José Herrando facts for kids

José Herrando (born around 1720 or 1721 in Valencia, Spain; died 1763 in Madrid, Spain) was a talented Spanish violinist and composer. He was known for his music and for teaching others how to play the violin.

A Musician's Life

José Herrando was a good friend of the writer and mathematician Diego de Torres Villarroel. Herrando often played music for theater groups in Madrid. He even wrote music for some of their plays, like Manos blancas no ofenden (White hands do not offend) by Pedro Calderón de la Barca.

He also worked for the theater of the Duke of Arcos. For the Duke, Herrando wrote an important book called Arte y puntual explicación del modo de tocar el violín con perfección y facilidad (Art and timely explanation of how to play the violin with perfection and ease). This book was published in Paris in 1756. It was the very first time a Spaniard had published a guide on how to play the violin! The book even had a picture of Herrando on the front, made by Manuel Salvador Carmona.

Herrando later became the main violinist for the Royal Chapel of the Incarnation. In 1754, he wrote Seis sonatinas para violín de cinco cuerdas y bajo armónico, no cifrado (Six sonatinas for five-string violin and bass). He dedicated these pieces to a very famous singer named Carlo Broschi, also known as Farinelli. Farinelli was a musician at the Spanish court during the time of King Felipe V. His amazing singing voice was said to help the king feel better when he was sad. Herrando's music was lively and fresh, similar to the style of other great Spanish composers like Albero and Soler.

In 1760, Herrando published another collection of his music in London. It was called Diecisiete nuevos minuetos españoles para dos violines (Seventeen new Spanish minuets for two violins). Like his friend and fellow composer Luis Misón, Herrando often played his violin in the evenings at the Palace of the Dukes of Alba in Madrid.

Many of Herrando's works were listed by Jose Subirá at the Palace of Liria. These included twelve sonatas for violin and bass, twelve violin pieces, and twelve trios for two violins and bass. He dedicated the trios to the Duke of Huéscar in 1751. He also wrote some duets for two violins and a book called Libro de Diferentes Lecciones para la Viola (Book of Different Lessons for Viola). This book contained 42 years of interesting musical ideas. Sadly, most of these works were lost during the Spanish Civil War. However, some of his sonatas survived thanks to a book called Clásicos españoles del violín (Spanish Violin Classics), which was published in Paris in 1937 by Joaquín Nin.

Works

Written Works

• Arte y puntual explicación del modo de tocar el violín con perfección y facilidad (París, 1756) - (Art and timely explanation of how to play the violin with perfection and ease)
• Libro de Diferentes Lecciones para la Viola - (Book of Different Lessons for Viola)

Music Works

• Seis sonatinas para violín de cinco cuerdas y bajo armónico, no cifrado - (Six sonatinas for five-string violin and bass)
• Doce sonatas para violín y bajo – (Twelve sonatas for violin and bass)
• Doce tocatas para violín – (Twelve violin gigs)
• Doce tríos para dos violines y bajo – (Twelve trios for two violins and bass)
• Dúos para dos violines – (Duets for two violins)

See also

In Spanish: José Herrando para niños