Montecino, Alfonso

Montecino, Alfonso, Chilean-born American pianist, teacher, and composer; b. Osorno, Oct. 28, 1924. He received training in composition (with Santa Cruz) and in piano at the Cons, of the Univ. of Chile in Santiago, graduating in 1945. In 1947 he went to the U.S., and pursued training in composition with Thompson at Princeton Univ., Varèse at Columbia Univ., Sessions at the Juilliard School of Music, and Martinû at the Mannes Coll. of Music until 1949. He also studied piano with Arrau and Rafael de Silva. Following his debut as a soloist at N.Y.’s Carnegie Hall in 1950, he appeared widely as a soloist and recital accompanist. He frequently appeared with his wife, the mezzo-soprano Siri Garson. From 1963 to 1988 he taught piano at the Ind. Univ. School of Music in Bloomington. Thereafter he devoted himself principally to composition while also giving master classes in South America, Asia, and Europe. In 1977 he became a naturalized American citizen. Montecino’s early works followed along classical lines, but from 1980 they have revealed the influence of the Second Viennese School.

Works

dramatic:ANA or Madrigal of the High Towers, chamber opera (1993-; unfinished). orch.:Obertura Concertante (1948); Concertino (1965); Piano Concerto (1994–95). chamber: 2 string quartets (1945, 1991); 2 duos for Violin and Piano (1950, 1974); Improvisation for Oboe (1966); Wind Quintet (1967); Sonata Breve for Flute, Saxophone, and Piano (1989); 3 Pieces for Cello (1989); Music for Clarinet, Cello, and Piano (1994); 4 Pieces for Viola and Piano (1998); Trio for Oboe, Viola, and Piano (1999). Piano: Suite (1948); Composition for the Left Hand (1951); Sequences, 7 improvisations (1987); Composition for 2 Pianos (1991); Sonata for 2 Pianos (1993); 3 Hommages (1995). VOCAL: Cantata for Soprano and 8 Instruments, after Hildegard von Bingen (1993); El Hombre Alegre for Voice, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano (1997).

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire