Celestino Vila Forns was born in Bellpuig d'Urgell (Lleida) during the last days of 1829 or early 1930. He completed his ecclesiastical studies at the Seminary of Lleida. There must have received a solid musical training, because with 27 years he was appointed choirmaster and organist of the Cathedral of Huesca, where much of his sacred work is concentrated. In 1877 he won the oppositions of choirmaster at the cathedral of Granada and where he remained until his death in 1915. Despite being a valued and prolific religious music composer, he always aspired to wider musical horizons, probably encouraged by his friend Francisco Asenjo Barbieri .