Domingo Crisanto Delgado Gómez

Domingo Crisanto Delgado Gómez (1806, Güímar, Tenerife, Spain - 1858, San Juan, Puerto Rico) was one of the most famous composers of the nineteenth century Canarian and first organist of the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista in Puerto Rico.

Early life

He born in 1806 in the town of Güímar on the island of Tenerife. In 1821 he became a cantor in the music chapel of La Laguna Cathedral of his native island. Then he stood out for his talent and wrote numerous scores for the cathedral and the Convento de Santa Catalina de Siena.

Career

Crisanto was choirmaster apprentice, his teacher was Miguel Jurado Bustamante, who was succeeded by Manuel Fragoso in 1828. Domingo Crisanto served as assistant sochantre as second organist at the La Laguna Cathedral and remarkable composer. He learned to play the violin and worked as a music teacher. After the death of Bustamante and due to the illness of Fragoso, Crisanto kept hoping to be appointed choirmaster at the La Laguna Cathedral, a distinction which would never happen.

Moving to Puerto Rico

For these reasons and looking for new professional horizons, he moved to Puerto Rico where he joined the music chapel of the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista.

In Puerto Rico he became one of the greatest musicians of this country, where he held the positions of 2nd sochantre, substitute organist and greater organist, the latter title he held until death; for the past eight years he was also a professor of organ and composition. When Crisanto was teacher had among its students and composer Felipe Gutiérrez y Espinosa turn one of the initiators of the future school of Puerto Rican composers.