Jose Ignacio Quinton, Puerto Rican Composer

Jose Ignacio Quinton del Rosario is a Puerto Rican composer and musician. (Caguas, 1881 – Coamo, 1925) His family moved to Coamo when he was only two years old. He began his musical studies at a very young age; his first teacher was his father, the Frenchman Don Juan Bautista Quintón y Luzón, a composer and organist with excellent knowledge of instrumentation and music theory; he graduated from the Paris Conservatory of Music. Later he received lessons from the noted Catalan pianist and composer Ernesto del Castillo.

Early Years

At the age of nine, he gave his first concert, and at eleven, he accompanied the famous Cuban violinist Brindis de Salas. Quintón, with complete confidence in himself from those first triumphs, is genuinely in love with his art. He devoted his efforts to studying and cultivating music in its varied forms. He even directed school and municipal bands and gave lessons in piano, violin, and other instruments.

Already in 1917, when they barely knew each other in Puerto Rico, he played pieces by Debussy, Ravel, Schoenberg, and other composers, of which he acquired extensive information through numerous musical magazines, which he read in English. A language that he patiently learned on his own. The sole purpose of being able to benefit intellectually from such readings.

Musical Contributions

Quinton was a prolific composer. Even in his first dances (which he wrote when he was still a teenager), such as “Confia,” “Mi Estrella,” “Amor Imposible,” and others, he noticed the desire to innovate that he experienced throughout his career. In addition to dance, he cultivated other genres and won numerous awards in local competitions. “Quartet for stringed instruments,” “Variations on a Hummel theme,” “Overture,” and “Triumphal March” are some of his award-winning works. He also wrote waltzes, marches, nocturnes, religious music, and several masses, the most notable being a “Requiem Mass” in posthumous tribute to the Puerto Rican composer Ángel Mislán.

He excelled as a pianist, both for his refined technique and for his interpretative gifts; he was very skilled with the left hand and the use of the pedal, as well as a great reader, able to read and transport at first sight, without hesitation,  any piano piece, no matter how complicated its structure.

As far as Puerto Rican dance is concerned, Quintón, as in Tavárez and Morel, prevailed in a deep concern to make this a concert piece, and he did not omit any effort to bring to reality that purpose. His series of “Concert Dances” is remarkable, in which he showed off his musical knowledge and skills. However, his most popular and recognized dance was “El coquí,” a dance of simple melody and harmonic progression. In it, maestro Quintón used an obstinate theme of octaves that imitated the singing of this batracio that has become a symbol of Puerto Rico.

• Source: El Coqui, performed by Luciano Quiñones (YouTube Video)
• Translated into English, see source below.

Genealogy  

Ancestors of José Ignacio Quintin del Rosario

Generation 1

1. José Ignacio Quinton del Rosario, son of Juan Bautista Quinton Y Luson and Rita Filomena del Rosario Y Serrano was born on 01 Feb 1881 in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He died on 19 Dec. 1925 in Coamo, Puerto Rico. He had a daughter out of wedlock with Virginia Ramona Negron Negron. She was born Jun 1, 1870 in Coamo, Puerto Rico. She was born out of wedlock, but was legitimized on May 11 1878, whern her parents married. Parents are D. Candido Negron and María Reyes Negron. The latter being Mestizo or Parda Libre) Their dauther is María Luisa Quinton Negron, born in Coamo, Puerto Rico. (Side note on D. Candido and María Reyes, it stated in thier marriage record that he was 49 years of age and she was 73 years of age. Since Virgina Ramona was born in 1870, I find it difficult to believe that she was 70 years old when she conceived. I thought that should be pointed out.)

Generation 2

2. Juan Bautista Quinton Y Luson, son of Juan Quintin and María Ynés Luson was born about 1846 in Angers, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire, France. He died on 23 Sep 1915 in Coamo, Puerto Rico. He married Rita Filomena del Rosario Y Serrano, daughter of Eugenio del Rosario and María Fermina Serrano Cortés on 03 Jun 1876 in Caguas, Puerto Rico (Caguas, L10 M Image 90, F.285v).

3. Rita Filomena del Rosario Y Serrano, daughter of Eugenio del Rosario and María Fermina Serrano Cortés was born about 1854 in Caguas, Puerto Rico. She died on 13 Dec 1924 in Coamo, Puerto Rico. Rita Filomena del Rosario Y Serrano and Juan Bautista Quintin Y Luson had the following

children:

i. María Inocencia Quinton Y del Rosario, daughter of Juan Bautista Quinton Y Luson and Rita Filomena del Rosario Y Serrano was born on 28 Dec 1875 in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

ii. Juan Antonio Quinton Y del Rosario, son of Juan Bautista Quinton Y Luson and Rita Filomena del Rosario Y Serrano was born on 09 Jul 1878 in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

1. iii. José Ignacio Quinton del Rosario, son of Juan Bautista Quinton Y Luson and Rita Filomena del Rosario Y Serrano was born on 01 Feb 1881 in Caguas, Puerto Rico, and Baptized on Aug. 15, 1881. He died on 19 Dec 1925 in Coamo, Puerto Rico (COAMO DEF 1923-1933, Núm. 348, F.318. He had a daughter out of wedlock with Virginia Negron Negron (Reyes?). She was born Jun 1, 1870 in Coamo, Puerto Rico. Their dauther is María Luisa Quinton Negron, born on December 2, 1894, in Coamo, Puerto Rico.

iv. María Fausta Quinton Y del Rosario, daughter of Juan Bautista Quinton Y Luson and Rita Filomena del Rosario Y Serrano was born on 03 Oct 1883 in Caguas, Puerto Rico. She married Felipe Olivieri Y Rivera on 26 Dec 1918 in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He was born about 1890.

v. Luis Rafael Tito Quinton Y del Rosario, son of Juan Bautista Quinton Y Luson and Rita Filomena del Rosario Y Serrano was born on 04 Jan 1888 in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

vi. Ramon Quinton Y Rosario, son of Juan Bautista Quinton Y Luson and Rita Filomena del Rosario Y Serrano was born on 29 Nov 1889 in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He died on 15 Sep 1934 in Coamo, Puerto Rico. He married Maria Dolores Cartagena Negrón on 04 Jan 1921 in Coamo, Puerto Rico. She was born in Barros, Puerto Rico. She died in Coamo, Puerto Rico.

Generation 3

4. Juan Quinton was born about 1820 in France. He died in France. He married María Ynés Luson.

5. María Ynés Luson was born about 1820 in Angers, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire, France.

María Ynés Luson and Juan Quinton had the following child:

2. i. Juan Bautista Quinton Y Luson, son of Juan Quinton and María Ynés Luson was born about 1846 in Angers, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire, France. He died on 23 Sep 1915 in Coamo, Puerto Rico. He married Rita Filomena del Rosario Y Serrano, daughter of Eugenio del Rosario and María Fermina Serrano Cortés on 03 Jun 1876 in Caguas, Puerto Rico (Caguas, L10 M Image 90, F.285v). She was born about 1854 in Caguas, Puerto Rico. She died on 13 Dec 1924 in Coamo, Puerto Rico.

6. Eugenio del Rosario, son of Luis del Rosario and Juana Guadalupe? was born about 1830 in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He married María Fermina Serrano Cortés, daughter of José María Serrano Ortiz and María del Carmen Cortés Cortés in 1849 in Caguas, Puerto Rico (Caguas Marriages Book 8 Whites, Image #286, Núm 59, F.21v Record Damaged).

7. María Fermina Serrano Cortés, daughter of José María Serrano Ortiz and María del Carmen Cortés Cortés was born about 1828 in Cauguas, Puerto Rico. She died on 12 Dec 1858 in Caguas, Puerto Rico (Caguas, Book 13 Burials, 1854-1861 Image 982, Núm 1869, F.291 HL). María Fermina Serrano Cortés and Eugenio del Rosario had the following child:

3. i. Rita Filomena del Rosario Y Serrano, daughter of Eugenio del Rosario and María Fermina Serrano Cortés was born about 1854 in Caguas, Puerto Rico. She died on 13 Dec 1924 in Coamo, Puerto Rico. She married Juan Bautista Quinton Y Luson, son of Juan Quinton and María Ynés Luson on 03 Jun 1876 in Caguas, Puerto Rico (Caguas, L10 M Image 90,F.285v). He was born about 1846 in Angers, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire, France. He died on 23 Sep 1915 in Coamo, Puerto Rico.

Generation 4

12. Luis del Rosario was born about 1810 in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He married Juana Guadalupe? Cannot make out the last name on the wedding record.) If I can figure it out, I will update this section.

13. Juana Guadalupe? was born about 1810 in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

Juana Guadalupe? and Luis del Rosario had the following child:

6. i. Eugenio del Rosario, son of Luis del Rosario and Juana Guadalupe was born about 1830 in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He married María Fermina Serrano Cortés, daughter of José María Serrano Ortiz and María del Carmen Cortés Cortés in 1849 in Caguas, Puerto Rico (Caguas Marriages Book 8 Whites, Image #286, Núm 59, F.21v Record Damaged). She was born about 1828 in Cauguas, Puerto Rico. She died on 12 Dec 1858 in Caguas, Puerto Rico (Caguas, Book 13 Burials, 1854-1861 Image #982, Núm 1869, F.291 HL).

14. José María Serrano Ortiz, son of Pedro Serrano and Francisca Ortiz was born about 1790 in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He married María del Carmen Cortés Cortés, daughter of Pedro Cortés Guzmán and Juana Cortés Martínez on 10 Jan 1816 in Caguas, Puerto Rico (CAGUAS L3M Image #653 80,5 273 Serrano Ortiz José Maria Cortes Cortes Maria del Carmen 10 ene. 1816).

15. María del Carmen Cortés Cortés, daughter of Pedro Cortés Guzmán and Juana Cortés Martínez was born about 1790 in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

María del Carmen Cortés Cortés and José María Serrano Ortiz had the following child:

7. i. María Fermina Serrano Cortés, daughter of José María Serrano Ortiz and María del Carmen Cortés Cortés was born about 1828 in Cauguas, Puerto Rico. She died on 12 Dec 1858 in Caguas, Puerto Rico (Caguas, Book 13 Burials, 1854-1861 Image #982, Núm 1869, F.291 HL). She married Eugenio del Rosario, son of Luis del Rosario and Juana Guadalupe? in 1849 in Caguas, Puerto Rico (Caguas Marriages Book 8 Whites, Image #286, Núm 59, F.21v Record Damaged). He was born about 1830 in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

Generation 5

28. Pedro Serrano was born about 1760 in Puerto Rico. He married Francisca Ortiz.

29. Francisca Ortiz

Francisca Ortiz and Pedro Serrano had the following child:

14. i. José María Serrano Ortiz, son of Pedro Serrano and Francisca Ortiz was born about 1790 in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He married María del Carmen Cortés Cortés, daughter of Pedro Cortés Guzmán and Juana Cortés Martínez on 10 Jan 1816 in Caguas, Puerto Rico (CAGUAS L3M Image #653 80,5 273 Serrano Ortiz José Maria Cortes Cortes Maria del Carmen 10 ene. 1816). She was born about 1790 in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

30. Pedro Cortés Guzmán, son of Cristóbal Cortés and Antonia Guzmán was born about 1760 in Manatí, Puerto Rico. He married Juana Cortés Martínez.

31. Juana Cortés Martínez, daughter of Lázaro Cortés and Isabel Martínez was born about 1760 in Manatí, Puerto Rico. Juana Cortés Martínez and Pedro Cortés Guzmán had the following child:

15. i. María del Carmen Cortés Cortés, daughter of Pedro Cortés Guzmán and Juana Cortés Martínez was born about 1790 in Caguas, Puerto Rico. She married José María Serrano Ortiz, son of Pedro Serrano and Francisca Ortiz on 10 Jan 1816 in Caguas, Puerto Rico (CAGUAS L3M Image #653 80,5 273 Serrano Ortiz José Maria Cortes Cortes Maria del Carmen 10 ene. 1816). He was born about 1790 in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

Generation 6

60. Cristóbal Cortés, son of Padre Cortés was born about 1740. He married Antonia Guzmán.

61. Antonia Guzmán was born about 1740.

Antonia Guzmán and Cristóbal Cortés had the following child:

30. i. Pedro Cortés Guzmán, son of Cristóbal Cortés and Antonia Guzmán was born about 1760 in Manatí, Puerto Rico. He married Juana Cortés Martínez. She was born about 1760 in Manatí, Puerto Rico. They married in Caguas, Puerto Rico on March 25 1788, in Caguas, Book 2 (1774-1804) Núm126, F126. “Dispensa; en 2ndo, grado de consanguinidad por ser el esposo futuro tío carna de la pretendida como consta de la dispensa.: Testigo Padre de novia. This means that Pedro and Juana were first cousins. So, Cristóbal and Lázaro were first brothers.

62. Lázaro Cortés, son of Padre Cortés was born about 1740 in Manatí, Puerto Rico. He married Isabel Martínez.

63. Isabel Martínez was born about 1740 in Manatí, Puerto Rico.

Isabel Martínez and Lázaro Cortés had the following child:

31. i. Juana Cortés Martínez, daughter of Lázaro Cortés and Isabel Martínez was born about 1760 in Manatí, Puerto Rico. She married Pedro Cortés Guzmán. He was born about 1760 in Manatí, Puerto Rico.

Personal research. HijosdeCoamoPR

Source

• Fernández, Tomás and Tamaro, Elena. “Biography of José Ignacio Quintón”. In Biographies and Lives. The online biographical encyclopedia  [Internet]. Barcelona, Spain, 2004.
• Church Records Index for Caguas and Coamo click here
• FamilySearch
• Ancestry
• YouTube
• Teresa de Castro LLombart (Transcription of Book 2 of Marriages, Caguas)
• Photo of home and Grave, courtesy of “El Hogar de la Danza Puertorriquña”
• https://ladanza.com/quinton.htm#english