Músics de trinxera. Música i societat a la Lleida de la preguerra i la postguerra

The book describes the culture, the art and the music together with the transformations caused by the Civil War in Lleida at the beginning of the 20th century, following the memories of a musician of the time, Ramon Bellmunt, and the stories of contemporary figures such as Josep Lladonosa —a musician in his youth—, Ricard Viñes, Enric Granados or Màrius Torres.

A compilation, therefore, of the great musical biographies of Lleida, but also an exercise to recover modest musicians from oblivion, the “persevering”, trench musicians, cornered by fate along with the losers of a contest that they didn’t want, but in which they had to take side. Artists who will never lose their dignity and who will find their strength and resilience in music. Also very present are women with a rebellious spirit who conquered the stages and the conservatories, and who were the introducers of music in the family environment.

In this context, a generational and structural transition took place, when classical orchestras and professional musicians, many of them scarred by the war, now literally trench musicians, had to coexist with musical ensembles of young people eager to express their art, in a world in which the contours and profiles are diluted.