Carlos Surinach facts for kids

Carlos Suriñach (born Carles Suriñach i Wrokona) was a famous Spanish composer and conductor. He was born on March 6, 1915, and passed away on November 12, 1997. He is known for blending Spanish sounds, especially flamenco, with modern music.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Carlos Suriñach was born in Barcelona, Spain, on March 6, 1915. His mother was a pianist, and she introduced him to music very early. He started playing the piano when he was about 5 or 6 years old. By age 10, he began formal music lessons.

His father was a businessman and did not want Carlos to become a musician. But Carlos loved music deeply. His mother taught him piano and music theory until he was 14. He studied at the Caminals Academy of Music.

Later, he became a conductor for important orchestras in Barcelona. These included the Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona and the Gran Teatre del Liceu. He also studied how to compose and arrange music with Enrique Morera. Morera was the director of the Barcelona Conservatory.

Carlos then moved to Germany to continue his studies in Berlin. He learned from famous composers like Max Trapp and Richard Strauss. In 1944, he returned to Barcelona. He became the new conductor of the Barcelona Philharmonic Orchestra. His opera El mozo que casó con mujer brava was first performed there.

Moving to America and a Big Career

In late 1950, Carlos Suriñach moved to the United States. He hoped to become a successful composer there. European music publishers were busy reprinting old classics after World War II. This made it hard for new composers to get noticed.

He first went to New York to conduct an orchestra. In May 1951, a special concert was held at the Museum of Modern Art. It featured works by many top artists, including Carlos Suriñach. His piece Ritmo Jondo was a big hit. The audience loved it so much they asked for it to be played again.

Ritmo Jondo was a short, lively piece. It was written for instruments like the clarinet, trumpet, and xylophone. It also used three people clapping their hands. This performance made Carlos Suriñach famous.

Soon after, choreographers Doris Humphrey and Jose Limon asked to use his music for a ballet. Their successful show opened in April 1953. Carlos wrote a 20-minute piece for a Broadway orchestra with 23 musicians. He also made many recordings with MGM Records.

Working with Famous Dancers

Years later, the famous choreographer Martha Graham discovered his music. She had used one of his songs to create an 8-minute dance piece. Even though she did this without his permission, Carlos was very impressed. He admired her talent and passion.

Martha Graham then asked to work with him. They made the piece longer and added more instruments. Carlos composed three ballet scores for Martha Graham:

• Embattled Garden (1958)
• Acrobats of God (1960)
• The Owl and the Pussycat (1978)

Martha Graham won an award for "Acrobats of God." She gave Carlos a large payment for his music. "The Owl and the Pussycat" was created very quickly, in just six months.

Carlos also worked with other choreographers. He created Agathe's Tale with Paul Taylor in 1967. He also composed Feast of Ashes for the Joffrey Ballet. His music was often performed by the Louisville Symphony and Orchestra.

In 1959, Carlos Suriñach became a citizen of the United States. He also helped arrange part of Isaac Albéniz's famous piano suite Iberia for orchestra.

Carlos Suriñach died in New Haven, Connecticut, USA, on November 12, 1997.

Carlos Suriñach Awards

The BMI Foundation now sponsors The Carlos Surinach Awards. These awards recognize talented young musicians in America. They also help fund new music by past winners. Carlos Suriñach left money in his will to start this program. [1]

About His Name

The "ch" at the end of Surinach's name sounds like a "k." This is how it was spelled in old Catalan. Today, it's usually spelled with a "c." Many Catalan last names still use the "ch" ending. Also, before he left Spain, his name was spelled "Suriñach," with a special mark over the "n." He later dropped this mark, but people in Spain still used the original spelling on concert posters. [2]

Works

• Symphony No. 1, Sinfonía Passacaglia (1945)
• El mozo que casó con mujer brava (1948), opera
• Symphony No. 2 (1949–50)
• Sinfonietta Flamenca (1953)
• Ritmo Jondo (1953), ballet
• Hollywood Carnival (1954)
• Fandango (1954)
• Feria Magica (1956), overture
• Concertino for Piano, Strings and Cymbals (1956)
• Symphony No. 3, Sinfonía Chica (1957)
• Embattled Garden (1958), ballet
• Paeans and Dances of Heathen Iberia (1959)
• Sonatina (1959), for solo guitar
• Acrobats of God (1960), ballet
• Symphonic Variations for Orchestra (1962)
• Feast of Ashes (1962), ballet
• Cantata of St. John (1962)
• Songs of the Soul (1964), for chorus
• Drama Jondo (1965)
• Melorhythmic Dramas (1966)
• Flamenco Cyclothymia (1967)
• Via Crucis: a cycle of fifteen saetas (1970), for chorus and guitar
• Concerto for piano and orchestra (1973)
• Prayers (1973), for solo voice
• Chronique (1974), ballet
• Celebraciones Medievales (1977), for chorus
• Concerto for String Orchestra (1978)
• The Owl and the Pussycat (1978), ballet
• Harp Concerto (1978)
• Violin Concerto (1980)
• Melismas sinfónicos (1985)
• Quimera (1989), ballet
• Double concerto for flute, double bass and chamber orchestra (1990)

See also

In Spanish: Carlos Suriñach para niños