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 (born August 1, 1941) is a famous Spanish musician. He is a conductor, composer, and plays the viol. The viol is a string instrument from a long time ago.
Since the 1970s, Jordi Savall has been a very important person in the world of early music. This means music from the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. He helped make the viol family of instruments, especially the viola da gamba, popular again. He also explores music from different cultures, like African music.
Contents
All About Jordi Savall's Music
How Jordi Savall Started in Music
Jordi Savall began his music journey at age six. He sang in his school choir in Igualada, Spain. This was from 1947 to 1955.
Later, he studied at the Barcelona's Conservatory of Music. He was there from 1959 to 1965. After that, he chose to focus on early music. He learned from a teacher named August Wenzinger in Basel, Switzerland. In 1974, Savall became a professor there. He taught the viola da gamba.
Jordi Savall's Music Groups
In 1974, Jordi Savall started a music group called Hespèrion XX. Later, it became Hespèrion XXI. He formed it with his wife, Montserrat Figueras, and other musicians. This group played music with lots of energy. They also made sure to play it as it would have sounded long ago.
In 1987, he created another group called La Capella Reial de Catalunya. This group sings music from before the 1700s. Then, in 1989, he started Le Concert des Nations. This is an orchestra that mostly plays Baroque music. Sometimes, they also play Classical and Romantic pieces.
Playing Music with Family
Jordi Savall has also performed with his family. His wife, Montserrat Figueras, was a singer. She passed away in 2011. Their two children, Arianna and Ferran, are also musicians. Arianna plays the harp and sings. Ferran plays the theorbo (a type of lute) and sings. He even performs in jazz clubs!
Exploring World Music
Savall and his groups often include music from other cultures. For example, in a project called Les Routes de l’Esclavage (The Routes of Slavery), they used African music. They worked with musicians from the group 3MA.
In their albums called Orient-Occident, they shared music from the Middle East. This included traditional Arabic, Christian, and Sephardic music. This music came from places like Al-Andalus, Syria, Morocco, and Turkey.
Jordi Savall has also started music festivals. One is the Festival musique et histoire in France. Another is the Jordi Savall Festival in Catalonia, Spain.
Jordi Savall's Life Outside Music
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.
Jordi Savall's Recordings
Jordi Savall has made more than 200 recordings! He first recorded with EMI Classics. Then, he recorded with Astrée. Since 1998, he has recorded on his own music label, called Alia Vox.
Awards and Honors for Jordi Savall
Jordi Savall has received many awards for his music and cultural work.
- 2000 – He won the Premi d'Honor Lluís Carulla. This award is for helping Catalan culture.
- 2006 – He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Barcelona. This is a special degree given to honor someone.
- 2008 – He was named an ambassador for intercultural dialogue by the European Union. This means he helps different cultures understand each other.
- 2008 – UNESCO named him and his wife "Artists for Peace."
- 2009 – He won the Handel Prize in Germany.
- 2011 – He won a Grammy Award for his album Dinastia Borja.
- 2012 – He received the Léonie Sonning Music Prize. This is a very important music award.
- 2013 – France gave him the Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur. This is a high honor in France.
- 2014 – He received the Gold Medal of the Generalitat of Catalonia.
- In 2014, he turned down a national music award from the Spanish government. He did this to protest their policies on art.
- 2022 – He became an honorary member of the Royal Philharmonic Society.
Jordi Savall in Movies
Jordi Savall helped create the music for the 1991 film Tous les matins du monde. This movie was about two composers from the past. His work on this film won him a César Award in 1992. The movie's soundtrack sold over a million copies!
He also composed music for these other films:
- (1991) Tous les matins du monde (All the Mornings of the World)
- (1993) The Bird of Happiness
- (1994) Joan the Maiden (Part 1: The Battles; Part 2: The Prisons)
- (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
See also
In Spanish: Jordi Savall para niños
