Luís de Freitas Branco
Encyclopedia
Luís Maria da Costa de Freitas Branco (Lisbon
, 12 October 1890 – Lisbon, 27 November 1955) 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.
Luis de Freitas Branco was born into an aristocratic family who for centuries had had close ties to the royal family in Portugal. He had a cosmopolitan education, studied piano
and violin
beginning in childhood and began composing at a precocious age. He studied music in Berlin and Paris, where he worked with Engelbert Humperdinck
and other composers. He returned to Portugal and became professor
of composition starting in 1916 at the Lisbon Conservatory of Music. There he taught, among many others, Joly Braga Santos
.
Freitas Branco was a leading force in restructuring musical education at the Conservatory. He was also a musicologist of note, did research on Portuguese Baroque
composers and published a book about the musical works of King John IV of Portugal
(1603–1656) who had been an accomplished composer and introduced new music to Portugal.
He was the brother of the Portuguese conductor Pedro de Freitas Branco.
He married Estela Diniz de Ávila e Sousa, born on 18 August 1892, daughter of João Deodato de Ávila e Sousa (b. São Jorge Island, Velas
, Velas, 10 November 1861) and wife Margarida Diniz, without issue.
He had an illegitimate son by Maria Clara Dambert Filgueiras, of French
descent:
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...
, 12 October 1890 – Lisbon, 27 November 1955) was a 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...
and professor of music who played a preeminent part in the development of Portuguese music in the first half of the 20th century.
Luis de Freitas Branco was born into an aristocratic family who for centuries had had close ties to the royal family in Portugal. He had a cosmopolitan education, studied piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and 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....
beginning in childhood and began composing at a precocious age. He studied music in Berlin and Paris, where he worked with Engelbert Humperdinck
Engelbert Humperdinck
Engelbert Humperdinck was a German composer, best known for his opera, Hänsel und Gretel. Humperdinck was born at Siegburg in the Rhine Province; at the age of 67 he died in Neustrelitz, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.-Life:After receiving piano lessons, Humperdinck produced his first composition...
and other composers. He returned to Portugal and became professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of composition starting in 1916 at the Lisbon Conservatory of Music. There he taught, among many others, Joly Braga Santos
Joly Braga Santos
José Manuel Joly Braga Santos, ComSE was a Portuguese composer and conductor, who was born and died in Lisbon. He wrote six symphonies.-Biography:...
.
Freitas Branco was a leading force in restructuring musical education at the Conservatory. He was also a musicologist of note, did research on Portuguese Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
composers and published a book about the musical works of King John IV of Portugal
John IV of Portugal
|-|John IV was the King of Portugal and the Algarves from 1640 to his death. He was the grandson of Catherine, Duchess of Braganza, who had in 1580 claimed the Portuguese crown and sparked the struggle for the throne of Portugal. John was nicknamed John the Restorer...
(1603–1656) who had been an accomplished composer and introduced new music to Portugal.
He was the brother of the Portuguese conductor Pedro de Freitas Branco.
He married Estela Diniz de Ávila e Sousa, born on 18 August 1892, daughter of João Deodato de Ávila e Sousa (b. São Jorge Island, Velas
Velas
Velas is a municipality in the São Jorge Island, in the Portuguese autonomous region of Azores. The municipality encompasses the western portion of the island, with its municipal seat in the town of Velas on the south coast and divided into six parishes....
, Velas, 10 November 1861) and wife Margarida Diniz, without issue.
He had an illegitimate son by Maria Clara Dambert Filgueiras, of French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
descent:
- João de Freitas Branco (LisbonLisbonLisbon 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...
, 10 January 1922 – LisbonLisbonLisbon 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...
, Caxias, 17 November 1989), married firstly to Maria Helena von Hoffmann de Barros de Abreu, daughter of António de Barros de Abreu, a lawyerLawyerA lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, and wife GermanGermansThe Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
Marie Anna Helena von Hoffmann, and had issue, three children, and married secondly in 1954 to Maria Isabel do Nascimento, and had issue, one son.
Works
- Symphony No. 1 (1924)
- Symphony No. 2 (1926)
- Symphony No. 3 (1944)
- Symphony No. 4 (1952)
- Scherzo Fantastique (1907)
- Antero de QuentalAntero de QuentalAntero Tarquínio de Quental , old spelling Anthero, , a Portuguese poet, philosopher and writer, whose works became a milestone in the Portuguese language, alongside those of Camões or Bocage....
- symphonic poem (1908) - Paraísos Artificiais (Artificial Paradises) - symphonic poem (1910)
- Tentações de S. Frei Gil (St. Friar Gil's Temptations) (1911)
- Vathek (1913)
- Violin Concerto (1916)
- Alentejo Suite No. 1 (1919)
- Alentejo Suite No. 2 (1927)
- Solemnia Verba - symphonic poem (1951)
Selected discography
- Madrigais Camonianos. Three series with total 28 madrigals on texts by Luís de CamõesLuís de CamõesLuís Vaz de Camões is considered Portugal's and the Portuguese language's greatest poet. His mastery of verse has been compared to that of Shakespeare, Vondel, Homer, Virgil and Dante. He wrote a considerable amount of lyrical poetry and drama but is best remembered for his epic work Os Lusíadas...
. Coro Gulbenkian, dir. Fernando Eldoro. PortugalSom PS 5010, 2008.
Links and sources
- Short biography on the Naxos site
- Bio, Audio Samples, Catalogue