Role

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Composer

Country

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Mexico

 

Jorge Avendaño Lührs was a Chilean composer and pianist who was born on August 28, 1922, in Santiago, Chile. He was the son of a German father and a Chilean mother, and his family was deeply involved in the arts. His father was a painter, and his mother was a singer and pianist. From a young age, Avendaño Lührs showed a great interest in music, and he began taking piano lessons when he was just six years old. Avendaño Lührs studied at the National Conservatory of Music in Santiago, where he was a student of the renowned Chilean composer Pedro Humberto Allende. He also studied with the pianist Claudio Arrau, who was a family friend. Arrau recognized Avendaño Lührs' talent and encouraged him to pursue a career in music. In 1947, Avendaño Lührs traveled to Europe to continue his studies. He studied composition with the French composer Darius Milhaud in Paris and with the Italian composer Luigi Dallapiccola in Florence. He also studied piano with the Hungarian pianist György Sándor in Budapest. Avendaño Lührs' music is characterized by its lyricism, its use of Chilean folk music, and its incorporation of elements of European classical music. His works include orchestral music, chamber music, vocal music, and piano music. One of Avendaño Lührs' most famous works is his Piano Concerto No. 1, which he composed in 1953. The concerto is in three movements and features a solo piano accompanied by a full orchestra. The first movement is marked by its energetic rhythms and its use of Chilean folk music. The second movement is a slow and lyrical adagio, while the third movement is a lively and virtuosic finale. Another notable work by Avendaño Lührs is his String Quartet No. 1, which he composed in 1956. The quartet is in four movements and features a traditional string quartet ensemble. The first movement is marked by its use of Chilean folk music, while the second movement is a slow and contemplative adagio. The third movement is a lively scherzo, and the fourth movement is a fast and energetic finale. Avendaño Lührs also composed a number of vocal works, including his song cycle Canciones de la Tierra, which he composed in 1960. The cycle features settings of poems by Chilean poets, and it is characterized by its use of Chilean folk music and its lyrical melodies. Throughout his career, Avendaño Lührs was recognized for his contributions to Chilean music. He was awarded the National Prize for Musical Arts in 1999, and he was named a National Living Treasure by the Chilean government in 2002. Avendaño Lührs died on December 22, 2012, in Santiago, Chile. He left behind a legacy of music that continues to be celebrated and performed today. His works are a testament to his talent as a composer and his dedication to the music of his homeland.

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