Eduardo Ocón y Rivas, pianist and composer, was born in Malaga in 1834. He studied sight-singing and composition with Mariano Reig, and piano with the organist of the Malaga Cathedral, Joaquín Tadeo de Murguía. Later, he studied organ in Paris with Benoit, and counterpoint and fugue with Ambroise Thomas. At only 13 years of age, when he was still in the basilica of the cathedral in Malaga, Ocón composed Miserere, a piece for four voices in which he sang the soprano part. At 19 years of age, he was appointed to the post of second organist of the same basilica. Between 1853 and 1858 he was piano professor in Malaga, and in 1858 he premiered a Cantata that he composed to the honour of the Prince Alfonso in the Teatro Real in Madrid.

When he moved to Paris, he was able to premiere some of his compositions in 1867 through his friendship with maestros Gounod and Auber. Some of his religious works, such as Ave Maria, Cántico a la virgen and O Salutaris for five voices, were performed in Parisian churches. He moved to Brussels for some time, where he met Joseph Fetis, director of the city Conservatoire.

	Eduardo Ocón y Rivas  (*Màlaga, 1834 - 1901) Composer and Pianist.

In Paris, Eduardo Ocón held the post of professor of the Paris communal schools, until in 1879 that he went back to Malaga. There, he recovered his post as organist, and also directed the city’s Sociedad Filarmónica. The manuscripts of his Cancionero de Upsala became known through his student Rafael Mitjana.

Eduardo Ocón’s output mainly includes religious music, with a production that includes choral works such as Salves, Motets and Masses. He also composed works for piano and voice and several chamber music pieces. His compositions for piano reflect the relationship with the music that was successful in the rest of Europe at that time. His most popular pieces were published for the first time in Leipzig and include a collection of popular songs with piano accompaniment entitled Cantos de España.  

Brotons & Mercadal,  Edicions Musicals S. L.