Federico Moreno Torroba facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Federico Moreno Torroba
Federico Moreno Torroba (left) with zarzuela baritone Plácido Domingo Ferrer backstage at the Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid, 1946
Born	Federico Moreno Torroba (1891-03-03)3 March 1891 Madrid, Spain
Died	12 September 1982(1982-09-12) (aged 91) Madrid, Spain
Nationality	Spanish
Occupation	Composer

Federico Moreno Torroba (March 3, 1891 – September 12, 1982) was a famous Spanish composer, conductor, and theater manager. He is especially known for his important music for the classical guitar. He became one of the top composers for this instrument in the 1900s.

He was also a leading composer of zarzuelas. A zarzuela is a type of Spanish light opera that mixes singing and spoken parts. His 1932 zarzuela, Luisa Fernanda, is still very popular today. Besides these, he wrote ballets, orchestral music, and piano pieces. He also composed short operas and one full-length opera, El poeta. This opera first showed in 1980 and starred the famous singer Plácido Domingo. Moreno Torroba also had his own zarzuela company. This company traveled a lot, especially in Latin America, sharing Spanish music with many people.

Biography and Career

Federico Moreno Torroba had a very long career. During this time, he wrote many musical works. Some were in traditional Spanish styles, and others were for concert halls. He is often linked to the zarzuela, which is a classic Spanish musical form.

He became most successful in the 1930s. His zarzuelas Luisa Fernanda (1932) and La Chulapona (1934) were big hits. Moreno Torroba managed several opera companies. He helped bring the zarzuela to audiences around the world. In 1946, he started a zarzuela company with singers Plácido Domingo Ferrer and Pepita Embil. These were the parents of the famous singer Plácido Domingo, and they were close friends with Moreno Torroba. The company toured Latin America for two years. They became very popular, especially in Mexico.

Moreno Torroba also wrote operas. His best-known operas are La Virgen de Mayo (1925) and El poeta (1980). In El poeta, Plácido Domingo sang the main role. Besides his works for singers, he is well known for his music for the classical guitar. Many of these pieces were written for specific guitarists like Maria Angélica Funes or Andrés Segovia. Even though he didn't play the guitar himself, he understood the instrument very well. The famous guitarist Pepe Romero said this about him. Moreno Torroba also often worked as a conductor, leading orchestras.

Torroba also composed a piece called Cuban Boy. A recorded version of this song by Frank Chacksfield became the theme tune for the BBC Scotland comedy show Still Game.

Works

Moreno Torroba wrote many different kinds of musical works. Here are some of them:

Operas

• La Virgen de Mayo, 1 act (1925)
• El poeta, 4 acts (1980)

Zarzuelas

• La Mesonera de Tordesillas (1925)
• La Marchenera (1928)
• Azabache (1932)
• Luisa Fernanda (1932)
• Xuanón (1933)
• La Chulapona (1934)
• Sor Navarra (1938)
• Maravilla (1941)
• El Duende azul (1946, with Rodrigo)
• Baile en Capitanía (1960)
• Ella (1966)

Ballets

• Fantasía de Levante (1957)
• Don Quixote (1970)
• El Hijo pródigo (1976)
• Cristo, luz del mundo (1978)

Orchestral Works

These works are written for a full orchestra.

• La Ajorca de oro (1918)
• Zoraida (1919)
• Suite madrileña (1953)
• Mosaico sevillano (1954)
• Aires vascos (1956)
• Danzas asturianas (1956)
• San Fermín (1960)
• Eritaña (1979)
• Sonatina trianera (1980)
• Fantasía castellana (1980) for piano and orchestra

Guitar Works

Moreno Torroba wrote many pieces for the guitar.

Solo Guitar

These pieces are for one guitar.

• Sonatina (1924)
• Nocturno (1926)
• Suite castellana (1926). Includes: 1. Fandanguillo; 2. Arada; 3. Danza.
• Preludio (1928)
• Burgalesa (1928)
• Piezas características (1931). Includes: 1. Preámbulo; 2. Oliveras; 3. Melodía; 4. Albada; 5. Los Mayos; 6. Panorama.
• Sonata-Fantasía (early 1950s)
• Madrileñas (1953)
• Zapateados (1953)
• Segoviana (1956)
• Sevillana (1956)
• Once obras (1966)
• Habanera de mi niña (1966)
• Castillos de España ("Castles of Spain") (vol. 1, 1970; vol. 2, 1978). This set of pieces is named after famous Spanish castles.
• Tríptico (1973)
• Las Puertas de Madrid (1976). This set is named after the historic gates of Madrid.
• Aires de La Mancha
• Madroños
• Serenata Burlesca
• Siete Piezas de Álbum. Includes: Chisperada; Rumor de Copla; Minueto del Majo; ¡Ay, Malagueña!; Aire Vasco; Segoviana; Bolero Menorquín.
• Sonatina y variación in E minor
• Suite miniatura. Includes: Llamada; Tremolo; Vals; Divertimento.

Guitar with Orchestra

These pieces feature a guitar playing with a full orchestra.

• Concerto de Castilla (1960)
• Homenaje a la seguidilla (1962)
• Tres nocturnos (1970)
• Concerto ibérico (1976)
• Diálogos (1977)

Guitar Quartets

These pieces are for four guitars playing together.

• Ráfagas (1976)
• Estampas (1979)
• Sonata-Fantasía II (1976)
• Sonata trianera (1980)

Piano Works

• Apetits pas (1913)
• El Mate (1915)
• Alegrías de Cadiz (1957)
• Fandango corralero (1957)
• Torerías (1957)
• Chucares (1958)
• Noche sevillana (1959)

Recordings

Federico Moreno Torroba also conducted many recordings of his own music and other works.

LP Records

• Mosaico Andaluz – Orquesta De Conciertos De Madrid, Director y arreglador F. Moreno Torroba (Sello Hispavox, Año 1958. 45 R.P.M.)
• Recordando El Ayer – Orquesta Federico Moreno Torroba (1961)
• La Voz de su Amo – Isabel Rivas, Luis Sagi-Vela, Tino Pardo, Ramón Alonso, Rosa Sarmiento, Mari Carmen Ramírez, Matilde Garcés, Enrique del Portal, Luis Frutos, Ana M.ª Amengual. Coro Cantores de Madrid, dir.: José Perera. Orquesta Lírica Española, dir.: Federico Moreno Torroba. (1968)
• Federico Moreno Torroba – Banda De Pasodobles De Madrid – Lp Pasodobles Toretos – RCA 1958
• Ultimos Exitos De Lola Flores. Acompañada Por F. Moreno Torroba Y Su Orquestra
• Luisa Fernanda – Moreno Torroba
• Corrida De Toros Con Oles
• María Manuela
• Moreno Torroba: Homenaje A La Seguidilla c/w Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Guitar Concerto In D, Op. 99. Ángel Romero, ECO, Federico Moreno Torroba. EMI: ASD 4171.

CDs

• Luisa Fernanda. Moreno Torroba conducts, 1932. (Blue Moon, BMCD 7504)
• Azabache – Xuanon – Maria La Tempranica. Moreno Torroba conducts. (Blue Moon, BMCD 7544)
• La Caramba – Maravilla – La Ilustre Moza. Moreno Torroba conducts. (Blue Moon, BMCD 7526)

Literature

• Clark, Walter Aaron – Krause, William Craig: Federico Moreno Torroba: A Musical Life in Three Acts. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-0-19-531370-3.

See also

In Spanish: Federico Moreno Torroba para niños