Quirino Mendoza y Cortés

Quirino Mendoza y Cortés wrote several hundred pieces and is remembered for two of them. Born in 1862 at Santiago Tulyehualco in Xochimilco, he learned instruments from his father, played the church organ while still young and trained with Everardo Ibarra Rodríguez, beginning in sacred music before spreading into hymns, marches, waltzes, polkas, mazurkas, corridos, huapangos, boleros, rancheras and songs for children; for decades he also taught in primary schools. Cielito lindo, traditionally dated 1882, has a lilt and a refrain anyone can hold after a single hearing, and it became an unofficial Mexican anthem; the polka Jesusita en Chihuahua passed just as thoroughly into common use. He died in 1957, his two famous tunes having long since outgrown their author's name.