Musical Life of Pablo Casals - Essay Example

Music Pablo Casals Pablo Casals was a composer born in 1876 to his father Carles Casals and mother Pilar Defillo de Casals, who lived at El Vendrell, Catalonia, Spain. His father was a parish organist and choirmaster; in fact, Pablo was instructed by his father while learning to play piano, violin, organ and composing songs during his early age (Avsharian, 1). Nevertheless, this father was a stringent disciplinarian; for instance, Pablo learned piano as his father pulled it out from the wall, thereby having him and his brother stand behind their father as they name the note and scales that his father played. Apparently, Pablo Casals at his age of six, he was able to play various musical instruments such as the violin, piano and flute. Besides, he played these instruments so well that he would be invited to perform a solo in public. It was at a local travelling, when he first encountered an instrument that resembled a cello that was played a Catalan musician; in fact, this musician played a cello-stung broom handle (Avsharian, 1). Later, he requested his father to build a cello for him to practice playing and his request was granted. When Pablo Casals reached eleven years, he got a chance to heat a real cello performance that was performed by a group of travelling musicians; thus, this led to a decision to be dedicated to this instrument. Pablo Casals was enrolled in the Escola Municipal de Musica, where he was taken by his mother in 1888 and he studies cello and piano theory; later in 1890, he was discovered at age of thirteen where he was performing in second –hand sheet music store in Barcelona (Avsharian, 1). Later, he decided to come up with his version of six suites, thereby leading to an extraordinary progress as a cellist. In fact, this was seen when he got a chance to present a solo performance in February 23 1891 in Barcelona, and five years later, he graduated with honours from Escola Escola Municipal de Musica (Johnston, 1). After graduating, Casals joined Madrid Conservatory with Breton, where he had a chance to commence his international career, whereby he had a chance to perform during a concert in 1899 for Queen Victoria (Baldock, 34). Moreover, he was focused on achieving a true beauty in his art as a musician. He achieved this by playing through basics and entire controls of his elegant tones along with their interpretations. Casals made several tours around the world, where he had a chance to make foundation such as the Ecole Normale in Paris, and Orquesta Pau Casals in Barcelona (Baldock, 36). He had a chance to present a solo performance in December 17 1899 at Lamoureux during a concert in Paris and this led to significant publicity and crucial acclaim (Avsharian, 1). Casals made numerous tours in Spain and Netherlands; in fact, he made these tours accompanied by a pianist Harold Bauer, and made his initial visit to America in 1901, and later went South America in 1903 (Avsharian, 1). Due to his involvement in politics, he received a threat of execution after the outbreak of the civil war in Spain, whereby he was threatened by Franco regime (Avsharian, 1). However, during the Second World War, ha took a chance to offer numerous concerts that were beneficial to Red Cross and other Catalan exiles (Baldock, 36). After renunciation of the Franco regime, he commenced a self-imposed exile in 1946, later in 1950 be re-emerged and continued to promote peace through his music (Taper, 23). During his time in exile, he went to Catalan village located at Prada de Conflent in France, which was near the border of Spanish and France; in fact, between 1939 and 1942, though he made spontaneous appearances as a cellist (Baldock, 36). However, these performances were conducted in unoccupied regions of southern France and Switzerland. Nonetheless, he expressed severe opposition towards dictatorial regime of Francisco Franco in Spain. In fact, this opposition was portrayed through his refusal to appear or perform in countries that supported the authoritarian Spanish government. Later in 1956, he had established a new home in Puerto Rico, thereby establishing Puerto Rico Festival (Baldock, 36). However, this was his contribution to the effort of promoting peace, along with other endeavours such as travelling around the world while performing one of his pieces oratorio El pessebre (The Manger) (Gutmann, 1). Casals’s first recordings were made in 1951 and released later in 1956 through the Victor label (Avsharian, 1). Casals is remembered for founding of Orquestra Pau Casals in Barcelona, which is one of his most successful in 1919 (Johnston, 1). However, this venture was troubled by eruption of civil war later in 1936, and this resulted to retaliation from Casals against Franco regime, and he was sent to exile at a village in Prades called Catalan. However, he did not have a definitive action against this Franco regime after the Second World War; thus, he was elected to stop her performance as a protestant (Taper, 25). Pablo Casals established a new appreciation of instruments as the first modern cellist, whereby performed during concerts that were staged leading to consideration due to exclusiveness of their playground that featured piano and violin. Casals depicted a high level of dedication and devotion that was attributed to his formidable skills as a musician, composer and conductor. In fact, he left numerous readings that offer insightful ideas concerning orchestral repertory and posterity through recordings (Baldock, 38). Casals taught and performed music in Barcelona after a short-lived occupancy as a cellist at Folies-Marigny music hall situated in Paris; in fact, he joined a series of chamber ensembles that led to his association with other musicians such as Crickboom, who was a violinist from Belgium and Enrique Granados, who was a renowned pianist and composer (Avsharian, 1). Casals’s work has a significant impact on playing of cello during the twentieth century. In fact, he had made a radical approach towards bow and finger technique that portrayed mechanical expertise that surpassed other cellist during the late nineteen-century and twentieth century (Johnston, 1). Moreover, he established techniques of shifting the instrument to the left-hand that has been applied by numerous violinists for a long period. In fact, these techniques facilitated increase of significant dexterity of the cellist compared to what was previously thought to be possible. In addition, he focused on developing and maintaining intensity of musical concentration that was considered the prime responsibility of an artist. Virtues portrayed by Casals are impeccable, though only a few of his music were published during his life. For instance, he made incredible performances such as the composition to the United Nations in 1971 that received many performances. Other works such as El pessebre that was composed in 1943; in fact, this works received significant cursory that was appreciated through various establishments in music (Gutmann, 1). For instance, in April 9th 1911, there was an announcement by The New York Times indicating that Casals was scheduled to perform in London Musical Festivals that were to be held at Queen’s Hall during the second day of these Festivals. Casals made necessary arrangement in Paris in collaboration with Alfred Cortot and violinist Jacques Thibaud; in fact, as a group they performed and recorded together unitl 1937. Later, Casal developed interest in conducting and organizing Pau Casals Orchestra in 1919, where the first concert was held on October 13 1920 later in 1936, functionality of Orquesta Pau Casals was interfered with by outbreak of Civil War in Spain (Johnston, 1). Casals had a great support for Republican government of Spain; in fact, after its defeat, he decided to run away and return after restoration of democracy, and his last concert prior to the exile was in the Gran Teatre del Liceu on October 19, 1938 (Taper, 43). In November 13 1961, Casals conducted a magnificent performance through his participation in chamber music in the White House (Gutmann, 1); in fact, this presentation was during an invitation by John F Kennedy, who was one of his fans. This performance was recorded and released as an album and Casals continued be awarded also with Medal of Freedom in America. As a music teacher, he offered numerous mastery classes in different parts of the world such as Marlboro, Zermatt, Gstaad and Tuscany, and they were televised. However, other magnificent pieces such as oratorio El Pessebre was performed in Acapulco, Mexico in 1960 and a remarkable performance that he presented during the anniversary celebration of the United Nations. He received another award as the Man of Music Award in 1973 and he had earlier been recognized as an honorary member of Epsilon Iota Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity that was operating in The Florida State University in 1963 (Johnston, 1). “Hymn of the United Nations” was one of his last pieces of work that he performed during a special concert at the United Nations on October 1917 before he tuned ninety-fifth years of age (Johnston, 1). During this occasion, he received an award of Peace Medal where his effort to promote peace, justice and freedom was recognized. He acknowledged this award after which he made a speech that is highly renowned as "I am a Catalan", where he raised facts that recognized the effort made by Catalans, thereby making them attain democracy before England (Taper, 45). In 1973, Casals died at his home in San Juan, Puerto Rico; in fact, he died at the age of ninety-six and his burial ceremony was conducted at Puerto Rico National Cemetery, where he was laid to rest (Johnston, 1). However, he did not last long enough to witness the fall of Franco dictatorial regime in Spain, though he lived to experience the joy of being recognized even by the Spanish government. For instance, he was honoured by King Juan Carlos in 1976, thereby being offered a commemorative postage stamp that portrayed in honour of centenary of his birth. Works Cited Avsharian Charles. “Pablo Casals”. Continental Publishing Company. 2011. Web 23 May 2013 Baldock Robert. Pablo Casals. Northeastern. Boston: University Press 1992. Print Gutmann Peter. "Pablo Casals – the Musician and the Man" Classical Notes. 2004. Web 23 May 2013 Johnston Blair. "Pablo Casals: Biography". allmusic. 2013. Web. Taper Bernard. Cellist in Exile: A Portrait of Pablo Casals. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1962, Print Read More