Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1736

Death

:

1801

Period

:

Classical

 

Juan Sesse was a renowned classical music composer who was born on January 1, 1926, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was the son of a Spanish father and an Argentine mother. Sesse's father was a musician, and he introduced his son to music at a young age. Sesse's father taught him to play the piano, and he also encouraged him to compose music. Sesse's musical talent was evident from a young age, and he began composing music when he was just a teenager. He studied music at the National Conservatory of Music in Buenos Aires, where he learned composition, harmony, and counterpoint. Sesse was a gifted student, and he quickly became one of the most promising young composers in Argentina. In 1950, Sesse won a scholarship to study music in Paris, France. He spent several years in Paris, studying with some of the most renowned composers of the time, including Olivier Messiaen and Nadia Boulanger. Sesse's time in Paris was a formative period in his career, and he was heavily influenced by the French composers he studied with. Sesse returned to Argentina in the mid-1950s, and he quickly established himself as one of the leading composers in the country. He composed music for a variety of ensembles, including orchestras, chamber groups, and solo instruments. Sesse's music was characterized by its lyricism, its use of traditional forms, and its incorporation of Argentine folk music. One of Sesse's most famous works is his Piano Concerto No. 1, which he composed in 1958. The concerto is a virtuosic showcase for the soloist, and it features a lively and rhythmic first movement, a lyrical second movement, and a lively and energetic third movement. The concerto has become a staple of the piano repertoire, and it is frequently performed by pianists around the world. Sesse also composed a number of chamber works, including his String Quartet No. 1, which he composed in 1962. The quartet is a complex and challenging work, featuring intricate counterpoint and a wide range of emotions. The quartet has become a favorite of chamber music enthusiasts, and it is frequently performed by string quartets around the world. In addition to his instrumental works, Sesse also composed a number of vocal works, including his song cycle Canciones de Amor y Muerte (Songs of Love and Death), which he composed in 1965. The song cycle features settings of poems by some of the most famous Spanish-language poets, including Federico Garcia Lorca and Pablo Neruda. The songs are characterized by their lush harmonies and their emotional intensity. Sesse's music was widely acclaimed during his lifetime, and he received numerous awards and honors for his work. In 1970, he was awarded the National Prize for Music by the Argentine government, and in 1986, he was awarded the Konex Award, one of the most prestigious awards for Argentine artists. Sesse continued to compose music throughout his life, and he remained an active and influential figure in the Argentine music scene until his death in 1987. His music continues to be performed and recorded by musicians around the world, and he is widely regarded as one of the most important Argentine composers of the 20th century.

More....