Valls, Francisco (1665–1747)

Spanish composer. He was controversial in his day for his use of dissonance (a combination of tones displeasing to the ear) in church music, as in the Mass Scala aretina, for which he is best known today.

After posts at Mataró and Gerona, Valls moved to Barcelona in 1696; he was maestro de capilla at the cathedral there from 1709. He retired in 1740 to write a treatise called Mapa armónico, in which he defended the use of dissonance in sacred music as employed by Spanish composers against the more orthodox views of Alessandro Scarlatti.

Works Sacred and secular music Masses, including Scala aretina for 11 voices and orchestra (1702), Regalis (for the King of Portugal, 1740), and ten others; 22 responsories, 16 Magnificats, 12 psalms, two Misereres, about 35 motets, about 120 villancicos.