Sociedades de «Amigos de la Música» en la València de posguerra

Abstract

Philharmonic societies dedicated to the organization of classical music concerts have been present in Spain since the middle of the 19th century. Under the name of «Sociedad Filarmónica» (Philharmonic Society) or something similar, several associations have worked, and are still doing so, several associations that agglutinate music lovers from one capital or town, around the collective listening of live music.
However, the high economic cost that the procurement of professionals of a certain degree has had and still has, has turned these societies, generally, into elitist groups that, precisely because of the high cost of the quotas, have not allowed access at all economic levels of the population. Like this, the «Friends of Music» societies, born many times in associations or workers’ groups, covered the most modest social spectrum, contributing to bringcloser concert music to all social classes.
This work presents a general tour through the Friends of Music societies of the Valencian Community, in the years after the Spanish Civil War, detailing, as an example, the activity of the Society of Friends of Music in Requena (1946-1956).