Cayetano Alberto Silva
Encyclopedia
Cayetano Alberto Silva was an Uruguay
an musician, nationalized Argentine
, and author; his work includes the San Lorenzo march
, the official march of the Argentine army.
in San Carlos
, Uruguay
. His mother was Natalia Silva, a black slave of the family who gave her the surname. Cayetano Silva studied with maestro Francisco Rinaldi of the Popular Band of San Carlos. In 1879, he attended the School of Arts and Crafts of Montevideo
, where he joined its music band directed by Gerardo Grasso, who taught him music theory, horn, and violin. In 1888, he left the school to attend social centers of workers' agitation, theaters, and music conservatories in Montevideo.
In 1889, he traveled to Buenos Aires
, Argentina
, where he ventured to the Teatro Colón and attended the School of Music directed by Pablo Berutti. He later moved to the city of Rosario
, Province of Santa Fe; on February 1, 1894, he was appointed director of the Seventh Infantry Regiment band. In Rosario, he married Filomena Santanelli, with whom he raised eight children.
Silva and his family moved to Venado Tuerto
in 1898 after being hired by the Italian Society of Venado Tuerto. He founded a lyrical center, taught music, and created a rondalla
—an ensemble of plucked string instruments—with which he performed during the Carnival of 1900. He wrote the music for the plays Canillita
and Cedulas de San Juan for his compatriot friend Florencio Sánchez
; both works were premiered in Rosario.
, he composed a march dedicated to Colonel Pablo Ricchieri
, then war minister of that country and modernizer of the Argentine army. Ricchieri thanked him for the homage, but requested the title be changed to San Lorenzo, the city where Riccheri was born. The march was publicly performed for the first time on October 30, 1902, in San Lorenzo
, in the vicinity of the historic San Carlos Convent, where the Battle of San Lorenzo
took place. That day, the march was designated the official march of the Argentine Army. Two days after, Silva played it again at the opening ceremony for the monument to General San Martín in Plaza San Martín (Rosario)
, in the presence of President Julio Argentino Roca
and Ricchieri.
In 1906, Silva became master of the Third Infantry Regiment. His neighbor, Carlos Javier Benielli, added the lyrics in 1907 that would later be adapted for schools. Years later, affected by poverty, Cayetano Silva sold the rights to the march to an editor in Buenos Aires for a negligible amount.
The march became famous in other countries over time to such an extent that it was played on June 22, 1911, during the coronations of King George V
and Elizabeth II (with prior approval sought by the British government from Argentina). In addition, the march is played during the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace
, although it was suspended during the Falklands War
. It was also played by the Germans
when they entered Paris during World War I. General Dwight D. Eisenhower
also had it played during the entrance of the Allied army following the liberation of Paris
.
While residing in Mendoza, he founded the Firefighters Music Band of that city and worked as an educator.
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an musician, nationalized Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, and author; his work includes the San Lorenzo march
San Lorenzo march
The San Lorenzo march is an Argentine military march, whose lyrics celebrate the role played by the Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers commanded by José de San Martín at the Battle of San Lorenzo during the Argentine War of Independence. Special mention receives the heroic sargeant Juan Bautista Cabral...
, the official march of the Argentine army.
Early life
Silva was born on August 17, 1868, in the department of MaldonadoMaldonado, Uruguay
Maldonado is the capital of Maldonado Department of Uruguay. It is located on Route 39 and shares borders with Punta del Este to the south, Pinares - Las Delicias to the south and to the east and suburb La Sonrisa to the north. Together they all for a unified metropolitan area. East of the city...
in San Carlos
San Carlos, Uruguay
San Carlos is a city in the Maldonado Department of southern Uruguay. It is located on Route 39, south of its intersection with Route 9 and about north of the center of the department capital city of Maldonado. Its status was elevated to "City" category on 18 December 1929 by decree Ley No. 8.559...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
. His mother was Natalia Silva, a black slave of the family who gave her the surname. Cayetano Silva studied with maestro Francisco Rinaldi of the Popular Band of San Carlos. In 1879, he attended the School of Arts and Crafts of Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
, where he joined its music band directed by Gerardo Grasso, who taught him music theory, horn, and violin. In 1888, he left the school to attend social centers of workers' agitation, theaters, and music conservatories in Montevideo.
In 1889, he traveled to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, where he ventured to the Teatro Colón and attended the School of Music directed by Pablo Berutti. He later moved to the city of Rosario
Rosario
Rosario is the largest city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It is located northwest of Buenos Aires, on the western shore of the Paraná River and has 1,159,004 residents as of the ....
, Province of Santa Fe; on February 1, 1894, he was appointed director of the Seventh Infantry Regiment band. In Rosario, he married Filomena Santanelli, with whom he raised eight children.
Silva and his family moved to Venado Tuerto
Venado Tuerto
Venado Tuerto is a city in the south-west of the , 322 km from the provincial capital. It has about 70,000 inhabitants .Venado Tuerto was founded on April 26, 1884 by Eduardo Casey, born in Lobos, Buenos Aires, in 1847. He was the son of two Irish immigrants who had amassed considerable wealth...
in 1898 after being hired by the Italian Society of Venado Tuerto. He founded a lyrical center, taught music, and created a rondalla
Rondalla
The rondalla is an ensemble of stringed instruments played with the plectrum or pick and generally known as plectrum instruments. It originated in Medieval Spain, especially in Catalunya, Aragon, Murcia, and Valencia...
—an ensemble of plucked string instruments—with which he performed during the Carnival of 1900. He wrote the music for the plays Canillita
Canillita
Canillita is a 1936 Argentine musical film directed and written by Lisandro de la Tea and Manuel Roneima. The film starred Amanda Ledesma and premiered on 26 March 1936 in Buenos Aires.-Cast:*Amanda Ledesma*Adolfo Alsina*Príncipe Azul...
and Cedulas de San Juan for his compatriot friend Florencio Sánchez
Florencio Sánchez
Florencio Sánchez was a Uruguayan playwright, journalist and political figure. His artistic work unfolded in the River Plate region...
; both works were premiered in Rosario.
La Marcha San Lorenzo
On July 8, 1901, at his home in Venado TuertoVenado Tuerto
Venado Tuerto is a city in the south-west of the , 322 km from the provincial capital. It has about 70,000 inhabitants .Venado Tuerto was founded on April 26, 1884 by Eduardo Casey, born in Lobos, Buenos Aires, in 1847. He was the son of two Irish immigrants who had amassed considerable wealth...
, he composed a march dedicated to Colonel Pablo Ricchieri
Pablo Ricchieri
Pablo Ricchieri was an Argentine Army officer and Minister of War during the second Administration of President Julio Roca.-Life and times:...
, then war minister of that country and modernizer of the Argentine army. Ricchieri thanked him for the homage, but requested the title be changed to San Lorenzo, the city where Riccheri was born. The march was publicly performed for the first time on October 30, 1902, in San Lorenzo
San Lorenzo, Santa Fe
San Lorenzo is a city in the south of the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, located 23 km north of Rosario, on the western shore of the Paraná River, and forming one end of the Greater Rosario metropolitan area...
, in the vicinity of the historic San Carlos Convent, where the Battle of San Lorenzo
Battle of San Lorenzo
The Battle of San Lorenzo was fought on February 3, 1813 in San Lorenzo, Argentina, then part of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata. A Spanish Royalist army under the command of Antonio Zabala was defeated by the Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers, under the command of José de San Martín...
took place. That day, the march was designated the official march of the Argentine Army. Two days after, Silva played it again at the opening ceremony for the monument to General San Martín in Plaza San Martín (Rosario)
Plaza San Martín (Rosario)
Plaza San Martín is a plaza in Rosario, province of Santa Fe, Argentina. Its name is an homage to General José de San Martín, hero of the Argentine War of Independence....
, in the presence of President Julio Argentino Roca
Julio Argentino Roca
Alejo Julio Argentino Roca Paz was an army general who served as President of Argentina from 12 October 1880 to 12 October 1886 and again from 12 October 1898 to 12 October 1904.-Upbringing and early career:...
and Ricchieri.
In 1906, Silva became master of the Third Infantry Regiment. His neighbor, Carlos Javier Benielli, added the lyrics in 1907 that would later be adapted for schools. Years later, affected by poverty, Cayetano Silva sold the rights to the march to an editor in Buenos Aires for a negligible amount.
The march became famous in other countries over time to such an extent that it was played on June 22, 1911, during the coronations of King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
and Elizabeth II (with prior approval sought by the British government from Argentina). In addition, the march is played during the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
, although it was suspended during the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
. It was also played by the Germans
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
when they entered Paris during World War I. General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
also had it played during the entrance of the Allied army following the liberation of Paris
Liberation of Paris
The Liberation of Paris took place during World War II from 19 August 1944 until the surrender of the occupying German garrison on August 25th. It could be regarded by some as the last battle in the Battle for Normandy, though that really ended with the crushing of the Wehrmacht forces between the...
.
While residing in Mendoza, he founded the Firefighters Music Band of that city and worked as an educator.