The Pianist - Miquel Capllonch

The square in Puerto Pollensa is referred to as the church or market square. In Spanish, it is called Plaza de la Iglesia or del Mercado. Rarely does anyone grant it its actual name - Plaça Miquel Capllonch (the proper Catalan title). In failing to use this name, the person honoured by the square's moniker is ignored. Who is or was Miquel Capllonch?

Capllonch was a native of Pollensa. Born in 1861, on the 14th of this month it will be the 149th anniversary of his birth. One trusts that the town hall is planning a celebration to coincide with his 150th next year. Capllonch is one of Pollensa's and Mallorca's most important figures in the history of music. Pianist and composer, he studied and played in Madrid, Berlin and Barcelona. He was responsible, among other things, for the arrangement for the Alborada of the Patrona fiesta. Schooled initially in organ music in Pollensa, Capllonch went on to be a significant composer of choral and religious works and others. Among the titles of his works are tributes to saints venerated locally, Sant Pere and Sant Vicenç.

Though not necessarily enjoying great international renown, Capllonch was a representative of the arts tradition that emerged in Pollensa around the turn of the twentieth century and which spawned the painting "school" and poetry. This tradition is still very much alive today, and wander around the old town on a quiet summer's day and you will often pass an open set of shutters and windows that allow the sound of piano music to drift into the street.

A mystery is quite why Capllonch remains so obscure to many, especially those not native themselves to Pollensa. Despite the best efforts locally in presenting exhibitions to historical figures, these too often fall into the category of the dull but worthy without an external focus that might attract a foreign or non-Catalan audience. The arts history of Pollensa is strong - Capllonch, Costa i Llobera (poetry), Anglada Camarasa (painting) - as are other aspects of local heritage, such as the philanthropy of Guillem Cifre. Yet it remains largely hidden. Only the art of Dionís Bennássar or the textiles of Martí Vicenç, thanks to the eponymous gallery and museum, might be said to shout out the names of cultural and historical figures from the town. But this, so we keep being told, is - or should be - all part of a different type of tourism.

At least there has been, for five years now, an attempt to honour Capllonch, and that is the "Nit Capllonch". Today, in the convent of Sant Domingo, there is a performance by the Spanish concert pianist David Gómez that will feature works by Capllonch as well as more familiar names such as Bach and Mozart. This annual event, organised by the Capllonch family and the town hall, is also worthy, while Gómez is not an insignificant name to be appearing in Pollensa. But where does it get publicised?

Poor old Capllonch. More people should say his name. More should know that when they're sitting in Bony or Cultural that the square is not so much that of the church or the market, but that of a local pianist. But they won't.


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