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Carlos Surinach (1915-1997)

Carlos Surinach, composerCarlos Surinach was among this century's premier composers for the dance. His works combined the fiery imagery of his native Spain with the technical sophistication of his German musical education. Studies in composition at the Barcelona Conservatory were followed by advanced work at the Düsseldorf Conservatory, the Cologne Hochschule, and Berlin's Prussian Academy as well as at lecture-seminars under Strauss. He was conductor of the Barcelona Philharmonic and the orchestra of the Gran Teatro del Liceo before moving to the United States in 1951 where he gained renown as both composer and conductor. In the United States, Surinach's scores were quickly picked up by choreographers and dance companies including Martha Graham and the Joffrey Ballet. Graham included his Acrobats of God and Embattled Garden in her Edinburgh Festival programs and the Joffrey programmed his Feast of Ashes for their Russian tour in 1963. An impressive body of orchestral, choral, and chamber music as well as music for the dance is uniquely colored by Surinach's innate sense of rhythm and melody. Surinach taught at Carnegie Mellon University and received commissions and grants from the Louisville Orchestra, Ricordi, the Rothschild Foundation, Martha Graham, MGM Records, and many other institutions. He was awarded England's Bax Society Medal for Non Commonwealth Composers in 1966 and the Spanish title of Knight Commander of the Order of Isabella I of Castille in 1972.
- G. Schirmer

COMPOSITIONS                                                            Surinach Links     ~ ~ ~     Works by Genre
Piano Quartet (1944)
Monte Carlo, ballet (1945) [choreograper: P. Gaube]
Sinfonia passacaglia (Passacaglia-Symphony), orchestra (1945)
Danza andaluza, chamber orchestra (1946)
El mozo que casó con mujer brava, opera (1947; fp. 1948)
Symphony No. 2, orchestra (1949-50)
Ritmo jondo: Flamenco, cl, tpt, tamburo, xylophone, timpani & hand clappers (1952) [also arr. for band or chamber orch]
Tres cantos berberes, flute, oboe, clarinet, viola, cello and harp (1952)
Three Songs of Spain (Tres canciones), soprano and chamber orchestra (or piano) (1952) [1945?]
Ritmo jondo, ballet (1953) [choreograper: D. Humphrey]
Tientos (Essays), harp (or harpsichord; or piano), English horn and timpani (1953)
Trois chansons et danses espagnoles (Three Spanish songs and dances), piano (pub. 1953)
Sinfonietta flamenca (Symphony No. 3), orchestra (1953-54) [arr. 1971 for band]
Fandango, orchestra (1954)
Hollywood Carnival, "Sketches in cartoon", chamber orchestra (1954)
Doppio concertino, violin, piano, and 9 instruments (1954)
Flamenquerias, 2 pianos (pub. 1954)
Tales from the Flamenco Kingdom (Leyendas Del Reino flamenco) (3 pieces), piano (1955) [for young players]
Feria mágica (Magic Fair), overture, orchestra (1956)
Madrid, 1890, chamber orchestra (1956) [Waltz; Polka; Tango; Mazurka; Schottische]
Concertino, piano, string orchestra and cymbals (1956)
Sinfonía chica, orchestra (1957)
Embattled Garden, ballet, chamber orchestra (1958) [choreograper: M. Graham]
Romance, oración y saeta (morals and maxims by Saint Theresa), soprano and orchestra (or piano) (1958)
Tres cantares, soprano and orchestra (or piano) (1958) [text: Lope de Vega]
Concerto for Orchestra (1959)
Paeans and Dances of Heathen Iberia, wind orchestra/band (1959)
Sonatina, guitar (1959; pub. 1961) [dedicated to Segovia] [pub. in Ricordi's "Antologia per Chitarra"]
Sonatina, piano (1959) [pub. by Peermusic]
Pavana and rondo, accordion (1959)
Acrobats of God, ballet (1960) [choreograper: M. Graham] [also arr. for orchestra; 5 pieces arr. 1969 for piano]
    - Acrobats of God, symphonic version of the ballet (1960; arr. 1972) [also 5 pieces arr. 1969 for piano]
    - Acrobats of God, ballet (1960) [choreograper: M. Graham] [5 pieces arr. 1969 for piano]
David and Bath-Sheba (A Place in the Sun), ballet (1960) [choreograper: J. Butler] [broadcast on CBS Television, 15 May 1960]
Danza andaluza, small orchestra (1960)
Apasionada, ballet (1961-62) [choreograper: P. Lang]
Symphonic Variations, orchestra (1962)
Feast of Ashes, ballet (1963) [choreograper: A. Ailey] [incorporates music from "Doppio concertina" and "Ritmo jondo"]
Cantata de San Juan, chorus and percussion (1963)
Songs of the Soul (4 songs), chorus (1964) [text: Saint John of the Cross; English translations by Joseph Machlis]
Los renegados, ballet (1964-65) [choreograper: J. Anduze]
Drama jondo, overture, orchestra (1965)
Flamenco Meditations (5 songs), voice and piano (1965) [text: from "Sonnets from the Portuguese"/Elizabeth Barrett Browning]
Venta quemada, ballet (1966) [choreograper: G. Skibine]
Melorhythmic Dramas (7 mvts), orchestra (1966)
Agathe's Tale, ballet (1967) [choreograper: P. Taylor]
Flamenco cyclothymia, violin and piano (1967)
Four tonadillas, voices and small orchestra (or piano) (pub. 1968)
The Missions of San Antonio (5 mvts), male chorus and orchestra (1969)
Suite española (Suite Espagnole), ballet (1969-70) [choreograper: J. de Udaeta]
    - Jota, from "Suite española", band (1969-70; arr. 1977)
    - Bolero de los picaros, from ballet "Suite espagñola", guitar (1970; arr. 1972)
Bolero, ballet, orchestra (also arr. for piano) (1970) [Harkness Ballet Foundation]
Jota, ballet, orchestra (1970; pub. 1978) [Harkness Ballet Foundation]
Soleriana, band (1972) [based on the Fandango by Antonio Soler]
Via crucis, a cycle of fifteen saetas, voices (chorus) and guitar (1972) [1970?]
Las trompetas de los serafines (The Trumpets of the Seraphim), overture, orchestra (1973)
Piano Concerto (1973)
Prayers (3 songs), voice and guitar (1973) [text: Michel Quoist]
Chronique, ballet (1974)
    - Song and Dance, from ballet "Chronique", guitar (1974; arr. 1976)
Una rosa en cada galta (Red cheeks), a Catalan duet for guitars (pub. 1974)
String Quartet (1974)
Prelude of the Sea, accordion (pub. 1975)
The Owl and the Pussycat, ballet (1977) [choreograper: M. Graham]
Celebraciones medievales: (4) Spanish divertissements of the Middle Ages, chorus and band (1977)
Concerto for String Orchestra (1978)
Harp Concerto (1978)
Bodas de sangre (Blood Wedding), ballet (1979) [choreograper: Terekhov]
Violin Concerto (1980)
Hieroglyphics, chamber ensemble [2 pic, 2 fl, Eng hn, 2 cl, bcl, hn, 4 vc, 2 db] (1983; pub. 1984) ["Miami, April 1983"]
Memories of Old Zarzuela, band (pub. 1987) [based on "El barberillo de Lavapiés" by Asenjo Barbieri]
Concerto for Flute, Doublebass and Chamber Orchestra (1988)


WORKS BY GENRE                                                            Surinach Links     ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
El mozo que casó con mujer brava, opera (1947; fp. 1948)

Ballet
Monte Carlo, ballet (1945) [choreograper: P. Gaube]
Ritmo jondo, ballet (1953) [choreograper: D. Humphrey]
Embattled Garden, ballet, chamber orchestra (1958) [choreograper: M. Graham]
Acrobats of God, ballet (1960) [choreograper: M. Graham] [also arr. for orchestra; 5 pieces arr. 1969 for piano]
David and Bath-Sheba (A Place in the Sun), ballet (1960) [choreograper: J. Butler] [broadcast on CBS Television, 15 May 1960]
Apasionada, ballet (1961-62) [choreograper: P. Lang]
Feast of Ashes, ballet (1963) [choreograper: A. Ailey] [incorporates music from "Doppio concertina" and "Ritmo jondo"]
Los renegados, ballet (1964-65) [choreograper: J. Anduze]
Venta quemada, ballet (1966) [choreograper: G. Skibine]
Agathe's Tale, ballet (1967) [choreograper: P. Taylor]
Suite española (Suite Espagnole), ballet (1969-70) [choreograper: J. de Udaeta]
Bolero, ballet, orchestra (also arr. for piano) (1970) [Harkness Ballet Foundation]
Jota, ballet, orchestra (1970; pub. 1978) [Harkness Ballet Foundation]
Chronique, ballet (1974)
The Owl and the Pussycat, ballet (1977) [choreograper: M. Graham]
Bodas de sangre (Blood Wedding), ballet (1979) [choreograper: Terekhov]

Orchestra
Sinfonia passacaglia (Passacaglia-Symphony), orchestra (1945)
Danza andaluza, chamber orchestra (1946)
Symphony No. 2, orchestra (1949-50)
Ritmo jondo: Flamenco, cl, tpt, tamburo, xylophone, timpani & hand clappers (1952) [also arr. for band or chamber orch]
Sinfonietta flamenca (Symphony No. 3), orchestra (1953-54) [arr. 1971 for band]
Fandango, orchestra (1954)
Hollywood Carnival, "Sketches in cartoon", chamber orchestra (1954)
    - Preview
    - Charlie Chaplin
    - Beauties on parade
    - Epitaph to the silent movies
    - Stereophonism
    - Paso doble in technicolor
Feria mágica (Magic Fair), overture, orchestra (1956)
Madrid, 1890, chamber orchestra (1956) [Waltz; Polka; Tango; Mazurka; Schottische]
Sinfonía chica, orchestra (1957)
Concerto for Orchestra (1959)
Acrobats of God, symphonic version of the ballet (1960; arr. 1972) [also 5 pieces arr. 1969 for piano]
Danza andaluza, small orchestra (1960)
Symphonic Variations, orchestra (1962)
Drama jondo, overture, orchestra (1965)
Melorhythmic Dramas (7 mvts), orchestra (1966)
    - Fervid
    - Festive
    - Poignant
    - Tragic
    - Voluptuous
    - Vehement
    - Mournful
Las trompetas de los serafines (The Trumpets of the Seraphim), overture, orchestra (1973)
Concerto for String Orchestra (1978)

Band
Ritmo jondo: Flamenco, cl, tpt, tamburo, xylophone, timpani & hand clappers (1952) [arr. 1967 for band or chamber orch]
Sinfonietta flamenca (Symphony No. 3), orchestra (1953-54) [arr. 1971 for band]
Paeans and Dances of Heathen Iberia, wind orchestra/band (1959)
    - Fertility rite
    - Dance of the playful love
    - Pagan ode
    - Dance of the warriors
    - Shepherd's song
    - Apotheosis
Jota, from "Suite española", band (1969-70; arr. 1977)
Soleriana, band (1972) [based on the Fandango by Antonio Soler]
Celebraciones medievales: (4) Spanish divertissements of the Middle Ages, chorus and band (1977)
    - Estampida [text: M. de Cervantes; English translation by Joseph Machlis]
    - Danza baja [text: Anon.; English translation by Joseph Machlis]
    - Pastoral de amor [text: traditional songs; English translations by Joseph Machlis]
    - Rondel [text: M. de Cervantes; English translations by Joseph Machlis]
Memories of Old Zarzuela, band (pub. 1987) [based on "El barberillo de Lavapiés" by Asenjo Barbieri]

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Doppio concertino, violin, piano, and 9 instruments (1954)
Concertino, piano, string orchestra and cymbals (1956)
Piano Concerto (1973)
Harp Concerto (1978)
Violin Concerto (1980)
Concerto for Flute, Doublebass and Chamber Orchestra (1988)

Chorus w/Orchestra or Band
The Missions of San Antonio (5 mvts), male chorus and orchestra (1969)
    - Espada: Hallowed trophy
    - San Juan: Song and fauna
    - Concepción: Holy womb
    - El Alamo: Epitaph
    - San José: Celebration
Celebraciones medievales: (4) Spanish divertissements of the Middle Ages, chorus and band (pub. 1977)
    - Estampida [text: M. de Cervantes; English translation by Joseph Machlis]
    - Danza baja [text: Anon.; English translation by Joseph Machlis]
    - Pastoral de amor [text: traditional songs; English translations by Joseph Machlis]
    - Rondel [text: M. de Cervantes; English translations by Joseph Machlis]

Choral
Cantata de San Juan, chorus and percussion (1963)
Songs of the Soul (4 songs), chorus (1964) [text: Saint John of the Cross; English translations by Joseph Machlis]
    - Dark night of the soul (Noche oscura del alma)
    - Living flame of love (Llama de amor viva)
    - The soul longing to see God (Deliro del alma por ver a Dios)
    - Joy in the faith (Gozo a la fé)
Via crucis, a cycle of fifteen saetas, voices (chorus) and guitar (1972) [1970?]

Chamber
Piano Quartet (1944)
Tres cantos berberes, flute, oboe, clarinet, viola, cello and harp (1952)
Ritmo jondo: Flamenco, cl, tpt, tamburo, xylophone, timpani & hand clappers (1952) [also arr. for band or chamber orch]
    - Bulerias
    - Saeta
    - Garrot'in
Tientos (Essays), harp (or harpsichord; or piano), English horn and timpani (1953)
Una rosa en cada galta (Red cheeks), a Catalan duet for guitars (pub. 1974)
String Quartet (1974)
Hieroglyphics, chamber ensemble [2 pic, 2 fl, Eng hn, 2 cl, bcl, hn, 4 vc, 2 db] (1983; pub. 1984) ["Miami, April 1983"]

Instrument and Piano
Flamenco cyclothymia, violin and piano (1967)

Solo Instrument
Sonatina, guitar (1959; pub. 1961) [dedicated to Segovia] [pub. in Ricordi's "Antologia per Chitarra"]
Pavana and rondo, accordion (1959)
Bolero de los picaros, from ballet "Suite espagñola", guitar (1970; arr. 1972)
Song and Dance, from ballet "Chronique", guitar (1974; arr. 1976)
Prelude of the Sea, accordion (pub. 1975)

Piano
Trois chansons et danses espagnoles (Three Spanish songs and dances), piano (pub. 1953)
Flamenquerias, 2 pianos (pub. 1954)
    - Soleares
    - Romance
    - Sevillanas
Tales from the Flamenco Kingdom (Leyendas Del Reino flamenco) (3 pieces), piano (1955) [for young players]
    - El rey de la pimienta (Pepper king)
    - La belleza graciosa (Sweet beauty)
    - Danza de la hechicera (Witch dance)
Sonatina, piano (1959) [pub. by Peermusic]
Acrobats of God, ballet (1960) [choreograper: M. Graham] [5 pieces arr. 1969 for piano]
    - Fanfare
    - Antique dance
    - Bolero
    - Minuet
    - Spanish gallop

Vocal
Three Songs of Spain (Tres canciones), soprano and chamber orchestra (or piano) (1952) [1945?]
    - I [text: Federico García Lorca]
    - II [text: Antonio Machado]
    - III [text: Antonio Machado]
Romance, oración y saeta (morals and maxims by Saint Theresa), soprano and orchestra (or piano) (1958)
Tres cantares, soprano and orchestra (or piano) (1958) [text: Lope de Vega]
Flamenco Meditations (5 songs), voice and piano (1965) [text: from "Sonnets from the Portuguese"/Elizabeth Barrett Browning]
    - How do I love thee?
    - Yet, love is beautiful indeed
    - Our two souls
    - With thee anear
    - If thou must love me
Four tonadillas, voices and small orchestra (or piano) (pub. 1968)
    - The beggars = Los ciegos fingidos / V. Galván
    - Lovers' quarrels = El majo y la maja / M. García
    - By the inn's gate = Una mesonera y un arriero / L. Misón
    - The lemon girl = La maja limonera / P. Aranaz
Prayers (3 songs), voice and guitar (1973) [text: Michel Quoist]
    - The telephone
    - The prayer of the adolescent
    - The pornographic magazine

Arrangements
Los Ciegos fingidos (The Beggars, etc), voices and small orchestra [edited and arranged by Carlos Surinach and José Subirá]
By the Inn's Gate, etc., voices and small orchestra [edited and arranged by Carlos Surinach and José Subira]
. . . also arrangements of works by Isaac Albeniz


SURINACH  LINKS                                                            Works by Genre      ~ top of page ~
[under construction]
Carlos Surinach, 82, Composer Inspired by Flamenco Rhythms (Allan Kozinn, The New York Times)
Carlos Surinach - A Conversation with Bruce Duffie (bruceduffie.com)

Composer website (at G. Schirmer)   . . .   inquire about Carlos Surinach:  here

Surinach @ Wikipedia
Surinach @ Answers.com    also    here
Surinach @ Audiophile Audition (via Google Advanced Search)
Surinach @ Classical Archives
Surinach @ Classical Composers Database
Surinach @ ClassicsToday (via Google Advanced Search)
Surinach @ InstantEncore
Surinach @ Klassika
Surinach @ Mac McClure
Surinach @ Modern Classical
Surinach @ MusicWeb International
Surinach @ Naxos
Surinach @ New World Records
Surinach @ The New York Times
Surinach @ REC Music Foundation /The Lied and Art Song Texts Page
Surinach @ G. Schirmer

Publisher
Surinach @ Associated Music [see G. Schirmer]
Surinach @ Peermusic
Surinach @ C.F. Peters
Surinach @ Ricordi
Surinach @ G. Schirmer

Streaming Audio
Surinach @ Classical Archives
Surinach @ last.fm
Surinach @ Rhapsody.com

Recordings
Surinach @ Amazon.com
Surinach @ ArkivMusic
Surinach @ CD Universe
Surinach @ ClassicsOnline
Surinach @ Discogs
Surinach @ itunes
Surinach @ Naxos

Video
Surinach @ YouTube
Surinach @ Google Video
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