Paraguay - Jose Asunción Flores

Jose Asunción Flores was born in August 27, 1904, in the capital of Paraguay, Asunción. His father, Juan Volta, was a guitar player, and so Jose Asunción Flores was always musically inclined. In 1915, at the age of eleven, he joined the Capital Police Marching Band. He was a student of the famous Paraguayan harpist Felix Hernandez and director Salvador Dentice.

His first composition was written in 1922. It was an upbeat polka dedicated to his godfather, Manuel Gondra.

He is credited with creating a Paraguayan genre of music called the “Guarania”. His first song in the genre was the “Jejui”, composed in 1925. In 1928 he met poet Manuel Ortiz Guerrero, and together they composed many Guarania pieces.

In 1932 he enlisted in the Paraguayan army to fight in the Choco War. After the war he moved to Buenos Aires. In 1936 when he returned to his country he was commissioned as director of the Guarani Folkloric Orchestra. He also started teaching at the Music School Enseñanza Primaria Musical. In 1944, his composition, India was declared by the Paraguayan government as the national song. In 1949 he was awarded the National Order of Merit but turned it down in protest against the assassination of a Paraguayan student.

Although he was forced into exile in 1954, his compositions continued to be very popular throughout Paraguay. He died while still in exile in Buenos Aires in 1976.
Note: Information used to compile the biography was taken from:
http://www.musicaparaguaya.org.py/flores/flores2000.html

List of works was taken from:
http://www.bookrags.com/wiki/José_Asunción_Flores


List of Works

Arribeno Resay
Buenos Aires, Salud
Choli
Gallito Cantor
India
Ka’aty
Kerasy
Mburicao
Musiqueada Che Amape
Nande Aramboha
Nasaindype
Nda Raty Py Kua
Nde Rendape ajú
Obreiro
Panambí Verá
Paraguaýpe
Purahei Paha

Symphonies:

Maria de la Paz
Nande Ru Vusu
Pyhary Pyte