Joaquin Rodrigo Vidre, Spanish composer, was born in 1901, in Spain.
There he began his musical studies at the early age of 8 years, when he began his studies with music theory, violin and piano; and at the age of 16 he studied harmony and composition with professors from Valencia Conservatory.
Right there he has expressed his first compositions that have arrived in 1923, among them the suite for piano; Two sketches, and the suite for piano and violin; Y Sicilian, for cello.
The most distinguished, perhaps for being the first for orchestra is “Jugglers” which has been awarded in Valencia and Madrid.
And around this date Joaquin obtains his first diploma in a national competition for the work “Five children’s pieces”, which would also later be awarded in Paris.
By the year 1927, based on the example of his predecessors Albéniz, Failure, Granados Y Turina, Rodrigo moves to Paris with the aim of enrolling in the École Normale de Musique.
There the Spanish composer began his studies for five years, hand in hand with Paul dukas, and there he meets his future wife, the Turkish pianist Victoria Kamhi, with whom he married in 1933.
At this same time, Rodrigo write the amazing “Goodbye sonata”, for piano, in memory of his teacher Dukas in 1935, and continued his music studies in France at the Sorbonne Conservatory of Paris, and then he also worked in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, before returning to Spain in 1939 and settling permanently in Madrid.
As the 1940s arrived, he participated in the world premiere of the Aranjuez’s concert for guitar and orchestra, becoming a definitive example of his musical personality and a work that would bring him universal fame.
With time and evaluation of his impeccable music, his creations have been defined as a tribute to the rich and varied Spanish cultures, since Joaquin he has been the only Spanish composer to use so many different aspects of the spirit of his country as a source of inspiration, from the history of Spain from the Roman era to the work of contemporary poets.
His music has been defined as refined, luminous, fundamentally optimistic, with a particular predominance of melody, as original harmonies.
It is worth highlighting his definitive contribution to the repertoire for guitar, achieving his dignity and his international consecration as a concert instrument, and throughout his life, Joaquin Rodrigo It has been honored by governments, universities, and musical and civil organizations from different countries.
Fortunately, being able to enjoy life for many years, Joaquin Rodrigo He died in Madrid on July 6, 1999, two years after the death of his wife.
Plays:
- Aranjuez concert for guitar and orchestra
- Andalusian concert for four guitars and orchestra
- Serenade Concert for Harp and Orchestra
- Heroic Concerto for piano and orchestra
- Madrigal Concerto for two guitars and orchestra
- Pastoral Concerto for Flute and Orchestra
- Royal Pavana
- Zarzuela: The Pretended Son
- Opera: La Azucena de Quito (unfinished)
- Fantasy for a gentleman
- Music for a Salamanca codex
- Prelude to the Morning Rooster
- By the flower of lliri blau