Mompou (Semblança), Federico

Mompou (Semblança), Federico, significant Spanish composer; b. Barcelona, April 16, 1893; d. there, June 30, 1987. After preliminary studies at the Barcelona Cons., he went to Paris, where he studied piano with Philipp and composition with Rousseau. He returned to Barcelona in 1914, then was again in Paris from 1921 to 1941, when he once more went back to Spain. His music is inspired by Spanish and Catalan melos, but its harmonic and instrumental treatment is entirely modern. He wrote mostly for piano:6 impressions intimes (1911–14), Scènes d’enfants (1915), Suburbis (1916–17), 3 pessebres (1918), Cants magics (1919), Festes Llunyanes (1920), 6 charmes (1921), 3 variations (1921), Dialogues (1923), Canción y Danza (1918–53), 10 preludes (1927–51), 3 paisajes (1942, 1947, 1960), Música callada (4 albums, 1959–67), and Suite compostelana for Guitar (1963). Other works include choral works and songs.

Bibliography

S. Kastner, F M. (Madrid, 1946); A. Iglesias, F M. (Madrid, 1977); C. Janés, F. M.: Vida, textos, documentos (Madrid, 1987); W. Meilers, Le Jardin Parfume: Homage to F. M. (1989); R. Paine, Hispanic Traditions in Twentieth-Century Catalan Music with Particular Reference to Gerhard, M., and Montsalvatge (N.Y. and London, 1989); FM. S. (1893–1987): Palau de la Música Catalana, 13 d’abril-13 de maig de 1993 (Madrid, 1993); L. Millet, R. Barce, and N. Bonet, F M. (Barcelona, 1993).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis Mclntire