Rafael Petitón Guzmán Collection
Held by the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, Dominican Archives, The City College of New YorkOverview of the Records
CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, Dominican Archives, The City College of New York
160 Convent Avenue at 138th St.
NAC 2/202
New York, NY 10031
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into 5 series:
Series I: Musical Scores
Series II: Practice Notebooks
Series III: Photographs
Series IV: Sound Recordings
Series V: Music Publications and Compositions by Others
Biographical Sketch
Composer, conductor, band leader, music teacher, pianist, percussionist, and songwriter Rafael Petitón Guzmán was born on January 29, 1894 in Salcedo, Dominican Republic. Petitón was an early music star in the Dominican Republic, ultimately winning a scholarship that allowed him to study in Puerto Rico around 1916. While there, he trained under Ponceño composer Julio Carlos de Arteaga and the Catalan master of religious compositions, Ramon Morlá Trenchs. In New York, Petitón also studied under the pathbreaking conductor Leopold Stokowski.
After completing his studies in Puerto Rico, Petitón Guzmán joined the Rafael Muñoz Orchestra, traveling throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. He also taught music in San Juan, married his first of three wives, and had two children, Rafael and Ana. After around 23 years in Puerto Rico, Petitón finally established himself in New York City by the late 1930s and became known as one of the first musicians to bring merengue to the city. In New York, he played piano with other orchestras and bands and also organized his own orchestra, Lira Dominicana. Beginning in the late 1920s, he increasingly devoted himself to composition. Petitón was influenced by European and North American popular music of the day such as the foxtrot, waltz, and pasodoble as well Latin beats with Cuban, Dominican, Colombian, Puerto Rican, Peruvian, Argentine, and other origins.
By the late 1960s, the aging Petitón gave private music lessons and arranged and composed music for other musicians. He died on December 14, 1983 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Scope and Content Note
The Rafael Petitón Guzmán Collection consists of original music scores, music compositions, photographs, music publications, audiotapes, and sound recordings created or collected by Rafael Petitón Guzmán.
Related Information
Other finding aids
A Spanish version of this finding aid is available.
Use of Records
Access Restrictions
Except for copyrighted materials owned by others, there are no restrictions for the use of this collection.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Donation of Angelina McKenna, John Petitón, and James Petitón
Access Terms
Petitón Guzmán, Rafael, 1894-1983
Music from the Dominican Republic
Boleros (Music)
Waltzes
Pasodobles
Merengue
Merengues
Foxtrots
Mambos (Music)
Popular music--Dominican Republic
Rumbas
Hispanic Americans--Music
Dominican Americans--New York (State)--New York--Music
Tangos
Arts and Culture
Detailed Description
Note: These records are held by the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, Dominican Archives, The City College of New York
| Series I: Musical Scores | |||
| Dates: | 1927-1989 | ||
| Physical Description: | 6.5 cubic feet | ||
| Scope and Content Note: |
Series I consists of musical scores composed or arranged by Rafael Petitón Guzmán. |
||
| Arrangement: | Series I is arranged alphabetically by song title. | ||
| Dates | Contents | Box | Folder |
| undated | Alcoholizado (Son) | 1 | 1 |
| Nuestro nido (Criolla) | 1 | 1 | |
| Absurdo | 1 | 2 | |
| 1935 July 14 | Adita (Danza) | 1 | 3 |
| Alborada de amor | 1 | 4 | |
| 1943 April 4 | Al fin será (Bolero) | 1 | 5 |
| Alma de borinquen (Danza) | 1 | 6 | |
| 1958 November 23 | Alma venezolana | 1 | 7 |
| 1958 May 4 | América | 1 | 8 |
| Amor (Love) (Pasillo) | 1 | 9 | |
| A Mis padres | 1 | 10 | |
| 1940-1975 | Amor fugaz (Foxtrot) | 1 | 11 |
| Misterio oriental (Foxtrot) | 1 | 11 | |
| Lucky me, lovable you (Foxtrot) | 1 | 11 | |
| 1939 | Amor sediente (Vals) | 1 | 12 |
| 1945 April | Amor tupío | 1 | 13 |
| La tambora quisqueyana | 1 | 13 | |
| El gato negro (Guaracha) | 1 | 13 | |
| Amor y pasión (Merengue) | 1 | 14 | |
| Amparo (Vals) | 1 | 15 | |
| Serena por Juan Francisco García (Serenata) | 1 | 15 | |
| 1955 November 24 | Andaluzadas para Dobo | 1 | 16 |
| Ángeles (Vals) | 1 | 17 | |
| Anna | 1 | 18 | |
| Aquella fe Perdida (Bolero) | 1 | 19 | |
| Insomio (Bolero) | 1 | 19 | |
| Aquella noche (Criolla/ Barcarola Tropical) | 1 | 20 | |
| Aquella tarde (Criolla) | 1 | 21 | |
| Palomita blanca | 1 | 21 | |
| Astroz | 1 | 22 | |
| 1928 | Aun te quiero (Vals) | 1 | 22 |
| Aún vive ese amor (Danza) | 1 | 23 | |
| Ayer, hoy y mañana (Danza) | 1 | 24 | |
| Baila nena (Son) | 1 | 25 | |
| Bairoa (Bolero) | 1 | 26 | |
| Bambalán (Guaracha/Danzón) | 1 | 27 | |
| 1941 | Rumba corazón | 1 | 27 |
| 1937 May | Bella cubana (Danzón) | 1 | 28 |
| Bésame (Bolero) | 1 | 29 | |
| Noches panameñas (Marcha) | 1 | 29 | |
| Bésame y bríndame | 1 | 30 | |
| Besarte | 1 | 31 | |
| Besito de amor | 1 | 32 | |
| Besos by Don César Concepción (Bolero) | 1 | 33 | |
| Bilongo by Rodríguez Fiffe (Guaracha-son) | 1 | 34 | |
| Pan con lengua | 1 | 34 | |
| Blanca nieve | 1 | 35 | |
| Blen, blan, blan | 1 | 36 | |
| Fado Caixa guitarra (Fado) | 1 | 36 | |
| Bombón (Pachanga) | 1 | 37 | |
| Bongo Beater (Rumba) | 1 | 38 | |
| Buche y pluma | 1 | 39 | |
| Busco una mujer (Rumba) | 1 | 40 | |
| Caliéntame | 2 | 41 | |
| De ti a mí | 2 | 41 | |
| Capricho de Nelly (Danzón) | 2 | 42 | |
| Caprichoso (Vals) | 2 | 43 | |
| Caridad (Rumba/ Guaracha) | 2 | 44 | |
| Cariñosa (Danza) | 2 | 45 | |
| Carolito (Rumba) | 2 | 46 | |
| Carretera Duarte (Merengue) | 2 | 47 | |
| Mi cielo | 2 | 47 | |
| Claveles rojos (Pasodoble) | 2 | 47 | |
| Bésame aquí (Bolero) | 2 | 47 | |
| Que cosas tienes | 2 | 47 | |
| Celosa (Bolero) | 2 | 47 | |
| Chiquita | 2 | 48 | |
| Cielo de Susua (Merengue) | 2 | 49 | |
| Ciegos de Medellín (Pasillo) | 2 | 50 | |
| Cinturita no má (Danzón) | 2 | 51 | |
| One hour with you | 2 | 51 | |
| Claveles rojos (Pasodoble) | 2 | 52 | |
| 1940-1975 | Clavijo (Marcha) | 2 | 53 |
| 1958 | Club Azalea By Mercedes Safredo de Pomar (Merengue) | 2 | 54 |
| Colas el sonero (Son Congo) | 2 | 55 | |
| Perfume de gardenia by Hernández | 2 | 55 | |
| 1969 February 25 | Como antes para Chula Guerrero | 2 | 56 |
| Presentimiento (Bolero) | 2 | 56 | |
| Espimita by Nico Jiménez (Bolero-mambo) | 2 | 56 | |
| Cachita by R. Hernández (Rumba) | 2 | 57 | |
| ¿Cómo podrá vivir? (Danzón) | 2 | 58 | |
| Como tú (Danza) | 2 | 59 | |
| My love (One Step) | 2 | 59 | |
| Como tú digas | 2 | 60 | |
| Como una bendición (Bolero-canción) | 2 | 61 | |
| Compasión (Danza) | 2 | 62 | |
| El retorno (Danza) | 2 | 62 | |
| Conchita (Danza) | 2 | 63 | |
| Amor bandito by Juan Ríos Ovalle (Danza) | 2 | 63 | |
| Conga fobia | 2 | 64 | |
| Conozco esa letra | 2 | 65 | |
| Danza incaica | 2 | 65 | |
| Corazón (Rumba) | 2 | 66 | |
| Crepúsculo (Vals) | 2 | 67 | |
| Cruel destino (Bolero) | 2 | 68 | |
| ¿Cuál? | 2 | 69 | |
| Cuando de mi te acuerdes (Bolero) | 2 | 70 | |
| Cuando Maite te quería (Tango) | 2 | 71 | |
| Cubita eterna (Danzón) | 2 | 72 | |
| Cup (Bolero) | 2 | 73 | |
| Delirio (Bolero) | 2 | 74 | |
| Derecho viejo (Tango) | 3 | 75 | |
| Desesperanza | 3 | 76 | |
| Desgraciadito (Tango) | 3 | 77 | |
| Desorientado | 3 | 78 | |
| Dignidad (Bolero) | 3 | 79 | |
| Dime por Dios (Vals) | 3 | 80 | |
| Dolor cobarde (Bolero) | 3 | 81 | |
| Don Joaquín (Pasodoble) | 3 | 82 | |
| Dos Almas (Criolla) | 3 | 83 | |
| Dos Caprichos (Vals) | 3 | 84 | |
| Dulce recuerdo (Danza) | 3 | 85 | |
| No era amor (Danza) | 3 | 86 | |
| Eclipse | 3 | 87 | |
| Ecos de España (Pasodoble) | 3 | 88 | |
| Galleguito (Pasodoble) | 3 | 89 | |
| Efluvios de los sombras by Doña Eva Dueña | 3 | 90 | |
| El aceite Essoluble | 3 | 91 | |
| 1939-1975 | El amor sincero | 3 | 92 |
| La negra Quirima | 3 | 92 | |
| La ruñidera | 3 | 92 | |
| El bailarín de moda (Rumba) | 3 | 93 | |
| El baile del sillón | 3 | 94 | |
| No me engañes corazón | 3 | 94 | |
| El cementerio | 3 | 95 | |
| El caribeño (Danzón) | 3 | 96 | |
| El crimen de tu vida | 3 | 97 | |
| El cumbanilero | 3 | 98 | |
| El domador (Danzón) | 3 | 99 | |
| El ganso blanco (Pasodoble) | 3 | 100 | |
| Rosalía (Danza) | 3 | 100 | |
| El gato negro (Guaracha) | 3 | 101 | |
| El ¡C! ¡C! (Pasillo) | 3 | 102 | |
| El llorón (Merengue) | 3 | 103 | |
| El marinero | 3 | 104 | |
| Corazones Partidos | 3 | 104 | |
| El merengue en NY (Merengue) | 3 | 105 | |
| El murciélago (Rumba) | 3 | 106 | |
| El negro Simus (Danzón) | 3 | 107 | |
| Vibraciones (Danzón) | 3 | 107 | |
| Salcedo (Pasodoble) | 3 | 107 | |
| El oldsmovile (Son) | 3 | 108 | |
| 1939 | El prado | 3 | 109 |
| Elsa (Danza) | 3 | 110 | |
| El retorno | 3 | 111 | |
| El revolú | 3 | 112 | |
| Compadre Baitolo | 3 | 113 | |
| El último almendro (Danza) | 3 | 114 | |
| El vago (Rumba) | 3 | 115 | |
| En Yoro (Son afro) | 3 | 116 | |
| Esa carita | 3 | 117 | |
| Esa karita (Rumba) | 3 | 118 | |
| Espíritu (Porro) | 3 | 119 | |
| Está cojío (Danzón) | 3 | 120 | |
| Eso hay que verlo (Guaracha) | 3 | 121 | |
| 1956 | Eso me gusto (Son-Montuno) by Lucia Martínez Figueroa | 3 | 122 |
| Éxtasis de amor (Danza) | 3 | 123 | |
| Gané tu corazón (Bolero/Rumba) | 4 | 124 | |
| Gibarita (Rumba) | 4 | 125 | |
| Good Little Boy Little you (Foxtrot) | 4 | 126 | |
| Gracioso (Danzón) | 4 | 127 | |
| Guarda el Silencio | 4 | 128 | |
| La guía | 4 | 130 | |
| Habanera | 4 | 131 | |
| 1930 April 18 | Happy days are here again (Foxtrot) | 4 | 132 |
| Himno chileno (Himno) | 4 | 133 | |
| Himno venezolano (Himno) | 4 | 134 | |
| Ilusiones perdidas | 4 | 135 | |
| 1933 January 24-1938 May | Incaica (Danza) | 4 | 136 |
| Morisca | 4 | 136 | |
| Incertidumbre | 4 | 137 | |
| 1959 September 16 | Inesperadamente (Danza) By Bartola Álvarez | 4 | 138 |
| 1932 April 29 | Inocencia (Bolero) | 4 | 139 |
| Insomnio (Bolero) | 4 | 140 | |
| Irum (Pasodoble) | 4 | 141 | |
| Jaragua (Danza) | 4 | 142 | |
| 1954 | Jalaito (Jaleo) Luis Kalaff | 4 | 143 |
| José Colomer (Criolla) | 4 | 144 | |
| José Torres | 4 | 145 | |
| Un tipo moderno | 4 | 145 | |
| La amada prohibida (Criolla) | 5 | 146 | |
| La bronca (Guaracha) | 5 | 147 | |
| La cruz (Merengue) Folklore dominicano | 5 | 146 | |
| 1927 May 4 | La Cuchi (Danza) | 5 | 147 |
| La curia (Danza) | 5 | 148 | |
| 1949 June 13 | La grifa (Son Mambo and Guaracha) | 5 | 149 |
| La jeringa | 5 | 150 | |
| La mendiga (Tango) | 5 | 151 | |
| 1958 August 3 | Lamento quisqueyano | 5 | 152 |
| La mulata rumbera | 5 | 153 | |
| La nena (Criolla) | 5 | 154 | |
| La niña del rancho | 5 | 155 | |
| Pachulín | 5 | 155 | |
| Las mellizas | 5 | 155 | |
| El mismo cuento | 5 | 155 | |
| 1928 March 4 | La pelota (Guaracha) | 5 | 156 |
| La Peniche | 5 | 157 | |
| La pollita forrada | 5 | 158 | |
| La salve campesina | 5 | 159 | |
| Las mellizas de Mendiaca | 5 | 160 | |
| Las violetas y tú (Bolero) | 5 | 161 | |
| La tambora quisqueyana (Merengue) | 5 | 162 | |
| 1942 | La trompetilla, lyrics by E. Santos and music by Oliver Vallace | 5 | 163 |
| Lejos de ti (Potpurrí) | 5 | 164 | |
| Lo siento por ti (Potpurrí) | 5 | 164 | |
| Sin tu amor (Potpurrí) | 5 | 164 | |
| Margie (Potpurrí) | 5 | 164 | |
| Falsa (Potpurrí) | 5 | 164 | |
| Desesperadamente (Potpurrí) | 5 | 164 | |
| Mi pensamiento (Potpurrí) | 5 | 164 | |
| Cuqui (Potpurrí) | 5 | 164 | |
| 1942 | Llegó la bomba | 5 | 165 |
| Llora mujer (Criolla) | 5 | 166 | |
| Lo que soñé (Bolero) | 5 | 167 | |
| Loreta (Merengue) | 5 | 168 | |
| Los invertidos (Danzón) | 5 | 169 | |
| Los mameyes | 5 | 170 | |
| Los ojos de ella (Danza) | 5 | 171 | |
| Luna sobre jaragua (Bolero) | 5 | 172 | |
| Series II: Practice Notebooks | |||
| Dates: | circa 1920s-1971 | ||
| Physical Description: | 0.5 cubic foot | ||
| Scope and Content Note: |
Series II consists of Rafael Petitón Guzmán’s music composition practice notebooks. Some of the books may belong to former students of Petitón. |
||
| Dates | Contents | Folder | |
| circa 1920s-1971 | Practice Notebook | 1 | |
| circa 1920s-1971 | Practice Notebook | 1 | |
| circa 1920s-1971 | Practice Notebook | 1 | |
| circa 1971 | Practice Notebook | 1 | |
| circa 1929 | Practice Notebook under tutelage of Ramon Morlá | 1 | |
| Series III: Photographs | |||
| Dates: | circa 1900-1982 | ||
| Physical Description: | 0.10 cubic foot | ||
| Scope and Content Note: |
Series III contains 59 photographs. |
||
| Arrangement: | Series III is arranged in chronological order. | ||
| Dates | Contents | Folder | |
| Men, cats and rooster in Puerto Rico | 1 | ||
| Men, woman and cats in Puerto Rico | 1 | ||
| Relatives in front of house | 1 | ||
| Foursome in apartment pose | 1 | ||
| Petitón and two women in the Caribbean | 1 | ||
| Black and white portrait of woman I | 1 | ||
| Black and white portrait of woman II | 1 | ||
| Portrait of elderly woman I | 1 | ||
| Portrait of elderly woman II | 1 | ||
| Group photo of four women | 1 | ||
| Husband and wife in Salcedo, Dominican Republic | 1 | ||
| Man in countryside | 1 | ||
| Woman and leaves | 1 | ||
| David’s Communion | 1 | ||
| Anthony’s Communion | 1 | ||
| circa 1900 | Adolescent Petitón and other children | 2 | |
| circa 1910 | Young Petitón | 2 | |
| circa 1916 | Self portrait photo I | 2 | |
| circa 1930 | Man and young women | 3 | |
| circa 1930 | Bandmates pose with instruments in hand | 3 | |
| circa 1930 | Petitón and orchestra | 3 | |
| circa 1930 | Rafael and mother | 3 | |
| circa 1935 | Self portrait photo II | 3 | |
| circa 1935 | Self portrait photo III | 3 | |
| circa 1935 | Self portrait | 3 | |
| circa 1940 | Self portrait photo IV | 4 | |
| circa 1940 | Petitón in New York City streets | 4 | |
| circa 1940 | Standing in New York City | 4 | |
| circa 1950 | Self portrait | 5 | |
| circa 1950 | Petitón at Instituto de Puerto Rico I | 5 | |
| circa 1950 | Petitón at Instituto de Puerto Rico II | 5 | |
| circa 1950 | Petitón and couple | 5 | |
| circa 1950 | Petitón and two men | 5 | |
| circa 1950 | Petitón and man in pinstripes | 5 | |
| circa 1950 | Petitón and musicians pose | 5 | |
| circa 1950 | Petitón and friends group photo | 5 | |
| circa 1950 | Petitón and friends toast | 5 | |
| circa 1950 | Petitón and friends | 5 | |
| circa 1950 | Petitón and friend | 5 | |
| circa 1950 | Petitón and friends circle table | 5 | |
| circa 1950 | Peasants: Article I of the Constitution | 5 | |
| circa 1950 | Petiton, piano, and singer | 5 | |
| circa 1955 | Petitón and friends at club | 5 | |
| circa 1955 | Three men pose while Petitón plays piano | 5 | |
| 1956 December 24 | Arbolito (Christmas tree) | 5 | |
| circa 1960 | Petitón and friend | 6 | |
| circa 1960 | Petiton and Piano | 6 | |
| 1963 August 2 | Petiton and Trumpeter | 6 | |
| circa 1965 | Self portrait photo V | 6 | |
| circa 1970 | Self portrait photo VI | 7 | |
| circa 1970 | Angelina Petitón and two friends | 7 | |
| circa 1970 | Angelina Petitón and five friends | 7 | |
| circa 1970 | Angelina and friends in car I | 7 | |
| circa 1970 | Angelina and friends in car II | 7 | |
| circa 1970 | Angelina and friends share sofa | 7 | |
| 1971 August 15 | Petitón and daughter, Angelina, at Cathedral of Santa Maria, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | 7 | |
| circa 1975 | Petitón dancing with Angelina at her wedding | 7 | |
| circa 1975 | Petitón family celebrate birthday | 7 | |
| 1982 August 15 | Man and woman in Salcedo | 8 | |
| Series IV: Sound Recordings | |||
| Dates: | Undated-circa 2005 | ||
| Physical Description: | less than 0.5 cubic foot | ||
| Scope and Content Note: |
The sound recordings contain three vinyl albums with recordings of “Opio en Canción,” “Amor Sediento,” and “Meloso Diatonico”; a reel-to-reel tape recording of “Amor Sediento”; a recording of the Don Rivero’s Puerto Rico Orquestra with Vicente Bonilla; and a compact disc containing digital copies of some of Petitón’s music. |
||
| Arrangement: | Series IV is arranged by type. | ||
| Dates | Contents | Folder | |
| Amor Sediento (Vals) / Insomnia (Bolero); reel-to-reel audio tape recording | 1 | ||
| Opio en Cancion (Bolero); 33 rpm record | 1 | ||
| Amor Sediento; 33 rpm record | 1 | ||
| Meloso Diatonico; 33 rpm record | 1 | ||
| De Puerto Rico Orquesta de Don Rivero con Vicente Bonilla | 1 | ||
| circa 2005 | Orquesta de Rafael Petitón Guzmán; Compact Disc | 1 | |
| Series V: Music Publications and Compositions by Others | |||
| Dates: | 1927-1964 | ||
| Physical Description: | 0.5 cubic foot | ||
| Scope and Content Note: |
Series V consists of music publications of compositions by other composers. |
||
| Arrangement: | Series V is arranged in chronological order. | ||
| Dates | Contents | Folder | |
| Chopin for the Miniature | 1 | ||
| Chopin for the Young | 2 | ||
| Do I Love You? | 3 | ||
| KMOS No. 106: Joseph Haydn Symphony No. 4 | 4 | ||
| 1927 | Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin | 5 | |
| 1932 | KMOS No. 5: Ludwig Van Beethoven Symphony No. 5 | 6 | |
| 1932 | KMOS No. 10: Ludwig Van Beethoven Premetheus | 7 | |
| 1932 | KMOS No. 18: Anton Dvorak Symphony No. 5 | 8 | |
| 1932 | KMOS No. 23: Joseph Hayden Symphony No. 11 | 9 | |
| 1932 | KMOS No. 37: Gioacchino Rossini William Tell | 10 | |
| 1932 | KMOS No. 43: Peter Ilyitch Tschaikowsky March Slave | 11 | |
| 1932 | KMOS No. 54: Carl Maria Von Weber Oberon | 12 | |
| 1933 | KMOS No. 77 N. Rimsky-Korsakoff The Flight of the Bumble-Bee | 13 | |
| 1945 | Chopin Simplified: Twelve Favorite Compositions | 14 | |
| circa 1964 | The Deluxe Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass Souvenir Song Album | 15 | |