Hilarión Eslava (1807-1878), precursor del Cecilianismo en España

Abstract

This article studies the important role played by the Navarran composer Hilarión Eslava (1807-1878) as precursor in Spain of Cecilianism, a movement which enjoyed great impetus in Germany, Italy and other countries, and which  originated significant changes to religious music. The article is organised into four sections: 1) The use and abuse in religious music; 2) Cecilianism; 3) Attempts at reform in Spain prior to Eslava; and 4) Eslava’s reform initiatives.