Antonio Soler

Called Antonio ( in Catalan Antoni ) Francesc Xavier Joseph Soler i Ramos, also Padre Antonio Soler ( born December 3, baptized in 1729 Olot, † December 20, 1783 in El Escorial ) was a Spanish composer of classical music for keyboard instruments.

Biography

His training as an organist and composer received Soler, the son of a military bandmaster, as a choirboy in the Escolania de Montserrat near Barcelona, where he was also educated. Around 1750 he became Kapellmeister at the Cathedral of Lleida, where he continued his religious career. In 1752 he joined the Jerónimos of El Escorial, where he became Kapellmeister in 1757. He was at the court of the Spanish prince Don Gabriel daily piano lessons and presented as educational material refined sonatas, which were compared with respect to technical and musical challenges with Domenico Scarlatti, ready. Soler 1762 published his great work of music theory Llave de la modulación, which he later had to defend against hostilities of other musicians. He had contact with José de Nebra and Padre Martini and also worked as an organ expert.

Honor

In the years 1979 and 1980 an international ceremony was held on the occasion of his 250th birthday. It is located about 80 concerts with 47 different programs, performed by 55 artists were (partly with their choirs ), organized in all parts of the world.

Work

His fame as a composer is due to his 120 keyboard sonatas, often one or two, but also three - and four-movement. His great ingenuity puts him on the side of Domenico Scarlatti, whom he met in El Escorial. A mutual influence of the two is likely. Soler used in his sonatas often flamenco elements and populated with ornaments.

As a special masterpiece to be Fandango in D minor is to be considered for Harpsichord, in which he developed over an ostinato bass numerous variations of great variety and virtuosity. The work was edited in 1990 by Klaus Miehling for Treble Recorder or Violin and Harpsichord.

There are also twelve multi-movement sonatas of Soler for two organs and harpsichords.

Furthermore Soler created more than 200 sacred vocal works (exhibitions, Psalms, Magnificat, motets and others) and about 140 villancicos and some chamber music.