New Data on the Life of the Peruvian-Bolivian Composer Pedro Ximénez-Abrill Tirado (1784-1856)

Abstract

Since the mid-nineteenth century the name of Pedro Ximénez Abrill Tirado has been known in musicological and historiographical studies. However, his role and relevance as composer has been acknowledged only recently in the study of historical repertoires of South America, with the discovery of scores containing his music in a private collection in Bolivia, which was later acquired by various archives and individuals. In spite of this, biographical accounts on him have kept using the same information for decades, and mythical constructions have increased rapidly during the last decade. This paper presents a new biographical picture of Pedro Ximénez, with a broader understanding of the context surrounding his life and works along with the transition of his life between Peru and Bolivia, on the basis of important new sources gathered by both authors through research in various archives.