Rodrigo, Joaquín (1901-1999)

Spanish composer. His works are filled with Spanish folklore or ambience, as in the well-known Concierto de Aranjuez (1939) or the Concerto heroico (1943). He has always composed in a conservative, lucid neoclassical style that is less adventurous than Manuel de Falla but nevertheless as effective and colourful.

He was born at Sagunto in Valencia. He was blind from the age of three, but persevered in studying music and in 1927 he went to Paris as a pupil of Dukas. He returned to Spain in 1933 and again, after travels in Europe, in 1936, settling in Madrid in 1939.

Works Orchestral Ausencias de Dulcinea for bass, four sopranos, and orchestra; Heroic concerto and other works for orchestra; ‘Aranjuez’ concerto for guitar (1939), ‘Summer’ concerto for violin (1944), Concierto en modo galante for cello (1949), Concerto Serenada for harp (1954), Fantasia para un gentil hombre for guitar and orchestra (1954), Concierto andaluz for four guitars and orchestra (1967), Concierto Pastoral for flute (1978), Concierto como um divertimento for cello (1981), Concierto para una fiesta for guitar (1982).

Other pieces for solo guitar, and songs.