Francisco Arriví
Encyclopedia
Francisco Arriví a.k.a. Paco, was a writer, poet and playwright known as "The Father of the Puerto Rican Theater."
, a section of the City San Juan
, Puerto Rico
, to a Spanish
father and Puerto Rican
mother. He loved to read books, a habit which he acquired at the age of six. His grandmother, who used to take him to the theater every week, inspired his interest in theatrical works. He built a small stage in the backyard of his house on Calle Wilson (Wilson Street) Wilson when he was 10 years old where, together with his friends, he would make presentations of children's tales.
He received his primary education at the Padre Rufo and Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón
public schools, and his secondary high school education at the Escuela Superior Central (Central Superior School). He became interested in writing poetry during this period of his life. After he graduated from high school he applied for admission to University of Puerto Rico
at Rio Piedras where he continued his education. He wrote one of his first musical compositions, Himno al Alma Máter, which is the official hymn of said educational institution and in 1938 earned a degree in Spanish and Latin-American literature.
word which means "majestic ceremonial dance"). Arriví used his experience with Areyto in his later theatrical presentations.
Arriví earned a living as an educator at the Escuela Superior de Ponce (Ponce High School
) where he founded the school's student drama club, the Tinglado Puertorriqueño. In 1940 he began his career as a playwright at the school, after staging his original play Club de Solteros (Bachelors Club).
Arriví actively collaborated with an educational program sponsored by the Department of Education called Escuela del Aire (The Airwave School) broadcast over WIPR Radio. His show, From the Jungle to the Skyscrapers, presented many radio plays and was considered the best radio show on the island. These plays included Hacienda Villareal, Alma de Leyenda (Legendary Soul), Heroes de Guerra (War Heroes) and Pajinas de Nuestra Historia (Pages of our History), all written by Arriví.
In 1949, in New York City
, Arriví was granted a scholarship from the Rockefeller Foundation and earned his Masters Degree in Radio and Theater from Columbia University
.
In 1951, Arriví had the distinction of writing Ayer y Hoy (Yesterday and Today), the first television program transmitted in Puerto Rico. During the two years that he spent behind the T.V. cameras, he wrote the script for El Niño Dios (The Child God) and Luis Muñoz Rivera
.
In 1955, Arriví presented one of his greatest works Bolero y Plena at the University Theater and, in 1958, he presented Vejigantes in the First Festival of Puerto Rican Theater. These were followed by Sirena (Mermaid) and Medusa en la Bahía (Medusa in the Bay). In addition, Arriví gained international recognition and his plays were presented abroad.
In 1959, Vejigantes presented by Frank Dauster received an award from the Institute of Literature. That same year he was named director of the theater program of the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture.
In 1961 he organized the First Playwright's Seminary. In the seventh celebration of the Puerto Rican Theater Festival, Arriví presented a new version of his first play Club de Solteros (Bachelors Club), now titled Coctel de Don Nadie (Mr. Nobody's Cocktail). His other acclaimed works include: Acto de Fe (Act of Faith), Cantico Para un Recuerdo (Song of Remembrance) and Absurdos Contra la Muerte (Absurdities Against Death).
In 1960, he published anther book of poems titled Frontera (Frontier) which was also awarded the first place prize of the Círculo Cultural Yaucano, in addition to a first place prize from the Puerto Rican Institute of Literature.
Arriví was also the author of many essays dealing with the theater. Amongst these were Entrada por las Raíces, (Entering by the Roots), Conciencia Puertorriqueña del Teatro Contemporáneo (Puerto Rican Conscience of the Contemporary Theater), and Areyto Mayor (High Areyto).
In Spanish
In English
known as the "Father of Modern Puerto Rican Archaeology
", played an instrumental role in the establishment of the Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré (Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center) in Puerto Rico.
On February 8, 2009, Arriví died of cardiac arrest
at the Ashford Presbyterian Community Hospital. A vigil was held at the Teatro Francisco Arriví (Francisco Arriví Theater), an old restored theater which the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture named in his honor. He was buried in the Los Angeles Cemetery of the city of Guaynabo. Arriví was survived by his son Francisco Arriví Cros and two grandchildren.
There is a commemorative plaque in the lobby of Ponce
's Teatro La Perla that reads: "Francisco Arriví: Poet, Playwright, Essayist, perennial promoter of Puerto Ricanism and of the eternal values of the universal man." It was placed there by the administration of mayor Jose Dapena Thompson
.
Early years
Arriví (birth name: Francisco Arriví Alegria) was born in SanturceSanturce
Santurce can refer to:*Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico, a district of San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico*Santurtzi, a town near Bilbao, the Basque Country, Spain...
, a section of the City San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, to a Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
father and Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
mother. He loved to read books, a habit which he acquired at the age of six. His grandmother, who used to take him to the theater every week, inspired his interest in theatrical works. He built a small stage in the backyard of his house on Calle Wilson (Wilson Street) Wilson when he was 10 years old where, together with his friends, he would make presentations of children's tales.
He received his primary education at the Padre Rufo and Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón
Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón
Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón was a lawyer, a member of the Puerto Rican House of Representatives, and a lifelong political contrarian. He favored Puerto Rican autonomy when Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony. After the Spanish-American War, when the island was ceded to the United States, he advocated...
public schools, and his secondary high school education at the Escuela Superior Central (Central Superior School). He became interested in writing poetry during this period of his life. After he graduated from high school he applied for admission to University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
at Rio Piedras where he continued his education. He wrote one of his first musical compositions, Himno al Alma Máter, which is the official hymn of said educational institution and in 1938 earned a degree in Spanish and Latin-American literature.
Theatrical career
Upon his return to Puerto Rico, and under the direction of Leopoldo Santiago Lavandero, Arriví joined the Sociedad Dramática de Teatro Popular (Drama Society of Popular Theater), who called themselves Areyto (Areyto is a TainoTaíno language
Taíno, an Arawakan language, was the principal language of the Caribbean islands at the time of the Spanish Conquest, including the Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Florida Keys, and the Lesser Antilles...
word which means "majestic ceremonial dance"). Arriví used his experience with Areyto in his later theatrical presentations.
Arriví earned a living as an educator at the Escuela Superior de Ponce (Ponce High School
Ponce High School
The Ponce High School is public educational institution in Ponce, Puerto Rico, offering grades ten through twelve. The school's main building is a historic structure located on Cristina Street, in the Ponce Historic Zone. From its beginning the school has secured a unique place in Puerto Rico's...
) where he founded the school's student drama club, the Tinglado Puertorriqueño. In 1940 he began his career as a playwright at the school, after staging his original play Club de Solteros (Bachelors Club).
Arriví actively collaborated with an educational program sponsored by the Department of Education called Escuela del Aire (The Airwave School) broadcast over WIPR Radio. His show, From the Jungle to the Skyscrapers, presented many radio plays and was considered the best radio show on the island. These plays included Hacienda Villareal, Alma de Leyenda (Legendary Soul), Heroes de Guerra (War Heroes) and Pajinas de Nuestra Historia (Pages of our History), all written by Arriví.
In 1949, in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Arriví was granted a scholarship from the Rockefeller Foundation and earned his Masters Degree in Radio and Theater from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
In 1951, Arriví had the distinction of writing Ayer y Hoy (Yesterday and Today), the first television program transmitted in Puerto Rico. During the two years that he spent behind the T.V. cameras, he wrote the script for El Niño Dios (The Child God) and Luis Muñoz Rivera
Luis Muñoz Rivera
Luis Muñoz Rivera was a Puerto Rican poet, journalist and politician. He was a major figure in the struggle for political autonomy of Puerto Rico....
.
In 1955, Arriví presented one of his greatest works Bolero y Plena at the University Theater and, in 1958, he presented Vejigantes in the First Festival of Puerto Rican Theater. These were followed by Sirena (Mermaid) and Medusa en la Bahía (Medusa in the Bay). In addition, Arriví gained international recognition and his plays were presented abroad.
In 1959, Vejigantes presented by Frank Dauster received an award from the Institute of Literature. That same year he was named director of the theater program of the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture.
In 1961 he organized the First Playwright's Seminary. In the seventh celebration of the Puerto Rican Theater Festival, Arriví presented a new version of his first play Club de Solteros (Bachelors Club), now titled Coctel de Don Nadie (Mr. Nobody's Cocktail). His other acclaimed works include: Acto de Fe (Act of Faith), Cantico Para un Recuerdo (Song of Remembrance) and Absurdos Contra la Muerte (Absurdities Against Death).
Poet
In 1958, Arriví published his first book of poems titled Isla y Nada (Island and Nothing) which was awarded the first place prize of the Círculo Cultural Yaucano.In 1960, he published anther book of poems titled Frontera (Frontier) which was also awarded the first place prize of the Círculo Cultural Yaucano, in addition to a first place prize from the Puerto Rican Institute of Literature.
Arriví was also the author of many essays dealing with the theater. Amongst these were Entrada por las Raíces, (Entering by the Roots), Conciencia Puertorriqueña del Teatro Contemporáneo (Puerto Rican Conscience of the Contemporary Theater), and Areyto Mayor (High Areyto).
Written works
Amongst Arriví's published works are the following:In Spanish
- Bolero Y Plena; Editorial Cultural, ISBN 8428306893 (84-283-0689-3)
- Ceiba ; Areyto ; Cemi ; Coqui; Boriken, ISBN 8449911656 (84-499-1165-6)
- Tres Obras De Teatro; Instituto de Cultura Puertorriquena, ISBN 0865816115 (0-86581-611-5)
- Via Poetica; Editorial Universitaria, Universidad de Puerto Rico, ISBN 0847732223 (0-8477-3222-3)
In English
- Canticle for a Memory; Cross-Cultural Communications, ISBN 0893041564 (0-89304-156-4)
- Via Poetica; Editorial Universitaria, Universidad de Puerto Rico, ISBN 0847732231 (0-8477-3223-1)
Lyrics to "Himno de la Vida"
The following are the lyrics to Francisco Arriví's 1938 Himno de la Vida (The Anthem of Life), the anthem of the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras:| Spanish (original version) |
translation |
|---|---|
un himno a la Alma Máter; Cantemos con fuerza el Himno de la Vida que anuncie Juventud, Amor y Libertad, dé gloria al luchador, honra de la Universidad! |
an anthem to the Alma Mater Alma mater Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:... ; let us sing with strength an Anthem of Life which proclaims of Youth Youth Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",... , Love Love Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. Love is central to many religions, as in the Christian phrase, "God is love" or Agape in the Canonical gospels... , and Liberty Liberty Liberty is a moral and political principle, or Right, that identifies the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions... , and that gives glory to he who fights, he is the honour of the University! |
Later years
Arriví, who was also the cousin of Dr. Ricardo AlegríaRicardo Alegría
Ricardo Alegría was a Puerto Rican scholar, cultural anthropologist and archeologist known as the "Father of Modern Puerto Rican Archaeology".-Early years:...
known as the "Father of Modern Puerto Rican Archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
", played an instrumental role in the establishment of the Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré (Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center) in Puerto Rico.
On February 8, 2009, Arriví died of cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively...
at the Ashford Presbyterian Community Hospital. A vigil was held at the Teatro Francisco Arriví (Francisco Arriví Theater), an old restored theater which the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture named in his honor. He was buried in the Los Angeles Cemetery of the city of Guaynabo. Arriví was survived by his son Francisco Arriví Cros and two grandchildren.
There is a commemorative plaque in the lobby of Ponce
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
's Teatro La Perla that reads: "Francisco Arriví: Poet, Playwright, Essayist, perennial promoter of Puerto Ricanism and of the eternal values of the universal man." It was placed there by the administration of mayor Jose Dapena Thompson
José Dapena Thompson
José Joaquin Dapena Thompson, known as Josito, was a Puerto Rican politician and Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico from 1986 to 1988.-Training:...
.