Vicente Asencio
Encyclopedia
Vicente Asencio y Ruano was a Spanish composer
. He is perhaps best known for his works for guitar
of which guitarists Andrés Segovia
and Narciso Yepes
were notable exponents. His most well known works for this instrument are Elegía a Manuel de Falla (1946), Sonatina (1949), Colletici Íntim (1965), and Dipso (1973). He also wrote music for several successful ballet
s, most notably La casada infiel (1949) which is considered his best work in that genre. A numbered of the songs from that ballet were later transcribed by the composer for the guitar. He also wrote a considerable amount of orchestra
l music, including Preludio a la Dama de Elche (1949); Sonada alegre (1954); Llanto a Manuel de Falla (1955), and Danzas Valencianas (1963).
in Castellón de la Plana
with Emilio Bou, he moved to Barcelona to pursue studies at the Academia Frank Marshall with Frank Marshall
and Enric Morera i Viura. He also studied privately in that city with Joaquín Turina
and Ernesto Halffter
. He also studied conducting
in Paris and Milan.
Asencio began composing in the early 1920s and his first major success was the ballet
Fuego de Fiesta (1926). His earlier music displays an evident influence of the composer Manuel de Falla
. In 1932 he founded the Conservatorio de Música de Castellón de la Plana with violinist Abel Mus. In 1934 he helped formed the Grupo de los Jóvenes, a group of talented young musicians in Valencia whose members also included Vicente Garcés and Ricardo Olmos among others.
In 1943 Asencio married one of his pupils, the composer and painter Matilde Salvador. They became one of the most influential artistic couples in the Valencia music scene. Asencio, who was technically better prepared than his wife, worked with her in orchestrating many of her works, including her opera Vinatea which premiered at the Liceu
in 1974.
In 1953 Asencio joined the music faculty at the Valencia Conservatory where he taught for many years. Among his notable pupils was composer José Evangelista
. He died in Valencia after a long illness.
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...
. He is perhaps best known for his works for guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
of which guitarists Andrés Segovia
Andrés Segovia
Andrés Torres Segovia, 1st Marquis of Salobreña , known as Andrés Segovia, was a virtuoso Spanish classical guitarist from Linares, Jaén, Andalucia, Spain...
and Narciso Yepes
Narciso Yepes
Narciso Yepes was a Spanish guitarist.-Biography:Yepes was born into a family of humble origin in Lorca, Region of Murcia. His father gave him his first guitar when he was four years old. He took his first lessons from Jesus Guevara, in Lorca...
were notable exponents. His most well known works for this instrument are Elegía a Manuel de Falla (1946), Sonatina (1949), Colletici Íntim (1965), and Dipso (1973). He also wrote music for several successful ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
s, most notably La casada infiel (1949) which is considered his best work in that genre. A numbered of the songs from that ballet were later transcribed by the composer for the guitar. He also wrote a considerable amount of orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
l music, including Preludio a la Dama de Elche (1949); Sonada alegre (1954); Llanto a Manuel de Falla (1955), and Danzas Valencianas (1963).
Life
Born in Valencia, Asencio began his musical training as a boy with his father. After studying violinViolin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
in Castellón de la Plana
Castellón de la Plana
Castellón de la Plana or Castelló de la Plana is the capital city of the province of Castelló, in the Valencian Community, Spain, in the east of the Iberian Peninsula, on the Costa del Azahar by the Mediterranean Sea...
with Emilio Bou, he moved to Barcelona to pursue studies at the Academia Frank Marshall with Frank Marshall
Frank Marshall (pianist)
Frank Marshall King , was a Spanish, Catalan pianist and pedagogue born to parents of English heritage....
and Enric Morera i Viura. He also studied privately in that city with Joaquín Turina
Joaquín Turina
Joaquín Turina was a Spanish composer of classical music.-Biography:Turina was born in Seville but his origins were in northern Italy . He studied in Seville as well as in Madrid...
and Ernesto Halffter
Ernesto Halffter
Ernesto Halffter Escriche was a Spanish composer and conductor. He was the brother of Rodolfo Halffter....
. He also studied conducting
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...
in Paris and Milan.
Asencio began composing in the early 1920s and his first major success was the ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
Fuego de Fiesta (1926). His earlier music displays an evident influence of the composer Manuel de Falla
Manuel de Falla
Manuel de Falla y Matheu was a Spanish Andalusian composer of classical music. With Isaac Albéniz, Enrique Granados and Joaquín Turina he is one of Spain's most important musicians of the first half of the 20th century....
. In 1932 he founded the Conservatorio de Música de Castellón de la Plana with violinist Abel Mus. In 1934 he helped formed the Grupo de los Jóvenes, a group of talented young musicians in Valencia whose members also included Vicente Garcés and Ricardo Olmos among others.
In 1943 Asencio married one of his pupils, the composer and painter Matilde Salvador. They became one of the most influential artistic couples in the Valencia music scene. Asencio, who was technically better prepared than his wife, worked with her in orchestrating many of her works, including her opera Vinatea which premiered at the Liceu
Liceu
The Gran Teatre del Liceu , or simply Liceu in Catalan and Liceo in Spanish, is an opera house on La Rambla in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain...
in 1974.
In 1953 Asencio joined the music faculty at the Valencia Conservatory where he taught for many years. Among his notable pupils was composer José Evangelista
José Evangelista
José Evangelista is a Spanish composer and music educator who is based in Montreal, Canada. A member of the Canadian League of Composers, the Sociedad General de Autores y Editores, and an associate of the Canadian Music Centre, Evangelista is known for his commitment to contemporary classical...
. He died in Valencia after a long illness.
Sources
- Bernardo Adam Ferrero. Músicos Valencianos. Ed. Proip, S.A. 1988. València. ISBN 84-87179-00-2
- Diversos Autors. Historia de la Música de la Comunidad Valenciana. Editorial Prensa Valenciana, S.A. 1992. ISBN 84-87502-21-0
- Article Asencio Ruano, Vicente de l' Enciclopedia de la Comunidad Valenciana. Editorial Prensa Valenciana. València, 2005. ISBN 84-87502-56-3