Joly Braga Santos
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Joly Braga Santos (May 14, 1924-July 18. 1988) was a Portuguese composer, who was born and died in Lisbon. He wrote six symphonies.
Santos was born in Lisbon 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 Luis de Freitas Branco (1890-1955), the leading Portuguese composer of the preceding generation. After the war, he was able to go abroad, having studied conducting with Hermann Sherchen (Venice, 1948; Lugano, 1958) and Antonino Votto, and composition with Virgilio Mortari (Rome 1957-1961). Although he composed only six symphonies, he was undoubtedly the leading Portuguese symphonist of the 20th century and, in a way, 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. It reaches a perfect formal coherence. 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 period 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 followed each other quite rapidly (between the age 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 maestro 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 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 composition at the National Conservatoire of Lisbon, were he introduced the chair of Musical Analysis. He was also director of the Oporto Symphony Orchestra and one of the founders of the Portuguese Musical Youth. As a critic and journalist he produced a vast range of work for several Portuguese and foreign newspapers and journals.
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 conducted by Álvaro Cassuto received de Cannes Classical Award for the CD Premier category.
References
Groves Dictionary © , Who’s Who in Music © , Marquis Who’s Who © , Dictionnaire de La Musique © (Marc Honnegger), The World of Twentieth-Century Music © , Wikipedia, etc.
Honours
In 1977 Joly Braga Santos was distinguished with the Order of Santiago de Espada by President of the Republic of Portugal.
Major 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 Second 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 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, 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 Castillian 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 for Clarinet, Viola and Piano Premiere: Lisbon 1984, Goethe Institut.
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 Gallliard 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
Discography
- Symphony 3 (http://www.musicweb.uk.net/classrev/2000/apr00/santos.htm)
- Concerto for Strings, Sinfonietta, Variationes Concertantes, Concerto for violin, cello, strings and harp (http://www.musicweb.uk.net/classrev/2002/Aug02/santos_strings.htm)
- Symphony 4 (http://www.instituto-camoes.pt/cvc/disco/50/joly.html)
External link
- Joly Braga Santos (http://www.terravista.pt/Meco/2672/english/composers/joly.html)pt:Joly Braga Santos