Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

November 28, 1931 in Riudoms, Tarragona

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Vocal

 

Joan Guinjoán was a Spanish composer and pianist who was born on November 28, 1931, in Riudoms, Tarragona, Spain. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Guinjoán began playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. He studied at the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu in Barcelona, where he received a degree in piano performance. After completing his studies, Guinjoán began his career as a pianist, performing in concerts throughout Spain and Europe. He also began composing music, and his early works were influenced by the avant-garde movement of the 1950s and 1960s. In 1963, he won the Joan Massià Prize for his composition "Tres peces per a piano" (Three Pieces for Piano). Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Guinjoán continued to compose music and perform as a pianist. He was a member of the Grup Instrumental Català, a group of musicians who were dedicated to promoting contemporary music in Catalonia. In 1976, he was appointed professor of composition at the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu, where he taught until his retirement in 1996. Guinjoán's music is characterized by its complexity and experimentation with different musical styles. He was influenced by the music of composers such as Igor Stravinsky, Arnold Schoenberg, and Anton Webern, as well as the Spanish folk music of his homeland. His compositions often feature intricate rhythms, dissonant harmonies, and unconventional forms. One of Guinjoán's most famous works is his "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra," which was premiered in 1985. The piece is a virtuosic showcase for the piano, with the soloist performing complex runs and arpeggios against a backdrop of shifting orchestral textures. The concerto has been performed by many of the world's leading pianists, including Alicia de Larrocha and Joaquín Achúcarro. Another notable work by Guinjoán is his "Sinfonía de Réquiem," which was composed in 1991. The piece is a tribute to the victims of the Spanish Civil War and is scored for large orchestra and chorus. The music is somber and mournful, with moments of intense emotion and drama. Guinjoán's music has been performed by many of the world's leading orchestras and ensembles, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the New York Philharmonic. He was awarded numerous prizes and honors throughout his career, including the National Music Prize of Catalonia in 1997. Joan Guinjoán passed away on January 1, 2007, at the age of 75. He left behind a legacy of innovative and challenging music that continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world.

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