Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

December 4, 1932 in Puno, Peru

Death

:

March 10, 2010 in Lima, Peru

 

Edgar Valcarcel was a Peruvian composer who was born on August 26, 1932, in Lima, Peru. He was the son of a prominent lawyer and politician, and his mother was a pianist. Valcarcel grew up in a musical family, and he began playing the piano at a young age. He was also exposed to classical music from an early age, and he developed a love for the genre. Valcarcel studied music at the National Conservatory of Music in Lima, where he studied composition with Rodolfo Holzmann. He also studied piano with Rosa Mercedes Ayarza de Morales and conducting with Theo Buchwald. After completing his studies, Valcarcel began working as a composer and conductor. Valcarcel's early works were influenced by the music of the Second Viennese School, particularly the music of Arnold Schoenberg. He also drew inspiration from the music of Igor Stravinsky and Béla Bartók. Valcarcel's early works were characterized by their use of atonality and complex rhythms. In the 1960s, Valcarcel began to incorporate elements of Peruvian folk music into his compositions. He was particularly interested in the music of the Andes, and he began to incorporate the rhythms and melodies of Andean music into his works. Valcarcel's use of folk music elements was groundbreaking, and it helped to establish a new style of classical music in Peru. One of Valcarcel's most famous works is his "Concerto for Andean Instruments and Orchestra." The concerto was composed in 1971, and it features traditional Andean instruments such as the quena, charango, and zampona. The concerto is a fusion of classical and folk music, and it has become one of Valcarcel's most popular works. Valcarcel's other notable works include his "Symphony No. 1," which was composed in 1963, and his "String Quartet No. 1," which was composed in 1965. Both works showcase Valcarcel's use of atonality and complex rhythms, as well as his incorporation of folk music elements. Valcarcel was also a respected conductor, and he conducted many premieres of his own works as well as works by other composers. He was the conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Peru from 1971 to 1974, and he also conducted the Lima Philharmonic Orchestra. Valcarcel's contributions to classical music in Peru were significant, and he helped to establish a new style of classical music that incorporated elements of Peruvian folk music. His works continue to be performed and celebrated in Peru and around the world. Valcarcel passed away on April 28, 2010, but his legacy as a composer and conductor lives on.

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