The Calasparra composer, author of such deeply rooted marches in Holy Week in Cieza as "El Evangelista" (The Evangelist) and "Jerusalem" (The Fall), is the creator of the work "La Caída" (The Fall), composed for the float of the same name by the Los Dormis Brotherhood, which departs on Good Friday morning and whose 50th anniversary is celebrated this year. Vélez will march in the procession of the Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, the popular "Burrica" (Burrica), alongside the mayor of Cieza, Pascual Lucas, and the president of the Brotherhood of the Prayer of the Garden and the Holy Sepulchre, Antonio Gómez. The procession inaugurates the first Holy Week in Cieza designated as a Site of International Tourist Interest.
José Vélez García is a musician known in our region for his involvement in the world of brass bands, both as a conductor and a composer, but especially as a composer. Furthermore, his elaborate music is known and performed throughout Spain by numerous groups, which we will discuss later, after learning some biographical details.
He was born in Calasparra in 1959, and at just 22 years old, he led his hometown's band, conducting it until 2003, after having performed a large number of concerts with it. Alongside his work as musical director of the band, he was also director of the Calasparra Municipal Music School. But that's not all; he also simultaneously directed the Cehegín band. Later, until 2013, he took over the direction of the Santa Cecilia Musical Group in the Murcian town of Abarán, which he elevated to a high musical level. Pliego's band, for its part, also had the pleasure of having him as its director for a time. From all this, we can draw a very clear conclusion: his life has always revolved around directing Murcian bands and training their members. According to José Vélez himself, he has been at the forefront of Murcia's musical bands for no less than 32 years.
As a composer, Vélez has achieved success. He has composed works for brass band, including: Minerva, one of his first works, not very long but very moving, as it is dedicated to his parents; Vida en Solitario, dedicated to Francisco Galindo, an admired and beloved professor of the composer who was single (which explains the "solitary" part); and Fantasía Cordial, dedicated to a very important friend of Vélez's. It is worth noting that the latter was the compulsory work in the Murcia National Band Competition on two occasions: in 2001 in the second section and in 2013 in the third.
But, as he himself states, the processional marches are the style that has given him the most joy and continues to give him the most joy today, as they are performed most frequently. The well-known marches The Evangelist and Jerusalem are his. Also The Fall and Mesopotamia.
El Evangelista, his first processional march (1991), has been part of the processional repertoire of virtually all Spanish bands for several years now, as have all his other marches. It is characterized by its elegance, nuances, and rich harmonics. José Vélez dedicated it to the Brotherhood of San Juan and La Dolorosa of Calasparra, which wanted it to be its official anthem, to which Vélez gladly agreed.
The Yecla Friends of Music Association Band recorded this march on their first album of processional marches, "Consummatum Est." Vélez himself listened to the recording and described it as "exceptional. One of the best I've ever heard. The quality of the brass crescendo is impressive. I still listen to this version on numerous occasions because I love the performance."
On the other hand, Jerusalem (1999), if possible, is even more famous than the previous one. José Vélez clarifies that, contrary to popular belief, this march is not dedicated to Palm Sunday in Calasparra, his hometown, but to the general public and anyone who enjoys this march. It is spectacular in character, very emotional, and possesses great compositional resources that surprise the listener. It is different and innovative compared to the Andalusian processional marches we are accustomed to, which is precisely why it is unique and of unprecedented quality. Despite its style being different from Andalusian marches, there is evidence that it has been performed by numerous bands in Andalusia, throughout Spain, and also in other countries such as Mexico, specifically in the city of Guadalajara.
La Caída (2010), for its part, is a composition dedicated to those popularly known as "Los Dormis," who make up the Brotherhood of the Prayer of the Garden and the Holy Sepulchre of Cieza. Musically, it's another delight. Its title is justified in the closing bars of the march, where the music reflects one of Jesus Christ's falls while carrying the Cross.
Finally, Mesopotamia (2014) is the most recent of his processional marches. This time, it's dedicated to the Brotherhood of the Resurrection of Cuenca, but it premiered in Baeza by the city's Symphonic Band. A week later, the Cuenca Music Band had the pleasure of performing it in the Church of San Esteban in the city of Cuenca.
It's worth noting, in reference to his compositions, that he has also composed pasodobles, including the festive pasodoble "Los estudiantes" (The Students) and "Constancia," composed for the Banda de Sorbas. Special mention should be made of the pasodoble "Fidelidad." With this pasodoble, he won the 2nd National Composition Prize in 1993. As an anecdote from this competition, Maestro Vélez recounts that the jury couldn't agree and didn't know whether to award first prize to José Vélez or to the work that ultimately won first place. For this reason, they had to vote again, and Vélez was ultimately awarded 2nd Prize, a feat of which he is undoubtedly tremendously proud and happy.
In addition to devoting much of his time to composition, he has also taught music theory at the Puente Tocinos Music Academy. Currently, he devotes himself fully to composition and conducting the bands he is invited to lead, which are, by the way, quite numerous. He has already had the honor of being a guest conductor for bands in Soria, Granada, Tobarra, Cieza, and Seville, among others.
José Vélez García is a musician known in our Region for being linked to the world of music bands, both in the area of direction and composition.
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