Jordi Savall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jordi Savall
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Savall in 2014, when he received the Gold Medal of the Generalitat de Catalunya
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jordi Savall i Bernadet |
| Born | 1 August 1941 Igualada, Barcelona, Spain |
| Genres | Classical, western early music |
| Occupation(s) | Conductor, gambist, composer |
| Instruments | Viola da gamba, viola da braccio |
| Labels | EMI Classics, Astrée, Alia Vox |
Jordi Savall i Bernadet (born August 1, 1941) is a famous Spanish conductor, composer, and viol player. He is known for bringing "early music" back to life. Early music means music from long ago, like the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods.
Jordi Savall has helped make instruments like the viol (especially the viola da gamba) popular again. He has even included music from different cultures, like African music, in his projects.
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Becoming a Musician
Jordi Savall started his musical journey at age six, singing in a school choir in his hometown of Igualada. He later studied at the Conservatory of Music in Barcelona.
After his studies, he focused on early music. He learned from a famous teacher, August Wenzinger, in Switzerland. In 1974, Jordi Savall took over from Wenzinger as a professor of viola da gamba.
Musical Groups
In 1974, Jordi Savall created a music group called Hespèrion XX. His wife, Montserrat Figueras, and other musicians joined him. This group wanted to play old music with lots of energy, but also make sure it sounded just like it would have centuries ago. Since 2000, the group has been known as Hespèrion XXI.
Later, in 1987, he started another group in Barcelona called La Capella Reial de Catalunya. This group focused on music from before the 1700s. In 1989, he formed Le Concert des Nations, an orchestra that mostly plays Baroque music, but sometimes also Classical and Romantic pieces.
Jordi Savall has also performed with his family. His late wife, Montserrat Figueras, was a singer. Their children, Arianna and Ferran, are also musicians. Arianna plays the harp and sings, while Ferran plays the theorbo (a type of lute) and sings.
Savall and his groups have also explored music from other parts of the world. They have played traditional Arabic, Christian, and Sephardic music from places like medieval Al-Andalus, Syria, Morocco, and Turkey. They even included African music in a project about the history of slavery.
Jordi Savall has also started music festivals, like the Festival musique et histoire in France and the Jordi Savall Festival in Catalonia.
Personal Life
Jordi Savall was married to Montserrat Figueras from 1968 until she passed away in 2011. They had two children, Arianna and Ferran. In 2017, Jordi Savall married Maria Bartels.
Recordings
Jordi Savall has made over 200 recordings! He first recorded with EMI Classics, then with Astrée. Since 1998, he has released his music on his own record label, Alia Vox.
Awards and Recognitions
Jordi Savall has received many awards for his amazing musical work:
- 2000 – He won the Premi d'Honor Lluís Carulla for his contributions to Catalan culture.
- 2006 – He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Barcelona.
- 2008 – He was named an ambassador for intercultural dialogue by the European Union.
- 2008 – UNESCO named him and his wife, Montserrat Figueras, "Artists for Peace."
- 2009 – He received the Handel Prize from Halle, Germany.
- 2011 – He won a Grammy Award for his album Dinastia Borja. Església i poder al Renaixement.
- 2012 – He received the Léonie Sonning Music Prize, a very important music award.
- 2013 – France honored him with the Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur.
- 2014 – He received the Gold Medal of the Generalitat of Catalonia.
- 2022 – He became an honorary member of the Royal Philharmonic Society.
In 2014, he turned down a national music award from the Spanish government. He did this to protest what he felt were poor artistic policies by the government.
Music in Movies
Jordi Savall has also created music for films. He adapted and performed the music for the 1991 movie Tous les matins du monde. This film was about two composers, Sainte-Colombe and Marin Marais. His work on this movie won him a César Award (a French film award) in 1992. The movie's soundtrack sold over a million copies!
He has composed music for these films:
- (1991) Tous les matins du monde (All the Mornings of the World)
- (1993) The Bird of Happiness
- (1994) Joan the Maiden (Parts 1 and 2)
- (1997) Long Twilight
- (1997) Marquise
- (1998) Secret Defense
Images for kids
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Savall in 2014, when he received the Gold Medal of the Generalitat de Catalunya
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Savall rehearsing for a concert in Geneva, June 2015
See also
In Spanish: Jordi Savall para niños
