Augusto José Miguéis

Abstract:
[Setúbal, Portugal 1836 – Funchal, Madeira 1900]
Augusto José Miguéis was a member of the Banda Regimental, regent of the Filarmónica dos Artistas Funchalenses and of the Augusto José Miguéis Orchestra. He was distinguished mainly by his performance as a saxophonist, at the Orquestra da Sociedade de Concertos Funchalense, founded in 1878, where he performed alongside: Ernesto Mascheck, Agostinho Martins Júnior and Eduardo Gomes da Silva.

Biography:
Born in Setúbal, the musician settled his residence in Madeira where he resided until his death on November 20, 1900. Augusto José Miguéis was one of the most prominent personalities in Madeira’s social events, especially in the balls of the high society of Funchal, as regent of the Filarmónica dos Artistas Funchalenses.
These events are told in the book Apontamentos sobre o Quotidiano Madeirense, by the musical richness of the presented repertories, that include polka, quadrilles, waltzes, gallows and pieces of classical authors and of Madeira.
Information about the life of Augusto José Miguéis are rare. However, on the period of residence in Funchal and composed most of his work, there are various references in the regional press and in the works of historians.
In the Elucidário Madeirense the musician is mentioned as one of the best of the 1870s, “between the musicians of fifty or sixty years ago [1870 approximately] we do not miss the violinists Nuno Rodrigues and Eduardo Gomes da Silva, and the cellist and double bassist Miguéis”. In the article “E os líricos vieram” by Luís Francisco Mello, published in the Revista Islenha Nº 11, Augusto Miguéis was narrated as a saxophonist who performed in the events organized by the Sociedade de Concertos Funchalense.
The Coordinating Bureau of Artistic Education, Regional Secretary of Education and Human Resources, has available in the file of the Research and Documentation Division handwritten scores of eight dances orchestrated by Augusto José Miguéis. Works that the musician composed piano versions, consisting of seven waltzes and a set of quadrilles.
The older orchestral arrangement, available in the file, is the Chilperic quadrille of October 28, 1873. As for his most recent work is Hoja Volante waltz dated February 1884.
The musical arrangements made by Augusto Miguéis were essentially pieces for small orchestral groups, whose basic instruments were as follows: the piccolo flute, clarinet, trumpet, horn, euphonium, violin and double bass.
The orchestral works were normally of the author of composers whose dances were a great success in the balls of the great European centers, for example: Au Revoir, waltz of the French composer Émile Waldteufel, orchestrated by Miguéis in February 1879; and Los Hidrópatas, waltz of the Hungarian composer Josef Gung’l, orchestrated in October 1880.
Between his works of greater notoriety is the Hymno composed in tribute to Manuel de Arriaga, first president of the Portuguese Republic, that previously to this position represented Madeira as deputy between 1882 and 1884. Manuel de Arriaga visited the islands sometimes between 1883 and 1885, when August Miguéis composed the work.
In 1889, the Diário de Notícias published in its edition of April 4, that the Tuna Cospostellana, constituted by 60 young students and musicians, used to play in the streets of Funchal, on the regency of the conductor Augusto José Miguéis. These performances in the street were received by the public of Funchal with great enthusiasm and “it rained on them hoarse applause, that they gently thank stop in the order of the regent, and sing a song which raised new applause. The orchestra played very well; the very fair choirs, all in the end in a magnificent ensemble, which everyone praises and welcomes”.
Again in 1889 Augusto José Miguéis participated, as regent of orchestra and solo musician, in a great concert realized in Teatro Baltazar Dias. The conductor presented his pieces with a popular character: the mazurka Olha a Mulata; and the trumpet polka Não Te Rias.

Authors:
Esteireiro, Paulo (2008). “Augusto José Miguéis”. In 50 Histórias de Músicos na Madeira. Funchal: Associação de Amigos do Gabinete Coordenador de Educação Artística.

Update:
Ventura, Ana (2011). ”Augusto José Miguéis”. In Dicionário Online de Músicos na Madeira. Funchal: Divisão de Investigação e Documentação, Gabinete Coordenador de Educação Artística, atualizado em 22/06/2011.

Music:
Chilperic, quadrilha; Hoja Volante, valsa; Hymno, dedicado a Manuel de Arriaga; Olha a Mulata, mazurka; Não Te Rias, polka.

Bibliography:
Diário de Notícias (1876 – ). “Coleção de Jornais”. In Biblioteca do Arquivo Regional da Madeira [s.n. recurso digitalizado]. Funchal: Publicado em 09/01/1879, p. 2.
Diário de Notícias (1876 – ). “Coleção de Jornais”. In Biblioteca do Arquivo Regional da Madeira [s.n. recurso digitalizado]. Funchal: Publicado em 04/04/1888.
Diário de Notícias (1876- ). “Coleção de Jornais”. In Biblioteca do Arquivo Regional da Madeira [s.n. recurso digitalizado]. Funchal: Publicado em 04/01/1889, p. 3.
Diário de Notícias (1876 – ). “Coleção de Jornais”. In Biblioteca do Arquivo Regional da Madeira [s.n. recurso digitalizado]. Funchal: Publicado em 09/01/1889, N.º 3: 600, p. 2.
Esteireiro, P. (2008). “Augusto José Miguéis”. In 50 Histórias de Músicos na Madeira. Funchal: Associação de Amigos do Gabinete Coordenador de Educação Artística, p. 13-14.
Morais, M. (coord.) (2008). A Madeira e a Música: Estudos (c.1508-c.1974. Funchal: Empresa Municipal “Funchal 500 Anos”, pp. 412, 417.
Freitas, M. P. (2005). Revista de Temas Culturais do Concelho de Câmara de Lobos. Câmara de Lobos: Revista Girão (1ºSemestre de 2005), Vol. II, Nº4.
Mello, L. F. (07/1992-12/1992). “E os Líricos vieram”. In Revista Islenha, N.º 11. Funchal: Direção Regional dos Assuntos Culturais, p. 18-19.
Silva, A. M. (1932). Apontamentos sobre o Quotidiano Madeirense: 1750-1900. Funchal: p. 134-135,142.