Pedro Blanco López facts for kids
Pedro Blanco López (León, July 14, 1883 – Porto, May 1, 1919) was a Spanish composer, pianist, teacher, and music critic. He was known for his beautiful music and for helping connect the cultures of Spain and Portugal.
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Early Life and Musical Training
Pedro Blanco López was born in León, Spain. His father, Mateo Blanco del Río, was also a musician. Pedro started learning music from his father at a young age.
In 1897, Pedro moved to Madrid to study at the National School of Music. He learned from famous teachers like Felipe Pedrell and Andrés Monge. He also wrote many letters to them and to another important musician, Tomás Bretón, throughout his life.
The National School of Music later changed its name to the Conservatory of Music and Declamation. In 1902, Pedro won the First Prize for Piano there. This was a big achievement for him!
Life in Porto
After finishing his studies, Pedro Blanco started his career as a pianist in Madrid. In 1903, he moved to Porto, Portugal, where he lived until he passed away.
In Porto, he married one of his students, Clementina Nogueira. They had two children together.
Soon after arriving in Portugal, Pedro joined a group of artists and writers in a coastal town called Espinho. This group included famous people like the painter Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso and the writer João de Barros. He also met Dr. Manuel Laranjeira, who introduced him to other important thinkers like Miguel de Unamuno. Pedro and Unamuno wrote letters to each other for many years.
Pedro also had friends and helpers in Spain, such as the painter Cecilio Plá, the writer Guillermo Perrín, and the cartoonist Ramón Cilla.
A Dedicated Teacher and Cultural Bridge
Pedro Blanco became a very important piano teacher in Porto. He taught many students for over ten years. In 1917, he was chosen to teach at the new Porto Conservatory of Music, where he worked until his death.
Pedro played a big part in the lively cultural scene of Porto in the early 1900s. He was a passionate and inspiring artist. He used his influence to do important social work in the community.
In Porto, he became close friends with famous people like the sculptor António Teixeira Lopes and the writer Antero de Figueiredo. He also kept in touch with many musicians and artists from around the world.
Pedro Blanco was also a writer. He wrote many articles for newspapers and magazines in both Spanish and Portuguese. His articles often talked about music, how to improve the lives of musicians, and how to share art between Spain and Portugal. He worked hard to build cultural connections between the two countries.
Later Years and Legacy
Pedro Blanco died on May 1, 1919. He was a victim of the influenza virus that spread around the world at that time.
Even though he died young, Pedro Blanco created many interesting musical pieces. His work helped bring Spanish and Portuguese cultures closer together through art.
Selected Works
Pedro Blanco wrote many musical pieces, including:
- For piano:
- Mazurca Triste (Op. 1)
- Hispania (Op. 4)
- Heures Romantiques. Impressiones Intimes (Op. 6)
- Galanías (Op. 10)
- Dos mazurcas: Del amor y Del dolor (Op. 12)
- Castilla (Op. 16)
- For voice and piano:
- ¡Guitarra mía! (Op. 2)
- Los ojos negros (Op. 3)
- Canções: “O Senhor Reitor”, “Flor da Rua”, “A Fiandeira” (Op.5)
- Dos melodías: "Rosa e lírio", Barca-bela (Op. 9)
- Cantiga e Trovas do longe (Op. 11)
- Duas melodías para piano e canto: "Madrigal", "Quand même" (Op. 14)
- For piano and violin:
- Romance y Zambra andaluza (Op. 7)
- For Orchestra:
- Añoranzas (Op. 8)
- Duas melodías portuguesas: “Anjo da Guarda”, “Noite de Amores” (Op. 13)
- Concierto en si menor (piano and orchestra, Op. 15)
Links
- Blog Añoranzas y saudades (News about Pedro Blanco, in Spanish)
- Festival de Música Española (CDs, concerts and exhibitions, in Spanish)
- Pedro Blanco: A vida e a obra para piano (PhD. Nuno Caçote, in Portuguese)
- Pedro Blanco López: Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project
See also
