Juan Carlos Tolosa
Encyclopedia
Juan Carlos Tolosa is an Argentinian
composer
, pianist
and conductor
, born in Córdoba (Argentina) on October 2, 1966.
to pursue a career as a composer from 1986 to 1989. In 1989 he left for Europe and settled in Brussels
. He studied at Brussels Conservatory, where he got composition prizes in the classes of Paul-Baudouin Michel and Daniel Capelletti, for orchestration
, forms, harmony
and musical theory. At the same time, between 1990 and 1998, he regularly attended the Ars musica
contemporary music festival composition seminars and workshops, with the participation of Luciano Berio
, Witold Lutosławski, György Ligeti
, Pierre Boulez
, Karlheinz Stockhausen
, Brian Ferneyhough
, Pascal Dusapin
, Iannis Xenakis
, Magnus Lindberg
, Luca Francesconi and Wolfgang Rihm
.
(1995) together with Pierre Kolp
, Francis Ubertelli and David Nuñezañez, and then the Black Jackets Ensemble (1996). His music has been performed in several countries, such as Argentina, Venezuela, Chile, Japan, Luxemburg, Spain, Belgium and Germany, within prestigious festivals such as Ars musica
(Belgium) or the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile contemporary music festival.
Alongside with his pure music and musical theatre works, Tolosa has collaborated with the choreographers Marian Del Valle (Spain), Barbara Manzetti (Italy) and Gabriela Carrizo (Argentina), as well as with the film makers Giovanni Cioni (Italy) and Paco Aragón (Spain). He has been teaching Aesthetics of 20th century Music and Arts at
Institut Jaques-Dalcroze (Brussels)
since 1998, and is the conductor of the Black Jackets Ensemble (Brussels) since 2000.
In 2000 he wrote, produced, directed and hosted a series of twelve radio shows on contemporary music, La Odisea Musical del Siglo XX (The 20th century Musical Odyssey), broadcast by Nacional Córdoba. The same year he made his debut with the Argentinian pianist Germán Náger as the Náger & Tolosa Piano Duo.
In 2001 he created the Cordoba Ensamble (a 20 musicians formation), and then the Laboratorio Contemporáneo del Córdoba Ensamble, acting as the musical director of both.
He started teaching composition and conduction at La Colmena, Córdoba, in 2002 and has been, as from 2003, the Artistic Director of the Cordoba Contemporary Music Festival (Festival Internacional de Música Contemporánea de Córdoba).
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
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...
, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
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...
, born in Córdoba (Argentina) on October 2, 1966.
Studies
Juan Carlos Tolosa began his musical studies in 1972 at Instituto Domingo Zípoli in Córdoba, where he got the degree as choir master. After dropping Law, he entered Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (Argentina)National University of Córdoba
The National University of Córdoba, , is the oldest university in Argentina, and one of the oldest in the Americas. It is located in Córdoba, the capital of Córdoba Province. Since the early 20th century it has been the second largest university in the country in terms of the number of students,...
to pursue a career as a composer from 1986 to 1989. In 1989 he left for Europe and settled in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. He studied at Brussels Conservatory, where he got composition prizes in the classes of Paul-Baudouin Michel and Daniel Capelletti, for orchestration
Orchestration
Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra or of adapting for orchestra music composed for another medium...
, forms, harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
and musical theory. At the same time, between 1990 and 1998, he regularly attended the Ars musica
Ars musica
Founded in 1989, Ars Musica is an annual contemporary music international festival that takes place in Brussels during several weeks, usually in March. Nowadays, Ars musica is one of the biggest world festival for contemporary music...
contemporary music festival composition seminars and workshops, with the participation of Luciano Berio
Luciano Berio
Luciano Berio, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian composer. He is noted for his experimental work and also for his pioneering work in electronic music.-Biography:Berio was born at Oneglia Luciano Berio, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI (October 24, 1925 – May 27, 2003) was an Italian...
, Witold Lutosławski, György Ligeti
György Ligeti
György Sándor Ligeti was a composer of contemporary classical music. Born in a Hungarian Jewish family in Transylvania, Romania, he briefly lived in Hungary before becoming an Austrian citizen.-Early life:...
, Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.-Early years:Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics...
, Karlheinz Stockhausen
Karlheinz Stockhausen
Karlheinz Stockhausen was a German composer, widely acknowledged by critics as one of the most important but also controversial composers of the 20th and early 21st centuries. Another critic calls him "one of the great visionaries of 20th-century music"...
, Brian Ferneyhough
Brian Ferneyhough
Brian John Peter Ferneyhough is an English composer. His music is characterized by the extensive use of complex rhythmic tuplet notation which features in all his works...
, Pascal Dusapin
Pascal Dusapin
Pascal Dusapin , is a French composer born in Nancy. He is one of France's best-known living composers; his works have been performed worldwide....
, Iannis Xenakis
Iannis Xenakis
Iannis Xenakis was a Romanian-born Greek ethnic, naturalized French composer, music theorist, and architect-engineer. He is commonly recognized as one of the most important post-war avant-garde composers...
, Magnus Lindberg
Magnus Lindberg
Magnus Lindberg is a Finnish composer and pianist. He is currently the composer-in-residence at the New York Philharmonic.-Education:...
, Luca Francesconi and Wolfgang Rihm
Wolfgang Rihm
Wolfgang Rihm is a German composer.Rihm is Head of the Institute of Modern Music at the Karlsruhe Conservatory of Music and has been composer in residence at the Lucerne Festival and the Salzburg Festival...
.
European career
He created Black Jackets CompanyBlack Jackets Company
Black Jackets Company founded in 1995 in Brussels, is an International Society for Contemporary Arts. The Company mainly supports the post-scolopéndric art movement....
(1995) together with Pierre Kolp
Pierre Kolp
Pierre Kolp is a Belgian composer and music pedagogue, born in Cologne , 23 March 1969.-Biography:After obtaining a mathematics and science diploma, Kolp studied organ and composition , Belgium...
, Francis Ubertelli and David Nuñezañez, and then the Black Jackets Ensemble (1996). His music has been performed in several countries, such as Argentina, Venezuela, Chile, Japan, Luxemburg, Spain, Belgium and Germany, within prestigious festivals such as Ars musica
Ars musica
Founded in 1989, Ars Musica is an annual contemporary music international festival that takes place in Brussels during several weeks, usually in March. Nowadays, Ars musica is one of the biggest world festival for contemporary music...
(Belgium) or the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile contemporary music festival.
Alongside with his pure music and musical theatre works, Tolosa has collaborated with the choreographers Marian Del Valle (Spain), Barbara Manzetti (Italy) and Gabriela Carrizo (Argentina), as well as with the film makers Giovanni Cioni (Italy) and Paco Aragón (Spain). He has been teaching Aesthetics of 20th century Music and Arts at
Institut Jaques-Dalcroze (Brussels)
Institut Jaques-Dalcroze (Brussels)
The Institut de rythmique Jaques-Dalcroze de Belgique exists from the beginning of the fifties. In 1975, the State of Belgium recognizes it as a National Institution of Musical Education. It is located in the old "Doctor Van Neck's hospital", first work of the famous Belgian architect Antoine Pompe...
since 1998, and is the conductor of the Black Jackets Ensemble (Brussels) since 2000.
Latin American career
In 1999 Tolosa taught a 20th century Music aesthetics seminar at Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (Argentina).In 2000 he wrote, produced, directed and hosted a series of twelve radio shows on contemporary music, La Odisea Musical del Siglo XX (The 20th century Musical Odyssey), broadcast by Nacional Córdoba. The same year he made his debut with the Argentinian pianist Germán Náger as the Náger & Tolosa Piano Duo.
In 2001 he created the Cordoba Ensamble (a 20 musicians formation), and then the Laboratorio Contemporáneo del Córdoba Ensamble, acting as the musical director of both.
He started teaching composition and conduction at La Colmena, Córdoba, in 2002 and has been, as from 2003, the Artistic Director of the Cordoba Contemporary Music Festival (Festival Internacional de Música Contemporánea de Córdoba).
Works
- Canción del Cronopio for bass trombone
- Y sacaréme la niebla for wind quintet
- El ángel se pudre for two violins
- Copper roses for twelve mixed voices a cappella
- Evaporo el otro que sigue caminando for bass clarinet
- A su imán for double bass, bass clarinet and electronics
- Klavierkonzert for piano and live electronics
- L'endroit for soprano, violin, cello, double bass & live electronics
- Obertura for 18 musicians
- Canto II for 16 musicians
- Estebnia for percussion and cd
- Focos for clarinet and 5 cd players
- Piano Kit for piano
- Pentimento for two flutes
- Dimmi chi fosti for orchestra
- A rear window for cello & bass clarinet
- gente que canta de espaldas for 8 soloist voices
- Los vestigios for string quartet