A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Pons, Jose

PONS, Jose, a Spanish musician, born at Gerona, Catalonia, in 1768. He studied under Balins, chapel-master at Cordova. Pons was chapel-master of the cathedral of his native town, a post which he left for that at Valentia, where he died in 1818. He is distinguished for his Vilhancicos or Christmas pieces, a kind of oratorios for voices with orchestra or organ, which are said to be still extensively performed in his own country. He wrote also Misereres for the Holy Week. Eslava (Liro Sacro-hispana iv.) gives a 'Letrida' of his, 'O madre,' for 8 voices, and characterises him as the typical composer of the Catalan school, as opposed to that of Valencia.

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