Manuel Turrillas

Manuel Turrillas Ezcurra (Barásoain, 1st of January, 1905 - Pamplona, october 20,1997), is one of the most popular composers of Navarre. He started in music in the local music band of Barásoain, having learned to run the scale with the church organist. At the age of 20 he moved to Pamplona and immediately joined the band "The Pamplonesa", to which he belonged for 50 years. He was one of the most important figures of the popular music of Navarre.

Known as the "maestro Turrillas", he composed the most popular hymns of the main Sanfermines Associations [1], Aldapa, Anaitasuna, La Jarana, Muthiko, Oberena, as well as many others. Manuel Turrillas is also the composer of the popular song that runners sing, newspaper in hand, before the worldwide famous running of the bulls of the festival of San Fermín, a celebration hold in the city of Pamplona. Turillas is well-known for composing the CA Osasuna football club hymn. The catalog of his work includes more than 400 compositions. The City Council of Pamplona awarded the Gold Medal of the city and, after his death, dedicated a square to honor Manuel Turrillas in the local neighborhood of Azpilagaña.

Bibliography

• Mikel Aramburu et al.: Manuel Turrillas en el centenario de su nacimiento, Pamplona: Ayuntamiento, 2005, ISBN 84-95930-19-6

Discography

• Banda de música "La Pamplonesa": Música de las peñas sanfermineras, Pamplona 2005 (features 12 compositions of Maestro Turrillas)