Did you know Josep Anselm Clavé was more than just a musician? He was a political activist. Now look at the Monument a Josep Anselm Clavé Sculpture before you. It stands as a tribute to this remarkable man.
The Monument a Josep Anselm Clavé commemorates a composer writer and activist. Clavé was a committed socialist. He founded choral societies for working-class people. He significantly shaped popular Catalan culture in the 19th century.
This monument was inaugurated in 1888. Manuel Fuxá created the bronze statue. Josep Vilaseca designed the carved stone base. Fuxá’s statue shows Clavé conducting a choir. He holds a baton in his raised hand. The base features four carved stone harps. You can also see other musical motifs.
The Monument a Josep Anselm Clavé originally stood elsewhere. It was at Rambla de Catalunya and Carrer de Valencia. People criticized it. They thought the statue was too large. When moved here in 1956 a plinth was added to the base. This balanced its appearance.
Clavé was born in Barcelona in 1824. He lost sight in one eye as a child. He initially worked as a lathe operator. Poor eyesight forced him to change careers. He then earned a living singing. He also played guitar in cafes and bars.
In the 1840s Clavé became a socialist. He joined the Republican movement. He was briefly imprisoned in 1845. This followed an injury during the revolution of 1843. After prison Clavé began composing music.
In 1850 he founded Sociedad Coral La Fraternidad. Clavé’s music targeted working-class people. His choral society became very successful. Other towns soon formed similar groups. Clavé’s activism led to multiple imprisonments. He was jailed in Barcelona twice in the Balearic Islands and once in Madrid.
After a prison sentence in Mallorca Clavé returned to Barcelona. He opened a theatre. It staged shows concerts and dances. So many choral societies existed that he created an association. This helped organize them.
After the revolution of 1868 Queen Isabella II was removed from power. Clavé became president of the Diputació de Barcelona. In 1874 a military coup ended the First Spanish Republic. Clavé died a few weeks later. He was forty-nine. He is buried in Poblenou Cemetery. There is another monument there with a bronze bust.
The Monument a Josep Anselm Clavé stands on Passeig de Sant Joan. It is between Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret and Travessera de Gràcia. The nearest metro stop is Joanic. It is on the yellow line.
Notice the figure of Clavé. It is raised on a five-meter pedestal. The statue is bronze. Clavé stands with a baton in his right hand. His head faces the same direction as the baton. The pedestal is made of different sections. The lower sections have small buttresses. These feature vegetal motifs. Between the buttresses facing Avinguda Diagonal you can read Clavé’s name.
This monument isn’t just a statue. It represents Clavé’s dedication. He dedicated himself to music and social change. It reminds us of his impact on Catalan culture.