The Romantic Generation
by Charles Rosen
Period: Romantic
Born: Sunday, December 29, 1850 in Salamanca,
Spain
Died: Sunday, December 2, 1923 in Madrid, Spain
Nation of Origin: Spain
Major Works:
Zarzuelas:
Other Information:
As a child, Bretón played violin in cafes. He studied music
at the Madrid Conservatory with Emilio Arrieta, and he won the
prize for composition in 1874. He also studied in Paris, Rome, and
Vienna. He became the conductor of the Madrid Opera then in 1901 he
became professor of composition at the Madrid Conservatory. In 1903
he was appointed its director. He was a champion of the Zarzuela, a
Spanish operatic form. He was a strong influence for modernization
of the musical life of Spain. His harmonic language was advanced
for the time, particularly in his chamber works.
Essay contributed by:
Steven G. Estrella
General Bibliography:
Blume, Friedrich, with M. D. Norton (Translator) and Herter Norton
(Translator), Classic and Romantic Music; A Comprehensive
Survey, W. W. Norton & Company, November 1970, ISBN:
0393098680
Kennedy, Michael, The Oxford Dictionary of
Music, Oxford University Press, 2nd Edition, 1997, ISBN:
0198691629
Einstein, Alfred. Music in the Romantic Era, W. W. Norton
& Company, December 1947, ISBN: 0393097331
Sadie, Stanley and Tyrrell, John; Editors, The New Grove
Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Groves Dictionaries, Inc.,
January 2001, ISBN: 1561592390
Slonimsky, Nicolas and Kuhn, Laura; Editors,
Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Gale Group,
December 2000, ISBN: 0028655257
Links to essays at other sites:
The Romantic Generation by Charles Rosen |
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Biographical essay at the Naxos site
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A brief
biography of Bretón in Spanish
Zarzuela!
composer biographies and more...
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