Mestres-Quadreny, Josep (Maria)

Mestres-Quadreny, Josep (Maria), Spanish composer; b. Manresa, March 4, 1929. He studied composition with Taltabull at the Univ. of Barcelona (1950–56). In 1960 he collaborated in the founding of Música Abierta, an organization of avant-garde musical activity; later he joined composers Xavier Benguerel, Joaquim Horns, and Josep Soler in founding the Conjunt Català de Másica Contemporània, for the propagation of Catalan music. In his music, he consciously attempts to find a counterpart to Abstract Expressionism in art, as exemplified by the paintings of Mirò; for this purpose he applies serial techniques and aleatory procedures.

Works

dramatic: opera:El Ganxo (1959). ballet:Roba i ossos (1961); Petit diumenge (1962); Vegetado submergida (1962). music theater:Concert per a representar for 6 Voices, 6 Instrumentalists, and Tape (1964); Suite bufa for Ballerina, Mezzo-soprano, Piano, and Electronic Sound (1966). orch.: Tríade per a Joan Mirò (1961; a superimposition of Música da câmara I for Flute, Piano, Percussion, Violin, and Double Bass, Música da câmara II for 3 Clarinets, English Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Percussion, and String Trio, and 3 Movi-ments per a orquesta de câmara for 15 Instruments); Digodal for Strings (1963); Conversa for Chamber Orch. (1965); Quadre for Chamber Orch. (1969); Double Concerto for Ondes Martenot, Percussion, and Orch. (1970). chamber: Piano Sonata (1957); 3 invenció mòvils: I for Flute, Clarinet, and Piano, II for Voice, Trumpet, and Electric Guitar, and III for String Quartet (all 1961); Tramesa a Tàpies for Violin, Viola, and Percussion (1961); Quartet de Catroc for String Quartet (1962); 3 canons en homenatge a Galile, in 3 versions: for Piano (1965), for Percussion (1968), and for Ondes Martenot (1969), each with Tape; String Trio (1968); Ibemia for 13 Instrumentalists (1969); Micos i Papel-lones for Guitar and Metal Percussion (1970); Variacions essenciais for String Trio and Percussion (1970); Homenatge a Joan Prats for 6 Actors, Electroacoustical Installation, String Quartet, 4 Percussionists, Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, 2 Trombones, and Tuba (1972); Frigoli-Frigola for Any Instruments (1969); Aronada for Any Instruments (1972). vocal:Epitáfios, cantata for Soprano, Strings, Harp, and Celesta (1958); Triptic carnavalesc, cantata for Soprano, Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone, 2 Percussionists, and Piano (1966); Música per a Anna for Soprano and String Quartet (1967).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire