The Municipal Band of Barcelona (Catalan: Banda Municipal de Barcelona, IPA: [ˈbandə munisiˈpaɫ də βərsəˈɫonə]) is a music institution with a long tradition, which was founded in 1886.
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The Municipal Band of Barcelona had a great social significance when it was founded. Its main aim was to bring the great authors to the ordinary people. During that time only the members of the upper social classes had access to the art.
In fact, Barcelona had already a group of musicians that followed the city authorities since the Middle Ages. The trumpets and the drums had the city shield. They were part of the retinue of the Barcelona City Hall. On some special occasions, the Barcelona City Hall paid for some minstrels, whose function was more recreational for the citizens.
Since 1837 there had been many attempts to constitute it as an independent formation, but it did not happen until 1886.
In the beginning of the 20th century, it became a very important institution. During this period, Joan Lamote de Grignon i Bocquet leaded this institution and in 1915 he achieved that the institution did not depend any more on the School Music of the city (the present Municipal Conservatory of Barcelona). During this period many important musicians and composers visited and even conducted the band, such as Richard Strauss,[1] Igor Stravinski, Maurice Ravel, among others.
Nowadays the Municipal Band is an essential part of the festive activities of the city. It takes part in all the important events of the city, such as La Mercè, the Greek festival, the National Day of Catalonia, Santa Eulàlia, The Concerts in l'Auditori, among others.
It also offers regularly School Auditions. This activity has the aim of bringing the classical music to the children (around 9000 children take part in this activity every year).
These are the conductors that have leaded this institution along its history: