Joaquín Valverde Durán
Encyclopedia
Joaquín Valverde Durán was a Spanish
composer, conductor and flautist
. As a composer he is known for his collaborations
with other composers on zarzuela
s (he has been described as "the collaborative musician par excellence"). He was also the father of Joaquín "Quinito" Valverde Sanjuán
, who achieved greater fame than his father.
in 1846. He studied at the Madrid Conservatory under José Aranguren (harmony), Pedro Sarmiento (flute) and Emilio Arrieta
(composition). He was a brilliant flautist, playing in military bands and theatre orchestras from the age of 13, and winning first prize in flute at the Conservatory in 1867. He won the composition prize in 1870. He wrote two manuals for flautists (1874; La flauta: su historia, su estudia, 1886). Between 1871 and 1889 he was a professional theatre conductor.
His first symphony Batylo was written in 1871. His reputation as a composer was made, however, with a series of zarzuela
s (light opera
s), written in collaboration
with Federico Chueca
. It appears that Chueca provided most of the melodies and Valverde provided the orchestral polish. They worked together on Un maestro de obra prima (1877), La Canción de la Lola (1880), Luces y sombras and Fiesta Nacional (both 1882), Cádiz (1886), El año pasado por agua (1889), and other operas. Their masterpiece was La gran vía (Madrid, 2 July 1886), which was played in Spain, Mexico, Argentina, New York, Vienna, and many other theatres in Europe. It was premiered in London in 1906 as Castles in Spain.
A march from Cádiz (originally a hymn to a general, written in 1868 by Chueca alone) proved enormously popular in Spain, and it competed for popularity with the national anthem among the military. Both Valverde and Chueca were awarded the Military Grand Cross.
Valverde also collaborated with Manuel Fernández Caballero, Julián Romea, Ruperto Chapí
, Arturo Saco del Valle, José Rogel, Tomás Bretón
, Tomás López Torregrosa and José Serrano
(La suerte loca, 1907). Less successful were operas Valverde wrote alone, such as La baraja francesa (1890).
His other works include two symphonies and over 200 other orchestral works.
Joaquín Valverde Durán died in Madrid in 1910. His son "Quinito" Valverde
(Joaquín Valverde Sanjuán) carried on his father's tradition.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
composer, conductor and flautist
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
. As a composer he is known for his collaborations
Classical music written in collaboration
In classical music, it is relatively rare for a work to be written in collaboration by multiple composers. This contrasts with popular music, where it is common for more than one person to contribute to the music for a song...
with other composers on zarzuela
Zarzuela
Zarzuela is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter incorporating operatic and popular song, as well as dance...
s (he has been described as "the collaborative musician par excellence"). He was also the father of Joaquín "Quinito" Valverde Sanjuán
Joaquín Valverde Sanjuán
Joaquín "Quinito" Valverde Sanjuán was a Spanish composer of zarzuelas. He was the son of Joaquín Valverde Durán, also a zarzuela composer, and was usually called Quinito Valverde to distinguish him from his father...
, who achieved greater fame than his father.
Biography
Joaquín Valverde Durán was born in BadajozBadajoz
Badajoz is the capital of the Province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain, situated close to the Portuguese border, on the left bank of the river Guadiana, and the Madrid–Lisbon railway. The population in 2007 was 145,257....
in 1846. He studied at the Madrid Conservatory under José Aranguren (harmony), Pedro Sarmiento (flute) and Emilio Arrieta
Emilio Arrieta
Pascual Juan Emilio Arrieta Corera was a Spanish composer.Arrieta was born in Puente la Reina, Navarre, and died in Madrid...
(composition). He was a brilliant flautist, playing in military bands and theatre orchestras from the age of 13, and winning first prize in flute at the Conservatory in 1867. He won the composition prize in 1870. He wrote two manuals for flautists (1874; La flauta: su historia, su estudia, 1886). Between 1871 and 1889 he was a professional theatre conductor.
His first symphony Batylo was written in 1871. His reputation as a composer was made, however, with a series of zarzuela
Zarzuela
Zarzuela is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter incorporating operatic and popular song, as well as dance...
s (light opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s), written in collaboration
Classical music written in collaboration
In classical music, it is relatively rare for a work to be written in collaboration by multiple composers. This contrasts with popular music, where it is common for more than one person to contribute to the music for a song...
with Federico Chueca
Federico Chueca
Federico Chueca was a Spanish composer of zarzuelas and author of La gran vía along with Joaquín Valverde Durán in 1886. Chueca was one of the most prominent figures of the género chico....
. It appears that Chueca provided most of the melodies and Valverde provided the orchestral polish. They worked together on Un maestro de obra prima (1877), La Canción de la Lola (1880), Luces y sombras and Fiesta Nacional (both 1882), Cádiz (1886), El año pasado por agua (1889), and other operas. Their masterpiece was La gran vía (Madrid, 2 July 1886), which was played in Spain, Mexico, Argentina, New York, Vienna, and many other theatres in Europe. It was premiered in London in 1906 as Castles in Spain.
A march from Cádiz (originally a hymn to a general, written in 1868 by Chueca alone) proved enormously popular in Spain, and it competed for popularity with the national anthem among the military. Both Valverde and Chueca were awarded the Military Grand Cross.
Valverde also collaborated with Manuel Fernández Caballero, Julián Romea, Ruperto Chapí
Ruperto Chapí
Ruperto Chapí y Lorente was a Spanish composer, and co-founder of the Sociedad General de Autores y Editores.Chapí was born at Villena, the son of a Valencian barber. He trained in his home town and Madrid...
, Arturo Saco del Valle, José Rogel, Tomás Bretón
Tomás Bretón
Tomás Bretón was a Spanish musician and composer.-Biography:Tomás Bretón was born in Salamanca.He gained renown as a result of the success of his zarzuela La verbena de la Paloma, although other were well-received works, included his operas Los amantes de Teruel, based on the eponymous legend,...
, Tomás López Torregrosa and José Serrano
José Serrano (composer)
José Serrano Simeón was a Spanish composer of zarzuelas. He was born in Sueca, Valencia, Spain.His most famous works include La dolorosa and La canción del olvido . Serrano’s works tend to be simple popular theater but filled with dramatic emotion...
(La suerte loca, 1907). Less successful were operas Valverde wrote alone, such as La baraja francesa (1890).
His other works include two symphonies and over 200 other orchestral works.
Joaquín Valverde Durán died in Madrid in 1910. His son "Quinito" Valverde
Joaquín Valverde Sanjuán
Joaquín "Quinito" Valverde Sanjuán was a Spanish composer of zarzuelas. He was the son of Joaquín Valverde Durán, also a zarzuela composer, and was usually called Quinito Valverde to distinguish him from his father...
(Joaquín Valverde Sanjuán) carried on his father's tradition.
Source
- Grove's Dictionary of Music and MusiciansGrove Dictionary of Music and MusiciansThe New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart, it is the largest single reference work on Western music. The dictionary has gone through several editions since the 19th century...
, 5th ed., 1954, Eric BlomEric BlomEric Walter Blom CBE was a Swiss-born British-naturalised music lexicographer, musicologist, music critic, music biographer and translator. He is best known as the editor of the 5th edition of Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians .-Biography:Blom was born in Berne, Switzerland...
, ed.