Juan Bautista Alfonseca, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetJuan Bautista Alfonseca
Dominican colonel and composer
Date of Birth: 23-Jun-1810
Place of Birth: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Date of Death: 09-Aug-1875
Profession: composer
Nationality: Dominican Republic
Zodiac Sign: Cancer 
About Juan Bautista Alfonseca
- Colonel Juan Bautista Alfonseca Baris (23 June 1810, in Santo Domingo – 9 August 1875) was a military officer and composer in the Dominican Republic, known for his role in the development of merengue music.
- Though the music written by Alfonseca was not, at the time, specifically labeled as "merengue", its incorporation of Dominican folk motifs into Latin formal music such as the danza paved the way for that genre, causing many to label him "the father of merengue".In addition to his proto-merengue, Alfonseca served as a chapelmaster in Santo Domingo, writing two masses,.
- Alfonseca also wrote patriotic music; following the Dominican Republic's successful secession from Haiti in 1844 he produced the nation's first proposed national anthem, though it was not adopted.
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