Sebastián Durón facts for kids

Sebastián Durón (born April 19, 1660 – died August 3, 1716) was a famous Spanish composer. He created many musical pieces during his lifetime.

Life and Career of Sebastián Durón

Sebastián Durón Picazo was one of the greatest Spanish composers of stage music in his time. He was born in Brihuega, a town in Spain. His brother, Diego Durón, who was also a composer, taught him music.

Sebastián worked as an organist and choirmaster in several important cathedrals. These included places like Seville, Cuenca, and Plasencia. In 1691, he became the organist for the Royal Chapel of King Charles II in Madrid.

Later, in 1701, the new king, King Philip V, made him the chapel master of this royal institution. Durón stayed in this important job until 1706. However, he was removed from his position because he supported Archduke Charles of Austria. This happened during a big conflict called the War of Spanish Succession. King Philip V won this war.

Because of his support for Archduke Charles, Durón had to leave Spain and go to France. In 1715, he became a chaplain for the exiled queen, Mariana of Neuburg. She was the widow of King Charles II. Durón died in 1716 in France from a lung illness called tuberculosis.

Even though Durón wrote many religious songs, his biggest impact was on a type of Spanish musical play called zarzuela. His religious music and other songs, called villancicos, were even taken to the New World.

A writer named Father Benito Jerónimo Feijoo once said that Durón's music was too worldly. He compared it to the music of another composer, Antonio de Literes.

Stage Works by Sebastián Durón

Sebastián Durón wrote music for many plays and operas. Here are some of his well-known stage works:

• 1696 Salir el amor del mundo (a zarzuela in two acts)
• 1697 Muerte en amor es la ausencia (a mythological comedy in three acts)
• c. 1697 Selva encantada de amor (a zarzuela in two acts)
• c. 1701 La guerra de los gigantes (a one-act play)
• 1704 Hasta lo insensible adora (a zarzuela in two acts)
• c. 1705 Apolo y Dafne (a zarzuela in two acts)
• c. 1705 Coronis (a zarzuela in two acts)
• 1711 Veneno es de amor la envidia (a zarzuela in two acts, first performed around 1706)
• 1711 Las nuevas armas de amor (a zarzuela in two acts, first performed around 1702)

Selected Music Recordings

You can listen to some of Sebastián Durón's music on these recordings:

• Tonadas (Songs), by Raquel Andueza.
• Selections on Barroco Español, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, by Al Ayre Español, conducted by Eduardo Lopéz Banzo.
• La Guerra de los Gigantes—A Corte Musical, Rogério Concalves.
• Lágrimas, Amor - Arias for Soprano—Eva Juárez, A Corte Musical, Rogério Concalves.
• Coronis - Le poème harmonique, Vincent Dumestre.

See also

In Spanish: Sebastián Durón para niños