The indelible memory of Josep Sendra i Piera, who led the Agrupació Artístico Musical de Dénia for nearly two decades (between 1978 and 1996), marked the «Música als Pobles» campaign concert held last Sunday. The event took place just two weeks after his passing at the age of 81.

In the final part of the performance, the Band, as an unscheduled piece, played the famous and demanding pasodoble «Agüero», by José Franco Ribate. With contained but evident emotion, conductor Javier Pinto evoked Sendra's humanist character, stating, «He was not only a trainer of musicians, but also a trainer of human beings». «This is not a farewell», he added, «but a wish that wherever he is, he can hear us».

Before the strains of «Agüero», the band performed «Oryza», by Ramón García i Soler, a subtitled gastronomic fantasy that musically dialogues with Mediterranean cuisine. It was the longest piece, featuring various tempo changes and moments of vibrant solemnity.

The repertoire combined contemporary pieces with others of a descriptive and festive nature. The concert opened with «Algo muy diferente», a pasodoble by composer Manuel Carrascosa, conducted by Jesús Carreño Ferreres. This was followed by «Spring», by Dutch composer Johan de Meij, a dynamic piece with intense sound contrasts.

One of the most intense moments came with the performance of trombonist Alberto Berruti, trained at the Conservatori Tenor Cortis, playing «Morceau Symphonique», by Alexandre Guilmant. The young musician completed his performance with a duet with his sister, a flutist, dedicated to their father. The program concluded with «Persis», by American James L. Hosay, a fantastic overture inspired by oriental sonorities.

A total of 26 private entities have collaborated in sponsoring «Música als Pobles» this year. It is noteworthy that this was the last performance attended by Vicent Grimalt as mayor and a member of the municipal corporation.