Joly Braga Santos
Encyclopedia
José Manuel Joly Braga Santos, ComSE (ʒɔˈli ˈbɾaɡɐ ˈsɐ̃tuʃ; May 14, 1924-July 18, 1988) was a Portuguese
composer and conductor
, who was born and died in Lisbon
. He wrote six symphonies
.
in 1924 and died in this city in 1988, at the peak of his musical creativity. Having studied violin
and composition
at the National Conservatoire of Lisbon, he became a disciple of Luís de Freitas Branco
(1890–1955), the leading Portuguese
composer
of the preceding generation.
After the Second World War, he was able to go abroad, having studied conducting with Hermann Scherchen
and Antonino Votto, and composition with Virgilio Mortari. He was undoubtedly the leading Portuguese symphonist of the 20th century, and perhaps of all time. Apart from an innate sense of orchestration
, his musical language is based on a strong musical architecture as well as drama, with long melodic phrases and a natural instinct for structural development. In his own words, he wanted “to contribute toward a Latin symphonism and to react against the predominant tendency, of the generation that preceded me, to reject monumentalism in music
”.
In his first works, the composer showed a modal
tendency motivated by the desire to establish a connection between contemporary music and the golden age of Portuguese music: the Renaissance
. We also find a melodic outline of the oldest folk songs of his country. Although he was not particularly interested in the Portuguese folklore
, studying and composing at the country home of his mentor, in the rural south of Portugal
- the Alentejo - he naturally accepted the influence of the very old local folklore that he considered "of mesmerizing originality and grandeur".
The first four symphonies, which followed each other quite rapidly (between the ages of 22 and 27), were immediately performed by the Portuguese Radio Symphony Orchestra in Lisbon, and met with great success. The conductor and founder of the Portuguese Radio Symphony Orchestra was the great Portuguese conductor Pedro de Freitas Branco, a friend of Maurice Ravel
, Manuel de Falla
, and former director of the Orchestre Lamoureux. Pedro de Freitas Branco early recognised his brother’s pupil’s talent and launched Joly Braga Santos's international career during the fifties, conducting several international premieres of his works around Europe
. Other works of this period are the Concerto for Strings, Variations on an Alentejo Theme, and three Symphonic Overtures. Most of the works were recorded, from the seventies onwards, by the Portuguese label Strauss SP, and more recently, by the Naxos / Marco Polo label.
Following closely the works of post-war European composers, his style became, from 1960 onwards, more chromatic
. The period of travel and the time he devoted to conducting provided him with what he described as a useful period of rest, decisive for the evolution of his musical style toward increased chromaticism
and less traditional form. To this period belong the works Three Symphonic Sketches, Sinfonietta, the Requiem, his 5th and 6th Symphonies, and Divertimento no. 2.
Joly Braga Santos also wrote three operas, chamber music for a wide variety of instruments and ensembles, film scores, and several choral works based on poems from the great classical and modern Portuguese and Spanish poets such as Camões, Antero de Quental, Teixeira de Pascoaes, Fernando Pessoa, Garcilaso de la Vega, António Machado and Rosalía de Castro.
Joly Braga Santos lectured on composition at the National Conservatoire of Lisbon, where he introduced the chair of Musical Analysis. He was also director of the Oporto Symphony Orchestra and one of the founders of the Juventude Musical Portuguesa (Portuguese Musical Youth). As a critic and journalist he produced a vast range of work for several Portuguese and foreign newspapers and journals.
He died in Lisbon, of a stroke
.
In 2004, the recording of the Symphony No. 4 by Naxos/Marco Polo, performed by the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland and conducted by Álvaro Cassuto received the Cannes Classical Award for the CD Premier category.
by President of the Republic of Portugal.
Premiere: Lisbon, 1942
Soloists: Silva Pereira (violin) and João de Freitas Branco (piano).
1943 – Four Songs on poems by Fernando Pessoa
Soprano voice and piano
Premiere: Lisbon 1946.
International premiere: Dublin 2004.
1943 – Aria I Cello and Piano 4'
Premiere: Oporto, 1943
Soloists: Madalena Sá e Costa and Helena Sá e Costa.
1944 – Siciliana Piano 2'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1944
Published by Valentim de Carvalho S.A.R.L. (out of print).
1945 – Three Sonnets by Camões - "To Carmélia Âmbar"
Original score for Mezzo-Soprano or Baritone and Piano
Score for Mezzo-Soprano or Baritone and Orchestra
Premiere: Lisbon, 1970, Lisbon Phylarmonic Orchestra, Helena Cláudio, soloist, Joly Braga Santos, conductor.
1945 – String Quartet I (in D m) - "To Luís de Freitas Branco"
2 violins, viola e cello, 30'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1945. Soloists: l. Gomes, J. Nogueira, F. Caldeira, C. Figueiredo
Recordings: Strauss SP 4356 1990.
1945 – Acordando Sonnet by Antero de Quental - “To Carmélia Âmbar”
Mezzo soprano and Orchestra
Premiere: (with piano) Lisbon, 1953.
1946 – Symphonic Overture No. 1 "To Pedro de Freitas Branco"
3,3,3,3 4,3,3,3, Tp. Perc. 2, strings 7'
Premiere: Lisbon 1946, National Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Pedro de Freitas Branco, conductor.
1947 – Symphony No. 1 (in D) - "To the Heroes and Martyrs of the last World War"
3,3,3,3 4,3,3,1 – Tp., Perc. 2, strings 40'
Premiere: Lisbon 1947, National Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Pedro Freitas Branco, conductor
Recordings: Strauss SP 4112 of live concerto 1960 - CD issue 1996
Strauss SP4048 1989
Marco Polo 8.223879 1997.
1947 – Symphonic Overture No. 2 (in E)
3,3,3,3 4,4,3,1 Tp. Perc.3, strings 15'
Premiere: Lisbon 1947, National Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Pedro de Freitas Branco, conductor.
1947 – Nocturne for Strings (in B minor) - Strings Orchestra and viola 7'
Premiere: Lisbon 1947, National Radio Strings Orchestra
Pedro de Freitas Branco, conductor
Recordings: Marco Polo 8.225271, 2004.
1948 – Symphony No. 2 (in B minor) 3,3,2,2 4,3,3,1 Tp. 2, Perc. 1, strings. 60'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1948, National Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Pedro de Freitas Branco
International Premieres:
Paris, 1948, Orch. Radiodifusion Française,
Pedro de Freitas Branco conductor.
Rome, 1959 Orchestra della R.A.I., Frederico de Freitas
, conductor
Recordings: Marco Polo 8.225216, 2001.
1948 – Elegy to Vianna da Motta 3,3,3,3 - 4,3,3,1 Tp., Drum, strings 9'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1949, National Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Pedro de Freitas Branco, conductor
Recordings: Strauss SP4053, 1989
Koch-Shwaan 3-1510-2, 1994.
1949 – Symphony No. 3 (in C M) "To Luis de Freitas Branco"
2,2,2,2 4,3,3,1 Tp., Perc.4, H. 2, strings 37'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1949, National Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Pedro de Freitas Branco, conductor
Recordings: Strauss SP8770022 1986
Marco Polo 8.225087 1997.
1950 – Symphony No. 4 (in E m) " To the Portuguese Musical Youth"
3,3,3,3 - 4,4,3,1 Tp., Perc.4, H., strings - 50'
Premiere: Lisbon 1951, National Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Joly Braga Santos, conductor
Score for Orchestra and Choir, 1968
Premiere: National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Gulbenkian Choir,
Silva Pereira conductor, 1968
Recordings: Strauss SP4059, 1989
Marco Polo 8.225233, 2003.
1951 – Concerto for Strings in D - "To the Chamber Music Academy"
Strings Orchestra 18'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1951, Chamber Music Academy
Recordings: Strauss SP 870017/PS, 1986
Koch Schwann 3-1510-2, 1994
Marco Polo 8.225186, 2002.
1951 – Variations on an Alentejo Theme "To Pedro de Freitas Branco"
3,3,3,3 4,4,3,1 Tp., Perc. 4, H.2, strings - 14'
Premiere: Bordeaux 1953, Orchestre Phylarmonique de Bordeaux
Pedro de Freitas Branco conductor
Recordings: Strauss SP4053, 1989
Marco Polo 8.225233, 2003.
1954 – Symphonic Overture No. 3 "To Elisa de Sousa Pedroso"
2,2,2,2 4,2,3,1, Tp., Perc.3, H., strings 13'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1954, National Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Pedro de Freitas Branco, conductor
Recordings: Strauss SP4048, 1989.
1957 – Quartet with piano piano, violin, viola and cello 18' "To the Lisbon Quartet"
Premiere: Würtzburg 1957, Residenz Hall, by the Lisbon Quartet.
1957 – String Quartet II 2 violins, viola and cello 30'
Premiere: 1989, S. Carlos Theater, Capela Quartet
Recordings: Strauss SP 4356 1990.
1958 – Mérope Opera in 3 Acts, on a play by Almeida Garrett
Soprano, Tenor, Bass, 3 Baritons, Choir and Orchestra - 95'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1959, S. Carlos Theater, conducted by the author.
1960 – Viola Concerto "To François Broos"
2,2,2,2 4,3,3,1 Tp. Perc. 3, H., strings - 28' 30"
Premiere: Lisbon 1960, National Radio Symphony Orchestra; François Broos, viola; conducted by the author.
Recordings: Strauss SP870008/PS, 1989.
1960 – Divertimento I "To Virgilio Mortari"
2,2,2,2 2,2 Tp. Perc. 2, strings, 24'
Premiere: Naples 1961, Orchestra Scarlatti della R.A.I., conducted by the author
Recordings: Strauss 870017/PS, 1989
Marco Polo 8.225271, 2004.
1962 – Three Symphonic Sketches "To Silva Pereira"
3,2,2,2 4,3,3,1-Tp. Perc. 4, Celesta, strings - 11'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1962, National Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Silva Pereira conductor
Donemus Prize 1963
Recordings: Strauss SP4053/PS, 1989.
1963 – Sinfonietta for Strings Orchestra, 18'
"To Álvaro Cassuto and the Gulbenkian Orchestra"
Premiere: Lisbon 1963, Gulbenkian Orchestra, Álvaro Cassuto conductor
Recordings: Strauss CD870017/PS, 1986
Koch - Shwaan 3-1510-2, 1994
Marco Polo 8.225186, 2002.
1964 – Requiem "In memoriam of Pedro de Freitas Branco"
3 Sopranos, 1 Mezzo, Tenor, Bariton, Bass, Choir
4,4,5,4 4,4,3,1 Tp., Perc. Sistro, celesta, H.3, strings - 35'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1964, Gulbenkian Festival, Gulbenkian Orchestra and Choir, António de Almeida, conductor.
1966 – Symphony No. 5 op.39 -"virtus lusitaniae"
4,4,5,4 6,4,3,1 Tp. 2, Perc. 9, Piano, Celesta, H. 2, strings - 31'
Premiere: Lisbon 1966, National Radio Orchestra, conducted by the author
Distinguished by the Tribune International des Compositeurs
(UNESCO) -1968.
Recordings: Strauss SP4043 1968; CD issue 1989
Marco Polo 8.223879, 1997.
1967 – Variations for Orchestra "To Adrian Sunshine"
Strings Orchestra, Harp, 2 Violins, Viola, Cello 16'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1967, Gulbenkian Festival. Gulbenkian Orchestra
Adrian Sunshine conductor.
1967 – Encruzilhada (Crossings) - Ballet
2,2,2,2 2,2, Tp. Perc. 2, M., strings 30'
Premiere: Lisbon 1968, Gulbenkian Ballet
Recordings: Marco Polo 8.225216, 2001.
1968 – Violin and Cello Concerto Strings Orchestra and Harp - 18'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1970, National Radio Symphony Orchestra
Fritz Rieger, conductor
Soloists: Leonor Prado (violin), Madalena Sá e Costa (cello)
Recordings: Marco Polo 8.225186, 2002.
1970 – Trilogia das Barcas Opera based on three plays by Gil Vicente
“To my Daughters”
20 parts (singers and actors) double choir, orchestra and sound recording 120'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1970, Gulbenkian Festival
Nicola Rossi-Lemeni, Maria Oran, Carmen Gonzales, Hugo Casais,
Alvaro Malta, Ana Lagoa.
Gulbenkian Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Gianfranco Rivoli.
1972 – Symphony No. 6 “To my Daughter Maria da Piedade”
Soprano solo, Choir 3,3,4,3 4,4,3,1-Tp. Perc. 4, Celesta, H. 2, strings 28'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1972, Tivoli Theatre, National Radio Symphony Orchestra, S. Carlos Theatre Choir, soloist soprano Elsa Saque, Álvaro Cassuto conductor.
Recordings: Marco Polo 8.225087, 1997.
1973 – Piano Concerto
3,3,2,2 4,3,3,1 Tp. Perc.3, cordas 24'
Premiere: Lisbon 1974, National Radio Symphony Orchestra; soloist, Helena de Sá e Costa, Silva Pereira conductor.
1974 – Choral compositions on Classic Castilian Poems – "A Capella" Choir
Premiere: Avila Festival, Spain 1974. Iglesia del Salvador, Gulbenkian Choir.
1975 – 2 Motets – “A Capella” Choir 6' 30"
Premiere: Cuenca Festival 1976. Iglesia de San Miguel, Gulbenkian Choir.
1977 – Aria II – Cello and Piano 6' “To Luisa de Vasconcelos"
Premiere: Madrid 1977, Luísa de Vasconcelos, soloist.
1978 – Divertimento II – String Orchestra 14'
Premiere: Lisbon 1978, Gulbenkian Orchestra, Gustav Kuhn conductor
Recordings: Koch Shwann 3-1510-2, 1994
Marco Polo 8.225271, 2004.
1982 – Cantares Gallegos for Soprano e Orchestra on poems by Rosalía de Castro
“To Maria Oran”.
1984 – Aria a Tre con variazioni for Clarinet, Viola and Piano
Premiere: Lisbon 1984, Goethe Institut, Diogo Pais (clarinet), Leonor Braga Santos (viola) and António Chagas Rosa (piano).
1984 – Dance Suite Piano, Viola, Oboé and Bass
Premiere: Lisbon 1986, Opus Ensemble
Recordings: EMI Valentim de Carvalho – EMI 7496622, 1988, Opus Ensemble.
1985 – Trio for Piano, Violin e Cello - “To the Mirecourt Trio”
Premiere: Lisbon 1986, by the Mirecourt Trio.
1985 – Suite for wind instruments
Premiere: Lisbon, 1985, Lisbon Wind Ensemble.
Recordings: Numérica, Lisbon, 1997. Lisbon Soloists.
Deux Elles Limited, 2003 DXL 1084, The Galliard Ensemble.
1986 – Sextet - To Alberto Lysy
2 Violins, 2 Violas, 2 Cellos
Premiere (original score): Lisbon, 1989
Strings Orchestra score,1986.
Premiere: 1986, Algarve Festival, Gulbenkian Orchestra.
1987 – Cello Concerto - 2,2,2,2 - 2,2 - 1,2 - strings
Premiere: Lisbon 1987, Gulbenkian Orchestra, Clélia Vital soloist
Recordings: Marco Polo 8.225271, 2004.
1988 – Aquella Tarde on a dramatic poem by António Machado.
Soprano or tenor and orchestral ensemble.
Premiere: Lisbon, 1988 - Gulbenkian Encounters of Contemporary Music, by the Contemporary Music Group, conducted by Jorge Peixinho.
1988 – Staccato Brilhante – “To The New Phylarmonic Orchestra”
Premiere: Lisbon 1988, The New Phylarmonic Orchestra, conducted by Álvaro Cassuto.
1988 – Improviso for clarinet and piano.
Premiere: Naples, Italy 1988; António Saiote, clarinet
Last composition.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
composer and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, who was born and died in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
. He wrote six symphonies
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
.
Biography
José Manuel Joly Braga Santos was born in LisbonLisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
in 1924 and died in this city in 1988, at the peak of his musical creativity. Having studied violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and composition
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
at the National Conservatoire of Lisbon, he became a disciple of Luís de Freitas Branco
Luís de Freitas Branco
Luís Maria da Costa de Freitas Branco was a Portuguese composer and professor of music who played a preeminent part in the development of Portuguese music in the first half of the 20th century....
(1890–1955), the leading Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of the preceding generation.
After the Second World War, he was able to go abroad, having studied conducting with Hermann Scherchen
Hermann Scherchen
Hermann Scherchen was a German conductor.-Life:Scherchen was originally a violist and played among the violas of the Bluthner Orchestra of Berlin while still in his teens...
and Antonino Votto, and composition with Virgilio Mortari. He was undoubtedly the leading Portuguese symphonist of the 20th century, and perhaps of all time. Apart from an innate sense of orchestration
Orchestration
Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra or of adapting for orchestra music composed for another medium...
, his musical language is based on a strong musical architecture as well as drama, with long melodic phrases and a natural instinct for structural development. In his own words, he wanted “to contribute toward a Latin symphonism and to react against the predominant tendency, of the generation that preceded me, to reject monumentalism in music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
”.
In his first works, the composer showed a modal
Musical mode
In the theory of Western music since the ninth century, mode generally refers to a type of scale. This usage, still the most common in recent years, reflects a tradition dating to the middle ages, itself inspired by the theory of ancient Greek music.The word encompasses several additional...
tendency motivated by the desire to establish a connection between contemporary music and the golden age of Portuguese music: the Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
. We also find a melodic outline of the oldest folk songs of his country. Although he was not particularly interested in the Portuguese folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
, studying and composing at the country home of his mentor, in the rural south of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
- the Alentejo - he naturally accepted the influence of the very old local folklore that he considered "of mesmerizing originality and grandeur".
The first four symphonies, which followed each other quite rapidly (between the ages of 22 and 27), were immediately performed by the Portuguese Radio Symphony Orchestra in Lisbon, and met with great success. The conductor and founder of the Portuguese Radio Symphony Orchestra was the great Portuguese conductor Pedro de Freitas Branco, a friend of Maurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel
Joseph-Maurice Ravel was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects...
, Manuel de Falla
Manuel de Falla
Manuel de Falla y Matheu was a Spanish Andalusian composer of classical music. With Isaac Albéniz, Enrique Granados and Joaquín Turina he is one of Spain's most important musicians of the first half of the 20th century....
, and former director of the Orchestre Lamoureux. Pedro de Freitas Branco early recognised his brother’s pupil’s talent and launched Joly Braga Santos's international career during the fifties, conducting several international premieres of his works around Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Other works of this period are the Concerto for Strings, Variations on an Alentejo Theme, and three Symphonic Overtures. Most of the works were recorded, from the seventies onwards, by the Portuguese label Strauss SP, and more recently, by the Naxos / Marco Polo label.
Following closely the works of post-war European composers, his style became, from 1960 onwards, more chromatic
Chromatic scale
The chromatic scale is a musical scale with twelve pitches, each a semitone apart. On a modern piano or other equal-tempered instrument, all the half steps are the same size...
. The period of travel and the time he devoted to conducting provided him with what he described as a useful period of rest, decisive for the evolution of his musical style toward increased chromaticism
Chromaticism
Chromaticism is a compositional technique interspersing the primary diatonic pitches and chords with other pitches of the chromatic scale. Chromaticism is in contrast or addition to tonality or diatonicism...
and less traditional form. To this period belong the works Three Symphonic Sketches, Sinfonietta, the Requiem, his 5th and 6th Symphonies, and Divertimento no. 2.
Joly Braga Santos also wrote three operas, chamber music for a wide variety of instruments and ensembles, film scores, and several choral works based on poems from the great classical and modern Portuguese and Spanish poets such as Camões, Antero de Quental, Teixeira de Pascoaes, Fernando Pessoa, Garcilaso de la Vega, António Machado and Rosalía de Castro.
Joly Braga Santos lectured on composition at the National Conservatoire of Lisbon, where he introduced the chair of Musical Analysis. He was also director of the Oporto Symphony Orchestra and one of the founders of the Juventude Musical Portuguesa (Portuguese Musical Youth). As a critic and journalist he produced a vast range of work for several Portuguese and foreign newspapers and journals.
He died in Lisbon, of a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
.
Awards
The Three Symphonic Sketches (1962) were distinguished by Donemus in 1963, and the 5th Symphony, by the «Tribune Internationale des Compositeurs» (UNESCO) in 1966.In 2004, the recording of the Symphony No. 4 by Naxos/Marco Polo, performed by the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland and conducted by Álvaro Cassuto received the Cannes Classical Award for the CD Premier category.
Honors
In 1977, Joly Braga Santos was distinguished with the Order of Santiago de EspadaOrder of Santiago
The Order of Santiago was founded in the 12th century, and owes its name to the national patron of Galicia and Spain, Santiago , under whose banner the Christians of Galicia and Asturias began in the 9th century to combat and drive back the Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula.-History:Santiago de...
by President of the Republic of Portugal.
Selected works
1942 – Nocturne (in E) Violin and Piano 4'Premiere: Lisbon, 1942
Soloists: Silva Pereira (violin) and João de Freitas Branco (piano).
1943 – Four Songs on poems by Fernando Pessoa
Soprano voice and piano
Premiere: Lisbon 1946.
International premiere: Dublin 2004.
1943 – Aria I Cello and Piano 4'
Premiere: Oporto, 1943
Soloists: Madalena Sá e Costa and Helena Sá e Costa.
1944 – Siciliana Piano 2'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1944
Published by Valentim de Carvalho S.A.R.L. (out of print).
1945 – Three Sonnets by Camões - "To Carmélia Âmbar"
Original score for Mezzo-Soprano or Baritone and Piano
Score for Mezzo-Soprano or Baritone and Orchestra
Premiere: Lisbon, 1970, Lisbon Phylarmonic Orchestra, Helena Cláudio, soloist, Joly Braga Santos, conductor.
1945 – String Quartet I (in D m) - "To Luís de Freitas Branco"
2 violins, viola e cello, 30'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1945. Soloists: l. Gomes, J. Nogueira, F. Caldeira, C. Figueiredo
Recordings: Strauss SP 4356 1990.
1945 – Acordando Sonnet by Antero de Quental - “To Carmélia Âmbar”
Mezzo soprano and Orchestra
Premiere: (with piano) Lisbon, 1953.
1946 – Symphonic Overture No. 1 "To Pedro de Freitas Branco"
3,3,3,3 4,3,3,3, Tp. Perc. 2, strings 7'
Premiere: Lisbon 1946, National Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Pedro de Freitas Branco, conductor.
1947 – Symphony No. 1 (in D) - "To the Heroes and Martyrs of the last World War"
3,3,3,3 4,3,3,1 – Tp., Perc. 2, strings 40'
Premiere: Lisbon 1947, National Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Pedro Freitas Branco, conductor
Recordings: Strauss SP 4112 of live concerto 1960 - CD issue 1996
Strauss SP4048 1989
Marco Polo 8.223879 1997.
1947 – Symphonic Overture No. 2 (in E)
3,3,3,3 4,4,3,1 Tp. Perc.3, strings 15'
Premiere: Lisbon 1947, National Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Pedro de Freitas Branco, conductor.
1947 – Nocturne for Strings (in B minor) - Strings Orchestra and viola 7'
Premiere: Lisbon 1947, National Radio Strings Orchestra
Pedro de Freitas Branco, conductor
Recordings: Marco Polo 8.225271, 2004.
1948 – Symphony No. 2 (in B minor) 3,3,2,2 4,3,3,1 Tp. 2, Perc. 1, strings. 60'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1948, National Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Pedro de Freitas Branco
International Premieres:
Paris, 1948, Orch. Radiodifusion Française,
Pedro de Freitas Branco conductor.
Rome, 1959 Orchestra della R.A.I., Frederico de Freitas
Frederico de Freitas
Frederico de Freitas was a Portuguese composer, conductor, musicologist, and pedagogue. He composed in many genres.-Reference:*...
, conductor
Recordings: Marco Polo 8.225216, 2001.
1948 – Elegy to Vianna da Motta 3,3,3,3 - 4,3,3,1 Tp., Drum, strings 9'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1949, National Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Pedro de Freitas Branco, conductor
Recordings: Strauss SP4053, 1989
Koch-Shwaan 3-1510-2, 1994.
1949 – Symphony No. 3 (in C M) "To Luis de Freitas Branco"
2,2,2,2 4,3,3,1 Tp., Perc.4, H. 2, strings 37'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1949, National Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Pedro de Freitas Branco, conductor
Recordings: Strauss SP8770022 1986
Marco Polo 8.225087 1997.
1950 – Symphony No. 4 (in E m) " To the Portuguese Musical Youth"
3,3,3,3 - 4,4,3,1 Tp., Perc.4, H., strings - 50'
Premiere: Lisbon 1951, National Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Joly Braga Santos, conductor
Score for Orchestra and Choir, 1968
Premiere: National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Gulbenkian Choir,
Silva Pereira conductor, 1968
Recordings: Strauss SP4059, 1989
Marco Polo 8.225233, 2003.
1951 – Concerto for Strings in D - "To the Chamber Music Academy"
Strings Orchestra 18'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1951, Chamber Music Academy
Recordings: Strauss SP 870017/PS, 1986
Koch Schwann 3-1510-2, 1994
Marco Polo 8.225186, 2002.
1951 – Variations on an Alentejo Theme "To Pedro de Freitas Branco"
3,3,3,3 4,4,3,1 Tp., Perc. 4, H.2, strings - 14'
Premiere: Bordeaux 1953, Orchestre Phylarmonique de Bordeaux
Pedro de Freitas Branco conductor
Recordings: Strauss SP4053, 1989
Marco Polo 8.225233, 2003.
1954 – Symphonic Overture No. 3 "To Elisa de Sousa Pedroso"
2,2,2,2 4,2,3,1, Tp., Perc.3, H., strings 13'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1954, National Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Pedro de Freitas Branco, conductor
Recordings: Strauss SP4048, 1989.
1957 – Quartet with piano piano, violin, viola and cello 18' "To the Lisbon Quartet"
Premiere: Würtzburg 1957, Residenz Hall, by the Lisbon Quartet.
1957 – String Quartet II 2 violins, viola and cello 30'
Premiere: 1989, S. Carlos Theater, Capela Quartet
Recordings: Strauss SP 4356 1990.
1958 – Mérope Opera in 3 Acts, on a play by Almeida Garrett
Soprano, Tenor, Bass, 3 Baritons, Choir and Orchestra - 95'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1959, S. Carlos Theater, conducted by the author.
1960 – Viola Concerto "To François Broos"
2,2,2,2 4,3,3,1 Tp. Perc. 3, H., strings - 28' 30"
Premiere: Lisbon 1960, National Radio Symphony Orchestra; François Broos, viola; conducted by the author.
Recordings: Strauss SP870008/PS, 1989.
1960 – Divertimento I "To Virgilio Mortari"
2,2,2,2 2,2 Tp. Perc. 2, strings, 24'
Premiere: Naples 1961, Orchestra Scarlatti della R.A.I., conducted by the author
Recordings: Strauss 870017/PS, 1989
Marco Polo 8.225271, 2004.
1962 – Three Symphonic Sketches "To Silva Pereira"
3,2,2,2 4,3,3,1-Tp. Perc. 4, Celesta, strings - 11'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1962, National Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Silva Pereira conductor
Donemus Prize 1963
Recordings: Strauss SP4053/PS, 1989.
1963 – Sinfonietta for Strings Orchestra, 18'
"To Álvaro Cassuto and the Gulbenkian Orchestra"
Premiere: Lisbon 1963, Gulbenkian Orchestra, Álvaro Cassuto conductor
Recordings: Strauss CD870017/PS, 1986
Koch - Shwaan 3-1510-2, 1994
Marco Polo 8.225186, 2002.
1964 – Requiem "In memoriam of Pedro de Freitas Branco"
3 Sopranos, 1 Mezzo, Tenor, Bariton, Bass, Choir
4,4,5,4 4,4,3,1 Tp., Perc. Sistro, celesta, H.3, strings - 35'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1964, Gulbenkian Festival, Gulbenkian Orchestra and Choir, António de Almeida, conductor.
1966 – Symphony No. 5 op.39 -"virtus lusitaniae"
4,4,5,4 6,4,3,1 Tp. 2, Perc. 9, Piano, Celesta, H. 2, strings - 31'
Premiere: Lisbon 1966, National Radio Orchestra, conducted by the author
Distinguished by the Tribune International des Compositeurs
(UNESCO) -1968.
Recordings: Strauss SP4043 1968; CD issue 1989
Marco Polo 8.223879, 1997.
1967 – Variations for Orchestra "To Adrian Sunshine"
Strings Orchestra, Harp, 2 Violins, Viola, Cello 16'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1967, Gulbenkian Festival. Gulbenkian Orchestra
Adrian Sunshine conductor.
1967 – Encruzilhada (Crossings) - Ballet
2,2,2,2 2,2, Tp. Perc. 2, M., strings 30'
Premiere: Lisbon 1968, Gulbenkian Ballet
Recordings: Marco Polo 8.225216, 2001.
1968 – Violin and Cello Concerto Strings Orchestra and Harp - 18'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1970, National Radio Symphony Orchestra
Fritz Rieger, conductor
Soloists: Leonor Prado (violin), Madalena Sá e Costa (cello)
Recordings: Marco Polo 8.225186, 2002.
1970 – Trilogia das Barcas Opera based on three plays by Gil Vicente
“To my Daughters”
20 parts (singers and actors) double choir, orchestra and sound recording 120'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1970, Gulbenkian Festival
Nicola Rossi-Lemeni, Maria Oran, Carmen Gonzales, Hugo Casais,
Alvaro Malta, Ana Lagoa.
Gulbenkian Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Gianfranco Rivoli.
1972 – Symphony No. 6 “To my Daughter Maria da Piedade”
Soprano solo, Choir 3,3,4,3 4,4,3,1-Tp. Perc. 4, Celesta, H. 2, strings 28'
Premiere: Lisbon, 1972, Tivoli Theatre, National Radio Symphony Orchestra, S. Carlos Theatre Choir, soloist soprano Elsa Saque, Álvaro Cassuto conductor.
Recordings: Marco Polo 8.225087, 1997.
1973 – Piano Concerto
3,3,2,2 4,3,3,1 Tp. Perc.3, cordas 24'
Premiere: Lisbon 1974, National Radio Symphony Orchestra; soloist, Helena de Sá e Costa, Silva Pereira conductor.
1974 – Choral compositions on Classic Castilian Poems – "A Capella" Choir
Premiere: Avila Festival, Spain 1974. Iglesia del Salvador, Gulbenkian Choir.
1975 – 2 Motets – “A Capella” Choir 6' 30"
Premiere: Cuenca Festival 1976. Iglesia de San Miguel, Gulbenkian Choir.
1977 – Aria II – Cello and Piano 6' “To Luisa de Vasconcelos"
Premiere: Madrid 1977, Luísa de Vasconcelos, soloist.
1978 – Divertimento II – String Orchestra 14'
Premiere: Lisbon 1978, Gulbenkian Orchestra, Gustav Kuhn conductor
Recordings: Koch Shwann 3-1510-2, 1994
Marco Polo 8.225271, 2004.
1982 – Cantares Gallegos for Soprano e Orchestra on poems by Rosalía de Castro
“To Maria Oran”.
1984 – Aria a Tre con variazioni for Clarinet, Viola and Piano
Premiere: Lisbon 1984, Goethe Institut, Diogo Pais (clarinet), Leonor Braga Santos (viola) and António Chagas Rosa (piano).
1984 – Dance Suite Piano, Viola, Oboé and Bass
Premiere: Lisbon 1986, Opus Ensemble
Recordings: EMI Valentim de Carvalho – EMI 7496622, 1988, Opus Ensemble.
1985 – Trio for Piano, Violin e Cello - “To the Mirecourt Trio”
Premiere: Lisbon 1986, by the Mirecourt Trio.
1985 – Suite for wind instruments
Premiere: Lisbon, 1985, Lisbon Wind Ensemble.
Recordings: Numérica, Lisbon, 1997. Lisbon Soloists.
Deux Elles Limited, 2003 DXL 1084, The Galliard Ensemble.
1986 – Sextet - To Alberto Lysy
2 Violins, 2 Violas, 2 Cellos
Premiere (original score): Lisbon, 1989
Strings Orchestra score,1986.
Premiere: 1986, Algarve Festival, Gulbenkian Orchestra.
1987 – Cello Concerto - 2,2,2,2 - 2,2 - 1,2 - strings
Premiere: Lisbon 1987, Gulbenkian Orchestra, Clélia Vital soloist
Recordings: Marco Polo 8.225271, 2004.
1988 – Aquella Tarde on a dramatic poem by António Machado.
Soprano or tenor and orchestral ensemble.
Premiere: Lisbon, 1988 - Gulbenkian Encounters of Contemporary Music, by the Contemporary Music Group, conducted by Jorge Peixinho.
1988 – Staccato Brilhante – “To The New Phylarmonic Orchestra”
Premiere: Lisbon 1988, The New Phylarmonic Orchestra, conducted by Álvaro Cassuto.
1988 – Improviso for clarinet and piano.
Premiere: Naples, Italy 1988; António Saiote, clarinet
Last composition.