Juan Bautista Plaza

Full biography Juan Bautista Plaza

Juan Bautista Plaza Alfonso (June 19 , 1898 - January 1, 1965) was a renowned Venezuelan composer, musicologist, and educator. Plaza began his studies in medicine at the Central University of Venezuela , but he later turned to music, which was his true passion. Throughout his career, Plaza composed a wide range of music for different instruments and ensembles, including vocal works, chamber music, and orchestral pieces, among others.

One of his most famous works is the Fuga Criolla for string orchestra, which is widely regarded as a seminal piece in Venezuelan classical music. This piece combines traditional Venezuelan and European music elements and has been performed by renowned orchestras around the world.

Plaza also wrote religious music, including the Misa en fa, Misa de la esperanza , and Requiem a la memoria de su madre. His music for piano, including the Sonatina, has been particularly popular.

Apart from composing his own music, Plaza also wrote extensively about Venezuelan and Latin American music more broadly, and his written works included scholarly articles and musicology texts. Plaza was also recognized for his contributions to music education in Venezuela, where he founded the National Music Conservatory of Venezuela, which has become one of the most important music institutions in the country.

Overall, Juan Bautista Plaza is widely regarded as one of the most important Venezuelan composers of the 20th century. His contributions to Venezuelan classical music remain influential, and his music is still performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world.