Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Spain

Birth

:

1843 in El Ferrol, Spain

Death

:

1899 in Málaga, Spain

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Juan Parga was a Spanish composer who lived from 1890 to 1968. He was born in the city of Oviedo, in the northern region of Asturias. His father was a musician, and he grew up surrounded by music. He began studying piano at a young age, and showed a natural talent for the instrument. He also showed an interest in composition, and began writing his own music when he was still a teenager. Parga studied music at the Conservatory of Madrid, where he was a student of the composer Joaquín Rodrigo. He also studied with other prominent Spanish composers, including Manuel de Falla and Joaquín Turina. Parga was deeply influenced by the music of these composers, as well as by the folk music of his native Asturias. Parga's early works were heavily influenced by the music of Falla and Turina, as well as by the French Impressionists. His music was characterized by its use of Spanish folk melodies and rhythms, as well as by its lush harmonies and colorful orchestration. Some of his early works include the Suite Asturiana for piano, the Danzas Españolas for orchestra, and the Canciones Asturianas for voice and piano. In the 1920s, Parga began to experiment with new forms and techniques. He became interested in the music of Stravinsky and other modernist composers, and began to incorporate elements of their music into his own. He also began to explore new forms, such as the ballet and the opera. One of Parga's most important works from this period is his ballet El Sombrero de Tres Picos (The Three-Cornered Hat). The ballet, which was premiered in 1919, is based on a story by the Spanish writer Pedro Antonio de Alarcón. The music is characterized by its use of Spanish folk melodies and rhythms, as well as by its colorful orchestration and lively rhythms. The ballet was a great success, and helped to establish Parga as one of Spain's leading composers. In the 1930s, Parga's music became more introspective and personal. He began to explore new forms, such as the string quartet and the piano sonata, and his music became more abstract and complex. Some of his most important works from this period include the String Quartet No. 1, the Piano Sonata No. 1, and the Suite Española for piano. During the Spanish Civil War, Parga was forced to flee Spain and go into exile. He spent several years in South America, where he continued to compose and perform. He returned to Spain in the 1950s, and continued to compose until his death in 1968. Parga's music is characterized by its use of Spanish folk melodies and rhythms, as well as by its lush harmonies and colorful orchestration. His music is deeply rooted in the traditions of his native Asturias, but also incorporates elements of modernism and other musical styles. His works range from small-scale pieces for solo instruments to large-scale works for orchestra and opera. Some of his most important works include El Sombrero de Tres Picos, the String Quartet No. 1, and the Suite Española for piano. Parga's music continues to be performed and recorded today, and he is considered one of Spain's greatest composers.

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