Rodolfo Halffter facts for kids
Rodolfo Halffter Escriche was an important Spanish composer. He was born on October 20, 1900, and passed away on October 14, 1987.
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His Early Life
Rodolfo Halffter was born in Madrid, Spain. He grew up in a family where music was very important. His brother, Ernesto Halffter, and his nephew, Cristóbal Halffter, also became famous composers. Rodolfo's father, Ernest Halffter Hein, was from Königsberg, Germany. His mother, Rosario Escriche Erradón, was Catalan and gave her children their first music lessons.
Becoming a Composer
Rodolfo Halffter taught himself how to compose music. In the 1930s, he was part of a group of artists and thinkers in Madrid. He joined a special group of composers called "Grupo de los Ocho" (Group of Eight) or "Grupo de Madrid."
This group was inspired by a Spanish musician named Adolfo Salazar. Salazar encouraged them to try new and exciting musical ideas. He introduced them to "avant-garde" music. This was a new style that pushed the boundaries of what music could be. It included works by composers like Debussy, Schoenberg, Ravel, and Bartók.
During this time, Rodolfo Halffter wrote many of his most important musical pieces. He also worked as a music critic for a newspaper called La Voz. He even worked for the Republican government, helping with their public messages.
Moving to Mexico
The Spanish Civil War changed many lives. Because Rodolfo supported the Republican government, he had to leave Spain when the war ended. He moved to Mexico to live in exile.
In Mexico, he continued his musical journey. He taught at the National Conservatory and led a music publishing company called Ediciones Mexicanas de Música. He never stopped composing. His music always kept the fresh and new style he learned from the "Grupo de los Ocho."
His music often used a style called polytonality. This means using more than one musical key at the same time. He also mixed this with a classicism that reminded people of the composer Domenico Scarlatti. Rodolfo Halffter is also known for bringing a modern music style called serialism to Mexico.
Later Years and Awards
After 1963, Rodolfo Halffter visited Spain many times. He taught music in cities like Granada and Santiago de Compostela. He also took part in different music festivals.
In 1986, he received Spain's highest award for composing, the Premio Nacional de Música. This showed how much his country valued his musical talent.
Rodolfo Halffter passed away in Mexico in 1987.
Film Music
Rodolfo Halffter also composed music for movies. Here are a few films he worked on:
- The Lady from Trévelez (1936)
- Michael Strogoff (1944)
See also
In Spanish: Rodolfo Halffter para niños
