Pedro Iturralde facts for kids
Pedro Iturralde Ochoa (born July 13, 1929 – died November 1, 2020) was a talented Spanish musician. He was known for playing the saxophone, teaching others how to play it, and writing music.
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A Musician's Early Life
Pedro Iturralde was born in a town called Falces in Spain. He started learning music from his father when he was very young. By the time he was eleven, he was already playing the saxophone professionally!
He studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid. There, he learned to play the clarinet and piano. He also studied harmony, which is about how musical notes fit together.
Jazz and Flamenco Music
Pedro Iturralde loved jazz music. He formed his own jazz band, called a quartet, and played at the W. Jazz Club in Madrid. He was very creative and started mixing two different types of music: flamenco (a traditional Spanish style) and jazz. This was a new and exciting sound! He even made recordings for a famous music company called Blue Note Records.
In 1972, he went to the Berklee College of Music in Boston to learn more about music. He studied how to arrange music, which means deciding which instruments play what parts.
Teaching and Performing
From 1978 to 1994, Pedro Iturralde taught saxophone at the Madrid Conservatory. He helped many students learn to play the instrument.
He also performed as a solo musician with the Spanish National Orchestra. He played with famous conductors like Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos and Sergiu Celibidache. This meant he traveled around Spain and to other countries to share his music.
Writing Music and Collaborations
When he was 20 years old, Pedro Iturralde wrote a piece for saxophone called Czárdás. Later, his brother Javier helped him arrange it for a whole orchestra. He dedicated this version to his friend, saxophonist Theodore Kerkezos.
Pedro Iturralde also recorded music with other famous musicians. He worked with flamenco guitarists like Paco de Lucía and Paco Cepero. He also recorded with jazz singer Donna Hightower. He even helped arrange and conduct music for her albums.
Pedro Iturralde passed away in Madrid on November 1, 2020. He left behind a wonderful legacy of music and teaching.
See also
- In Spanish: Pedro Iturralde para niños
