Modesto Fraga Guash

Cuban flutist, pedagogue, and composer.

He began his musical studies in La Habana with professor Mariano Guassos, with whom he studied the flute. He later studied violin with José Vandergutch and piano and harmony with Juan Lima, master of chapel at the Cathedral of La Habana.

He was a member of the Banda del Apostadero de Marina as a solo piccolo player. He was also a founding flutist of the Banda Municipal de La Habana, created in 1899. From 1900 he was subdirector of the Band and in 1923 he assumed the directorship, replacing Guillermo Tomás.

Starting in 1927 he stopped directing the Band and devoted himself primarily to musical teaching. He was a flute professor at the Municipal Conservatory of La Habana, eventually becoming its director.

In 1928 he founded a Conservatory in the Cuban capital, where classes in solfège, theory, and flute were offered.

In his career as a performer, his participation in concert orchestras and opera and zarzuela companies should also be highlighted. He was also an accompanist to singer Luisa Tetrazini in some concerts.

His work as a composer resulted in pieces for concert band, among them danzones and mazurkas.

A notable flute soloist and concertmaster in the orchestra of the opera companies that visited us. As a virtuoso of his instrument, he accompanied several international luminaries of lyric song.

He was also a member of the Havana Symphony Orchestra and the Banda Municipal de La Habana, of which he held the directorship between 1923 and 1927. He taught at the Municipal Conservatory. He composed several danzones and zarzuelas. Among the latter, Los raptos, Los africanitos, ¿Y qué? or En Chicago and Los que se van or Camisones para hombres premiered at the end of the 19th century.