Manuel de Adalid y Gamero (1872-1947) Papers, 1899-1947
(Collection 77)
Collection Guide
Prepared by Ruth Olivera, February 1987; revised February 1993.
Manuel de Adalid y Gamero, born in Danlí , Honduras , was one of the most outstanding composers his country has produced. A man of many talents, he was also an organist, a conductor, a writer, an educator, and an engineer. Although he became a citizen of the United States , his music reflects clearly the inspiration of his native land. He composed waltzes, marches, polkas, and mazurkas, and several of his best known works, "Una Noche en Honduras," "Suite Tropical," "The Funeral of a Little Rabbit" and Rembranzas Hondureñas" are found in this collection.
This assemblage of music scores and other items relating to Adalid y Gamero is without doubt the most comprehensive in existence. The whereabouts of other scores is quite uncertain. The collection was obtained from the nephew of the composer, Luis Hernán Sevilla, who wanted the papers to be housed in one institution and who supplied valuable information regarding his uncle and the compositions. The legal name of hte composer, he tells us, was Manuel José Gamero Moncado, but as a musician he assumed the name of his grandfather Adalid y Gamero.
The major part of the materials consists of Adalid y Gamero's autograph music scores. There are also negative photostats of scores and printed scores. In addition, a short sketch of the life of the composer, letters, and photographs provide biographical insight. For additional biographical information see Nicolas Slonimsky, Music of Latin America, 1972, p. 212.
Biographical Materials
Folder 1
Anonymous TD of 5 pages about the professional career of Adalid y Gamero, written after his death in 1947.
Folder 2
Four photographs of Adalid y Gamero, signed and dedicated. Included are a 4x7 photo taken in Danlí dated 1893, a 6x9 photo taken in Tegucigalpa dated 1916, a 7x11 photo taken with the Russian cellist B. Sybora in Tegucigalpa dated 8 August 1931.
Folder 3
Two TLS from Manuel Adalid y Gamero, Tegucigalpa , Honduras , to Abel Gamero, 8 June 1936 and 4 September 1946. Writing to his brother in Danlí , Honduras , Adalid y Gamero mentions the performance of his work "Los Funerales de un conejito" in Washington and other recognition in the United States , as well as aspects of the depressed economy of Honduras .
Autograph scores
Folder 4
"Los Jardines de Danlí" (1889), a march for band instruments. All parts are included except the part intended for page 17, which is missing, 29 leaves. This is the first known work of Adalid y Gamero, composed at age 18. It was lost for many years and was never published. Added in 1993: A photographic copy of the score for tenor saxophone.
Folder 5
"Love in the Subway" (1925, April), called a "characteristic piece," 3 leaves. The words and music are by M. de Adalid. This is not an autograph copy, but the corrections are his. Included are a negative photostat and a separate page of words which differ somewhat from those on the music score. Added in 1993: Another photostat (positive), 3 leaves; the score for violin, with 1926 copyright date, 1 leaf; draft score which had been attached to another draft score "Honduras Bananas Land," 1 leaf. See Folder 23.
Folder 6
"A Night in Honduras " (1927), an intermezzo. This is a negative photostat of the manuscript score for piano/conductor, 2 pages. Added in 1993: The scores for oboe and flute, 2 leaves; a condensed score (for all instruments), 1 leaf.
Folder 7
"Una noche en Honduras " (c. 1927), with words and melody line only, both by Adalid y Gamero, 1 leaf. This work appeared on the same Victor record as "Rembranzas Hondureñas." Also included here is a negative photostat of a similar composition also called "Una noche en Honduras ," an "intermezzo sinfónica," 1 leaf.
Folder 8
"Autumn Roses" (1928), a waltz also called "Rosas de Otoño." This is a negative photostat of the manuscript score for piano-conductor. 2 pages. Added in 1993: A score called "Rosa de Otoño Vals," 6 leaves.
Folder 9
"Rembranza Hondureña--Remembrance of Honduras" (c. 1928), also called "Souvenir of Honduras," a waltz scored for band instruments made up of folkloric pieces, 21 pieces. A shortened version of this composition was recorded by Victor as "Rembranzas Hondureñas" (RCA Victor catalog, 1928). "Una Noche en Honduras" also appeared on this record.
Added in 1993: Draft score for all parts, 8 pages; draft score for all parts, 4 pages; draft score, 2 pages; scores for 1st and 2nd horns and for 3rd and 4th horns, 2 leaves; score for conductor and/or piano variously titled, 3 leaves. Also added are scores for 2nd violin, for violin B, for violin C, and for another instrument, possibly flute, but most of the identification is missing, 4 pages. These are apparently an earlier version, as the 2nd violin part is dated copyright 1925, and the c. 1928 orchestration is for band instruments only. Also included are two draft scores for "La Novia del Torero," for cello and piano and for guitar and piano. The latter is on the verso side of the conductor score for "Souvenir of Honduras."
Folder 10
"Rembranzas Hondureñas" (Remembrance of Honduras) (c. 1928), a concert waltz dedicated to Franklin Adams, Esq., Counselor of the Pan American Union. This is a negative photostat of the shortened version "Rembranza Hondureña," 5 pages.
Folder 11
"Voces de la Tarde" (1929), a "Canción de Cuna," for piano and voice, with words and music by Adalid y Gamero. This is a printed score which appeared in the periodical Para Todos II, no. 16 June-July, 1929, 4 pages.
Folder 12
"Spring Morning in Washington" (1932), a march for band instruments dedicated to J. Butler Wright, Esq. All parts are included, 12 pages. This march was written in Tegucigalpa 29 June 1932 and was played in concerts at the Pan American Union. Added in 1993: A draft score possibly for piano and one for all parts, 2 leaves; also a score for violin A, copyright 1934, 1 leaf.
Folder 13
"Canto a Honduras" (1933), a patriotic song for voice and piano written for the schools of Honduras, 2 leaves. A TLS by M. de Adalid addressed to his "estimado amigo" also provides the words he wrote to the song, and suggests that it be included in a publication. Added in 1993: Another different score, 1 leaf; also two other damaged and incomplete scores, 2 leaves.
Folder 14
"The Funeral of a Little Rabbit" (1936), a symphonic poem for band instruments. All parts are included, 22 pages. This unpublished composition is cited in the Edwin A. Fleisher Music Collection in the Free Library of Philadelphia, vol. 2, Press of Inner and Sons, Philadelphia, 1945, 524, item 3664. It was first performed in Washington, D.C. by the United Service Orchestra on 14 April 1936. Added in 1993: A draft score for all parts, 16 pages; a photographic reproduction of the first four pages of the draft; a score possibly for piano, 1 leaf.
Folder 15
"Serenatta de la Suite Tropical" (c. 1936) for piano, 1 page. Also a draft version of "Suite Tropical-no. 2-Bull's Death in the Ring," a march, 3 pages. According to Luis Hernán Sevilla "La Suite Tropical" was played by the United Service Orchestra of Washington, D.C. in 1936. Added in 1993: Draft scores for "Tropical Suite" (n.d.), a "characteristic habanera" and "La Serenata" (n.d.) may be other versions, 3 leaves.
Folder 16
"Princesa Lointaine" (n.d.), an overture for piano. 1 page. The reverse side was used by the composer's brother Carlos Gamero for a flute piece "Gratia Plena," an habanera.
Folder 17
"In the Bananas Plantation" (n.d.), called a Honduran serenade" ("En el bananal") for violin, cello, and harp, 6 pages. This manuscript is not an autograph score but it is signed by M. de Adalid y Gamero. It is the only extant copyand has never been published. Added in 1993: another similar score, not in the hand of Adalid y Gamero, 6 pages.
Folder 18
"Soldiers of the Air March" (n.d.), dedicated "To the Aviators of the U.S> Air Service," 6 pages. This is an incomplete draft score for band instruments. Added in 1993: Another incomplete draft score, possibly for piano, 2 leaves.
The following materials were added in 1993:
Folder 19
"Bolero Danlideño" (n.d.), a score for flutes and for seven unnamed instruments, not in the hand of Adalid y Gamero, but identified as his composition, 2 leaves. Also a photographic copy of another similar score, 1 leaf.
Folder 20
"La Muerrte del Bardo" or "The Death of the Bard" (n.d.), for violin, cello, and harp. These autograph scores are not in the hand of Adalid y Gamero, but are signed by him. There are two similar versions, 3 leaves.
Folder 21
"Jota de la Guida" (n.d.), an autograph draft score, 1 leaf.
Folder 22
"A la escuela" (n.d.), a draft score with melody line and words, 1 leaf.
Folder 23
"Honduras. Banana Land" (n.d.), a draft score. It was found attached to a manuscript page of "Love in the Subway," c. 1925, 4 leaves. See Folder 5.
Folder 24
Miscellaneous drafts of unidentified compositions and a fragment of a printed score of "La Gaditana" for tenor trombone, 8 leaves.
Folder 25
"La Granadera" (n.d.), a printed score for piano and voice, with words by Rómulo e. Durón. It is a hymn to Central America adopted by the Organization of Central American States and appears here in a publication for children, 4 pages.
