began. Registration of new members began and within days more than five hundred people signed up. But the forty-year setback was felt; nevertheless, the band's roster grew to over 100 musicians and a small Escuela de Educandos was started, with veteran musicians teaching solfège and instrument. In honour of their perseverance, the board that achieved the return is reproduced in the source. Under the presidency of Tomás Honorato Ibáñez in 1991, the premises of the old casino of "la vella" were acquired, located at Calle Miguel Hernández no. 11, which the Centro Recreativo y Cultural de Mislata occupied under lease. In a General Assembly the Centre Instructiu Musical agreed to its acquisition, proposing to all members of the Centro Recreativo y Cultural de Mislata that they integrate into the society as full members. The proposal was accepted and since then these premises have been used for band concerts and other recreational activities, using the casino of "La Nova" as the school of learners. Recently, in September 2006, the new Escuela de Educandos was inaugurated, located on Calle Mayor (the old Casino de la Nova), which was refurbished with financial help from the Diputación Provincial de Valencia. As for the social premises, during 2007 the façade was completed and the rehearsal and concert hall was soundproofed. On 15 November 2008, Barón Rojo and the band of the Centre Instructiu Musical, led by its director Andrés Valero, carried out a project unprecedented in Spain until then.

• 2008

  Performance with Barón Rojo on 15 November 2008.

• 2007

  Completion of façade and soundproofing of rehearsal and concert hall.

• 2006

  Inauguration of new Escuela de Educandos in September 2006.

• 1991

  Acquisition of old casino of 'la vella' premises under president Tomás Honorato Ibáñez.

• 1977

  Royal Decree of 10 October approves new statutes; patrimony and name recovered.

• 1970

  Purchase of new instruments begins with funds from supporters.

• 1968

  Band joins the Federación Regional Valenciana de Sociedades Musicales.

• 1942

  Casino Musical closed by government order; society dissolved and assets seized.

• 1936

  Activities interrupted by the Spanish Civil War; casino requisitioned.

• 1933

  25th anniversary banquet on 20 August 1933.

• 1932

  Sale of theatre portion; society renamed Centro Instructivo Musical.

• 1926

  Completion of the Casino Musical (Casino de la Nova) on 13 March 1926.

• 1924

  New statutes adopted; society renamed Unión y Fomento on 17 March 1924.

• 1907

  Founding of the Banda Nova; first concert on 15 August 1907.

Non-profit musical society and community band rooted in the Valencian musical tradition.

• Banda de Música de Mislata

  The society's wind band, with over 100 musicians at its peak.

• Escuela de Educandos

  Music school teaching solfège and instruments, inaugurated in new premises in 2006.

1. 1Centre Instructiu Musical de Mislata - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Centro Instructivo Musical de Mislata - Wikipedia (Spanish)es.wikipedia.org