Abel Teixeira Mendes

Abstract:
[Porto da Cruz, Madeira 28/08/1936 – ]
Musician, military and currently professor in the extension of the Conservatory – School of Arts of Madeira in Porto Santo. Abel Teixeira Mendes was clarinetist in the Banda Distrital do Funchal, where he took the position of artistic director. He also held this position in the Banda Nova da Ribeira Brava and the Banda da PSP in Macao.

Biography:
Abel Teixeira Mendes is a native of Porto da Cruz, where he was born on August 28, 1936, son of António Teixeira Mendes and Maria de Freitas Basílio.
This musician started in music with his father who, in addition to offering a clarinet, taught him other musical instruments.
As for its musical formation, in 1956 with eighteen years of age and resident in Funchal, he joined as apprentices of clarinet the Banda Distrital do Funchal and later became clarinetist in the same group. He also has clarinet course of the Conservatory – Madeira School of the Arts.
In April 1957 he began military service and in July 1957 joined as apprentice Banda Militar da Madeira. In this group he reached the position of Staff Sergeant. Abel Teixeira Mendes was Artistic Director of Banda Nova da Ribeira Brava, Banda da PSP in Macao and Banda Distrital do Funchal, where he began his professional life as a clarinetist. Currently he is professor of music in the extension of the Conservatory – School of Arts of Madeira in Porto Santo.
His public performances were advertised in the regional press, namely as artistic director in the Banda Distrital do Funchal: “The Banda Distrital do Funchal performs today and next Tuesday two popular concerts in the auditorium of the garden D. Amelia, at 19:30 on the musical direction of Mr. Abel Teixeira Mendes”. In addition to this reference of Diário de Notícias, published on November 30, 1976, Abel Teixeira Mendes appears in other events that indicate the frequency of his performances.
The concert of the Banda Distrital held on June 5, 1979 at 7:30 pm in the D. Amelia garden auditorium was conducted by Abel Teixeira Mendes and included the following repertoire: Forcados de Santarém, Manuel Canhão; Tancredi, Rossini; Yesterday, The Beatles; Um passio at Amorosa and Canções e Cantigas, Miguel de Oliveira; and José Pedro, Alexandre Fonseca.
In the following years this concert became habitual, as it is possible to verify in the publication of Diário de Notícias of May 5, 1981. “Today is held the usual concert of the Banda Distrital do Funchal in the auditorium of the gardens D. Amélia at 20:00 with the musical direction of Abel Teixeira Mendes”.

Authors:
Freitas, Manuel Pedro (2011). “Notas [Musicais] Soltas Contributo para a história da música na Madeira – Abel Teixeira Mendes”. In Girão – Revista de Temas Culturais do Concelho de Câmara de Lobos, Nº 6. Câmara de Lobos: Câmara Municipal.

Update:
Ventura, Ana (2011). “MENDES, Abel Teixeira”. In Dicionário Online de Músicos na Madeira. Funchal: Divisão de Investigação e Documentação, Gabinete Coordenador de Educação Artística, atualizado em 15/11/2011.

Bibliography:
Freitas, M. P. (2011). “Notas [Musicais] Soltas Contributo para a história da música na Madeira – Abel Teixeira Mendes”. In Girão – Revista de Temas Culturais do Concelho de Câmara de Lobos, Nº 6. Câmara de Lobos: Câmara Municipal, p. 152.