Monographic CD by Agustín Charles on Stradivarius

Posted by Marcel Soleda on September 30, 2008  |  Leave a comment

“Listening to the music of Agustín Charles one perceives the personality filled with fantasy and vitality of someone who writes and listens with authenticity, with intensity.”

These words from Nacho de Paz might encapsulate the spirit of Agustí Charles‘ music now available on this monographic CD from the Stradivarius label, performed by the Community of Madrid Orchestra conducted by director José Ramón Encinar.

The works included on the CD are Seven Looks for Orchestra (2003, inspired in the poetry of García Lorca and winner of the AEOS composition prize), Concertino for Clarinet and Chamber Group (2006, with the brilliant solo work of Salvador Salvador) and Concerto for Orchestra (2004).

Nosaltres, els grallers

Posted by Marcel Soleda on September 9, 2008  |  Leave a comment

In 1996 the Escola de Grallers (school of gralla players) in Sitges published a monumental book on the history of gralla players in Catalonia, titled “Nosaltres, els grallers”. For a long time this book was very difficult to obtain, only being available in a few shops around the town of Sitges.

“Nosaltres, els grallers” is an excellent compilation of data on the history of gralla players in Catalonia, from their origins up to the 1970s.

The book classifies the musicians by counties and towns, and contains a brilliant introductory chapter on the history of the gralla as an instrument and a magnificent prologue by Vilanova gralla-maker Xavier Orriols. And, for the moment, this publication is the sole existing published reference work on the world of the gralla.

The book, with over 500 pages, is published in hardback and the price is €35.

For further information…

Música per a orgue, by Robert de la Riba

Posted by Marcel Soleda on September 4, 2008  |  Leave a comment

A new eight-volume edition of “Música per a orgue”, the complete organ works by Father Robert de la Riba, has just been published. This edition offers organists and scholars Robert de la Riba’s invaluable contribution to the 20th century repertoire of organ music.

His enormous sensitivity prompted him to explore the optimum registration for each work within the specific tonal context of each instrument, i.e., in benefit of the expression – in the presence or alternation of the themes – without him allowing himself to be influenced by the fashion for tonal neutrality propounded in the reinterpretations of ancient music that appeared in the second half of the 20th century.

The eight-volume set of music for organ by the composer from Tarragona constitutes an essential contribution to the organ repertoire of the 20th century. The revision has been carried out by Josep Maria Gregori using the original manuscripts conserved in the Fondo Robert de la Riba in the Musical Archive of the Capuchin friars in Sarriá in Barcelona (photo of the organ).

Download a sample…

Preludis i fugues

Variacions

Further information and samples at www.trito.es

Suite brevíssima, by Manuel Valls

Posted by Marcel Soleda on July 29, 2008  |  Leave a comment

In our desire to provide a platform for unpublished works by Catalan composers, Tritó releases an interesting short piece by Manuel Valls i Gorina (1920-1984), a composer and music critic who worked often in radio and other mass media.

In this Suite brevíssima. Variacions radiofòniques sobre “El cant dels ocells”, the composer takes the popular Catalan melody to build a suite with four contrasting variations. It appears that the work, of which the exact date of composition is unknown, was intended as incidental music for a radio programme in the 1970s.

Download a sample…

Suite brevíssima

Sonata No.2

Posted by Marcel Soleda on July 29, 2008  |  Leave a comment

The pianist and composer Manuel Garcia Morante is known for his interpretations of Catalan and Spanish lied, especially for his edition of Enric Granados’ songs.

Garcia Morante’s newest score for Tritó is Sonata No. 2 for guitar. The piece was premiered by the by the well-known Barcelona guitarist Àlex Garrobé on 17 July 2007 at the 10th Villa de Petrer International Guitar Week.

Download a sample…

Sonata núm.2

ARRELS / STRING QUARTET No. 1

Posted by Marcel Soleda on July 24, 2008  |  Leave a comment

Tritó has just released two works by Joan Guinjoan, the fantasia for cobla Arrels (roots) and String Quartet No. 1. The two formations, cobla and string quartet, represent new ground in Guijoan’s prolific career.

Structured in three movements, Arrels evokes musical moments with deep ties to the composer’s childhood. Quartet de corda núm. 1 is a complex work of vast instrumental brilliance, with the demanding character typical of Guinjoan’s oeuvre.

Download a sample…

Arrels Cuarteto de Cuerda nº1

New release by Jesús Rueda: Second Quartet

Posted by Marcel Soleda on June 26, 2008  |  Leave a comment

Tritó announces the addition to its catalogue of a new work by the Madrid composer Jesús Rueda, winner of the 2004 National Music Prize and one of the most singular figures in Spanish contemporary music: Quartet No. 2 “Desde las sombras” (TR168). Dedicated to the Casals Quartet, who premiered the work in Valladolid on 15 April, 2003, it is conceived of as a continuation of Haydn’s “Seven Last Words”.

The three acts of the quartet evoke Christ’s life in the next world, which appears in apocryphal writings, based on texts from The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Odyssey and The Aeneid, although in this case the key character in the work is secondary and only gains significance once known, as additional information. In the words of Domingo del Campo it is a work that “accentuates the introspective nature, and its language, stripped of experimental resources, is austere and essentialized.”

The recording is by the prestigious Arditti Quartet, on Sello Autor, and on sale at www.trito.es

75 Conductors from around the world gather for the 9th Cadaqués Orchestra international conducting competition

Posted by Marcel Soleda on May 21, 2008  |  Leave a comment

FIVE DAYS OF MUSIC OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE COMPETITION LIVE?

DO YOU WANT TO ATTEND THE FINAL CONCERT?

From 2 to 7 June, the auditoriums of Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Girona and Barcelona open their doors to the public for the successive rounds and final concert of the 9th Cadaqués Orchestra International Conducting Competition.

75 CONDUCTORS COMPETE

Organized by the Cadaqués Orchestra, 75 conductors from 46 countries worldwide demonstrate their technical, artistic and communication skills with the Cadaqués Orchestra before the jury and audiences, with works by classical and contemporary composers: A. Schönberg, W.A. Mozart, I. Albéniz, J. Rueda, X. Montsalvatge, A. Guinovart, J. Haydn, S. Prokofiev, J.C. Arriaga, Rimski-Korsakov, G. Rossini and David del Puerto.

The winner will walk away with a prize of 6,000 euros and a tour with 31 Spanish and international orchestras.

The international jury is presided by Russian maestro Gennady Rozdhestvensky. The other members of the jury are: Lutz Köhler, conductor and president of the jury of the Munich International Music Competition; Alejandro Posada, principal conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of Castile and Leon and the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia; John Neschling, conductor of the Sao Paulo State Symphony Orchestra; Cornelia Schmid, president of the Konzertscmid Hannover; and the Cadaqués Orchestra.

COMMITMENT TO THE MUSIC OF OUR DAY

The final concert of the competition sees the premiere of a work specially commissioned, in collaboration with the Centro para la Difusión de la Música Contemporánea, to test the young conductors.

The work is Cap quers by the composer David del Puerto, winner of the 2005 Spanish National Music Prize.

Since its founding, the Cadaqués Orchestra International Conducting Competition has grown in prestige, thanks in part to the subsequent careers of some of its most outstanding winners, including Gianandrea Noseda, Vasily Petrenko, Gloria Isabel Ramos, Alejandro Posada and Paul González.

Calendar and invitations

All the qualifying rounds of the competition (at the Auditori de Girona) are open to the public, as will be, for the first time this year, free of charge, the finals at the Sala Oriol Martorell of the Auditori de Barcelona on 7 June at 8 pm.

RESERVE YOUR INVITATION AT THE L’AUDITORI DE BARCELONA TICKET OFFICE. Phone: +34 03 247 93 00

Hèctor Parra at the Earplay Ensemble Season

Posted by Marcel Soleda on May 19, 2008  |  Leave a comment

Trio Wortschatten by Hèctor Parra, winner of the 2007 Earplay Donald Aird Memorial Composition Competition, will be performed by the Earplay Ensemble this 28 May at the San Francisco Arts Festival.

“Trio Wortschatten” for violin, cello and piano was selected from among 169 works from 27 countries by a specialized jury. And in addition to the monetary award, the Earplay Ensemble, one of the most prestigious ensembles in the US, will be including the piece in its programme this season.

Release of Glosa by Jesús Torres

Posted by Marcel Soleda on May 15, 2008  |  Leave a comment

Glosa, for solo cello, is the latest work by Jesús Torres published by Tritó. A measure of worth of the piece, composed in 2004, is perhaps seen in the fact that it has become an essential part of the repertoire of numerous cellists, including: Suzana Stefanovich, who premiered the piece and is its dedicatee; José Miguel Gómez, of the “Arbós Trio“, who first recorded it on CD for the Autor label; and David Apellániz, who will soon be making a new recording of the “Glosa”.

In the international arena, we should note that Pierre Strauch, of the “Ensemble Intercontemporain”, will be performing it at the next Alicante International Music Festival. We hope that with its publication this work with reach all musicians interested in contemporary repertoire and that many more will join the list of its interpreters.