López Buchardo, Carlos (1881–1948)

Carlos López Buchardo (b. 12 October 1881; d. 21 April 1948), Argentine composer and teacher. Born in Buenos Aires, López Buchardo began his musical studies with Héctor Belucci and studied piano with Alfonso Thibaud. He studied harmony with Luis Forino and Constantino Gaito. Later he moved to Paris to attend the composition classes of Albert Roussel. Returning to Buenos Aires, López Buchardo founded the eponymous Conservatorio López Buchardo (1924) and directed it until his death.

López Buchardo began to compose as a young man, starting with pieces for the stage, some musicals, and an early opera, Il sogno di Alma, which premiered in Buenos Aires on 4 August 1914. He was an excellent melodist with an extraordinary gift for vocal works, and his numerous song cycles, which are based on Argentine folk tunes and themes, were popular worldwide. Among his symphonic works is the Escenas argentinas (1920), in which he utilized two popular dances, the milonga and gato; it premiered under Felix Weingartner with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in Buenos Aires in 1922. The following year López Buchardo received the Municipal Prize in Music. He was founder and director of the school of fine arts at the University of La Plata, where he was professor of harmony. He was also president of the Wagnerian Association, twice member of the board of Teatro Colón, and director of music and art for the stage for the Ministry of Public Instruction. He died in Buenos Aires.

See alsoMusic: Art Music; Music: Popular Music and Dance.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Composers of the Americas, vol. 12 (1966).

Abraham Jurafsky, Carlos López Buchardo (1966); New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, vol. 11 (1980).

Additional Bibliography

Weiss, Allison L. "A Guide to the Songs of Carlos López Buchardo (1881–1948) Argentina." M.A. Thesis. University of Portland, 2005.

                                        Susana Salgado