Manuel Valls (composer)
Encyclopedia
Manuel Valls i Gorina (21 July 1920 - 1984) was a Catalan
Spanish composer
, pianist
, music critic, and music educator.
Valls was born in Badalona
. He studied at the University of Barcelona
and the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu
. At the Liceu he was mentored by Aita Donostia
with whom he studied music theory
, music composition, and orchestration
. He became a successful composer writing symphonic
works, chamber music
, choral music, operas, art songs, and songs for solo piano
. For many years he taught composition at the University of Barcelona and wrote music reviews for El País.. He died in Barcelona
.
Manuel Valls is the composer of the music of "El Cant del Barça
", the official anthem of FC Barcelona
.
Catalan people
The Catalans or Catalonians are the people from, or with origins in, Catalonia that form a historical nationality in Spain. The inhabitants of the adjacent portion of southern France are sometimes included in this definition...
Spanish 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:...
, music critic, and music educator.
Valls was born in Badalona
Badalona
Badalona is a city in eastern Catalonia, Spain. It is located in the comarca of the Barcelonès, near the city of Barcelona and part of its metropolitan area. It is situated on the left bank of the small Besòs River and on the Mediterranean Sea, backed by the Serra de la Marina mountain range...
. He studied at the University of Barcelona
University of Barcelona
The University of Barcelona is a public university located in the city of Barcelona, Catalonia in Spain. It is a member of the Coimbra Group, LERU, European University Association, Mediterranean Universities Union, International Research Universities Network and Vives Network...
and the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu
Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu
Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu is a music college in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was created in 1837 with the name Liceo Filo-dramático de Montesión....
. At the Liceu he was mentored by Aita Donostia
Aita Donostia
José Gonzalo Zulaica , better known by his pen name Aita Donostia , was a Basque musicologist and composer.From 1936 to 1943 he was in exile in France.His most popular work is the Basque Preludes, a set of fifteen piano...
with whom he studied music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
, music composition, and orchestration
Orchestration
Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra or of adapting for orchestra music composed for another medium...
. He became a successful composer writing symphonic
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
works, chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
, choral music, operas, art songs, and songs for solo 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...
. For many years he taught composition at the University of Barcelona and wrote music reviews for El País.. He died in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
.
Manuel Valls is the composer of the music of "El Cant del Barça
Cant del Barça
Cant del Barça is the official hymn of FC Barcelona. It was commissioned in 1974 to celebrate the club's 75th anniversary. The words were written by Jaume Picas and Josep Maria Espinàs and the music was composed by Manuel Valls....
", the official anthem of FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
.
Selected works
- Estudio de danza en 5/8 (Study of dance in 5/8)
- Preludio para piano (Prelude for piano)
- Concierto de guitarra y orquesta (concerto for guitar and orchestra)
- Tocata per a piano (Tocata for piano)
- Seis canciones del Alto Duero para voz y piano (Six songs for Alto Duero for voice and piano)
- Fantasíass en forma de concierto para flauta solista y cuerda (Fantacy in the form of a concerto for flute and rope)
- La Mare de Déu (SATB chorusChoirA choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
in traditional catalana) - Poemes de Patrícia: Renaixença, Món, Nit (SATB chorus)
- Primera historia de Esther (1955 opera)
- CAL 33-33, o El bon samaritá (1967 opera)
Sources
- Música de tota mena. Barcelona, ed. Clivis, 1982. ISBN 84-85927-04-4.