Gaspar Sanz
Encyclopedia
Gaspar Sanz was an Aragonese
composer
, guitarist
, organist
and priest
born to a wealthy family in Calanda in the Spanish comarca
of Bajo Aragón
. He studied music, theology and philosophy at the University of Salamanca
, where he was later appointed Professor of Music. He wrote three volumes of pedagogical works for the baroque guitar
that form an important part of today's classical guitar
repertory and have informed modern scholars in the techniques of baroque guitar playing.
on 4 April 1640 later adopting the first name "Gaspar".
After gaining his Bachelor of Theology at the University of Salamanca, Gaspar Sanz travelled to Naples, Rome and perhaps Venice to further his music education. He is thought to have studied under Orazio Benevoli
, choirmaster at the Vatican and Cristofaro Caresana
, organist at the Royal Chapel of Naples. He spent some years as the organist of the Spanish Viceroy at Naples.
Sanz learned to play guitar while studying under Lelio Colista
and was influenced by music of the Italian guitarists Foscarini
, Granata
, and Corbetta
. When Sanz returned to Spain he was appointed instructor of guitar to Don Juan (John of Austria)
, the illegitimate son of King Philip IV
and Maria Calderon
, a noted actress of the day.
In 1674 he wrote his now famous Instrucción de Música sobre la Guitarra Española, published in Saragossa and dedicated to Don Juan. A second book entitled Libro Segundo de cifras sobre la guitarra española was printed in Saragossa in 1675. A third book, Libro tercero de mùsica de cifras sobre la guitarra española, was added to the first and second books, and all three were published together under the title of the first book in 1697, eventually being published in eight editions. The ninety works in this masterpiece are his only known contribution to the repertory of the guitar and include compositions in both punteado ("plucked") style and rasqueado ("strummed") style.
In addition to his musical skills, Gaspar Sanz was noted in his day for his literary works as a poet and writer, and was the author of some poems and two books now largely forgotten.
He died in Madrid in 1710.
baroque music
for the guitar and now form part of classical guitar pedagogy. Sanz's manuscripts are written as tablature
for the baroque guitar and have been transcribed into modern notation by numerous guitarists and editors, Emilio Pujol
's edition of Sanz's Canarios being a notable example.
He has influenced some twentieth century composers.
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
and priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
born to a wealthy family in Calanda in the Spanish comarca
Comarca
A comarca is a traditional region or local administrative division found in parts of Spain, Portugal, Panama, Nicaragua, and Brazil. The term is derived from the term marca, meaning a "march, mark", plus the prefix co- meaning "together, jointly".The comarca is known in Aragonese as redolada and...
of Bajo Aragón
Bajo Aragón
Bajo Aragón or Baix Aragó is an administrative comarca in eastern central Aragon, Spain. It was first established in 1999. It has a population of 29,358 and an area of 1.304,2 km². The seat of the comarca is in Alcañiz...
. He studied music, theology and philosophy at the University of Salamanca
University of Salamanca
The University of Salamanca is a Spanish higher education institution, located in the town of Salamanca, west of Madrid. It was founded in 1134 and given the Royal charter of foundation by King Alfonso IX in 1218. It is the oldest founded university in Spain and the third oldest European...
, where he was later appointed Professor of Music. He wrote three volumes of pedagogical works for the baroque guitar
Baroque guitar
The Baroque guitar is a guitar from the baroque era , an ancestor of the modern classical guitar. The term is also used for modern instruments made in the same style....
that form an important part of today's classical guitar
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
repertory and have informed modern scholars in the techniques of baroque guitar playing.
Biography
His birth date is unknown but he was baptized as Francisco Bartolome Sanz y Celma in the church of Calanda de Ebro, AragonAragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
on 4 April 1640 later adopting the first name "Gaspar".
After gaining his Bachelor of Theology at the University of Salamanca, Gaspar Sanz travelled to Naples, Rome and perhaps Venice to further his music education. He is thought to have studied under Orazio Benevoli
Orazio Benevoli
Orazio Benevoli or Benevolo , was an Italian composer of large scaled polychoral sacred choral works; one work featured 48 vocal and instrumental lines....
, choirmaster at the Vatican and Cristofaro Caresana
Cristofaro Caresana
Cristofaro or Cristoforo Caresana was an Italian Baroque composer, organist and tenor. He was an early representative of the Neapolitan operatic school.Born in Venice, his precise birthday is not known...
, organist at the Royal Chapel of Naples. He spent some years as the organist of the Spanish Viceroy at Naples.
Sanz learned to play guitar while studying under Lelio Colista
Lelio Colista
Lelio Colista was an Italian Baroque composer and lutenist.Funded by his father, who held an important position in the Vatican library, Colista early received an excellent musical education, probably at the Seminario Romano. He masterly managed several instruments, especially the lute and theorbo...
and was influenced by music of the Italian guitarists Foscarini
Giovanni Paolo Foscarini
Giovanni Paolo Foscarini was an Italian guitarist, lutenist, theorist and composer.A note at the end of the list of contents in his earliest surviving guitar book Intavolatura di chitarra spagnola. Libro secondo refers to him a Musico, e Sonatore, di Liuto e Tiorba, della Venerabile Compagnia del...
, Granata
Giovanni Battista Granata
Giovanni Battista Granata was an Italian classical guitarist and composer. By profession, Granata was a barber-surgeon.- Career :...
, and Corbetta
Francesco Corbetta
Francesco Corbetta was an Italian guitar virtuoso, teacher and composer. He spent his early career in Italy. He seems to have worked as a teacher in Bologna where the guitarist and composer Giovanni Battista Granata may have been one of his pupils...
. When Sanz returned to Spain he was appointed instructor of guitar to Don Juan (John of Austria)
John of Austria the Younger
John of Austria was a Spanish general and political figure. He was the only natural son of Philip IV of Spain to be acknowledged by the King and trained for military command and political administration...
, the illegitimate son of King Philip IV
Philip IV of Spain
Philip IV was King of Spain between 1621 and 1665, sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands, and King of Portugal until 1640...
and Maria Calderon
María Calderón
María Inés Calderón also known as La Calderona and Marizápalos, was a Spanish actress. She is also known as a royal mistress and as the mother of Philip IV's only recognized natural son, John of Austria the Younger .- Biography :María Calderón attracted the attention of the monarch upon her debut...
, a noted actress of the day.
In 1674 he wrote his now famous Instrucción de Música sobre la Guitarra Española, published in Saragossa and dedicated to Don Juan. A second book entitled Libro Segundo de cifras sobre la guitarra española was printed in Saragossa in 1675. A third book, Libro tercero de mùsica de cifras sobre la guitarra española, was added to the first and second books, and all three were published together under the title of the first book in 1697, eventually being published in eight editions. The ninety works in this masterpiece are his only known contribution to the repertory of the guitar and include compositions in both punteado ("plucked") style and rasqueado ("strummed") style.
In addition to his musical skills, Gaspar Sanz was noted in his day for his literary works as a poet and writer, and was the author of some poems and two books now largely forgotten.
He died in Madrid in 1710.
Influence
His compositions provide some of the most important of examples of popular SpanishSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
baroque music
Baroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
for the guitar and now form part of classical guitar pedagogy. Sanz's manuscripts are written as tablature
Tablature
Tablature is a form of musical notation indicating instrument fingering rather than musical pitches....
for the baroque guitar and have been transcribed into modern notation by numerous guitarists and editors, Emilio Pujol
Emilio Pujol
Emili Pujol Vilarrubí was a composer and the leading twentieth century musicologist and classical guitar teacher.- Biography :...
's edition of Sanz's Canarios being a notable example.
He has influenced some twentieth century composers.
- The composer Manuel de FallaManuel de FallaManuel de Falla y Matheu was a Spanish Andalusian composer of classical music. With Isaac Albéniz, Enrique Granados and Joaquín Turina he is one of Spain's most important musicians of the first half of the 20th century....
, utilised some of his themes in his work El retablo de maese Pedro composed in 1923. - In 1954, at the request of guitarist Andres SegoviaAndrés SegoviaAndrés Torres Segovia, 1st Marquis of Salobreña , known as Andrés Segovia, was a virtuoso Spanish classical guitarist from Linares, Jaén, Andalucia, Spain...
, Joaquín RodrigoJoaquín RodrigoJoaquín Rodrigo Vidre, 1st Marquis of the Gardens of Aranjuez , commonly known as Joaquín Rodrigo, was a composer of classical music and a virtuoso pianist. Despite being nearly blind from an early age, he achieved great success...
composed his Fantasia para un GentilhombreFantasia para un GentilhombreFantasia para un gentilhombre is a concerto for guitar and orchestra by the Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo. It is Rodrigo's second most popular work after the famous Concierto de Aranjuez....
on themes from Instrucción de música sobre la Guitarra Española. - Passages of Peter Warlock'sPeter WarlockPeter Warlock was a pseudonym of Philip Arnold Heseltine , an Anglo-Welsh composer and music critic. He used the pseudonym when composing, and is now better known by this name....
"Capriol Suite for String Orchestra" composed in 1926 appear to be inspired by Sanz's composition "Dance De Las Hachas".
Works
Volume 1: Instruccion de musica sobre la guitarra española (Zaragoza, 1674)
- Abecedario italiano http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LcDgbXPFVKs/Saln7VG0ybI/AAAAAAAAAJI/8qZKcjeS9FY/s1600-h/Abecedario+1.bmphttp://www.delcamp.net/guitar/facsimile/gaspar_sanz_abecedario_2.gif;
- Gallardahttp://www.epdlp.com/clasica.php?id=1623http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFWWseuOcy4;
- Mariona http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tJ0ZaGT_TAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ujFcv89ynk;
- Villano http://www.epdlp.com/clasica.php?id=1623http://video.google.es/videosearch?hl=es&q=%22canarios%20III%22%2B%22gaspar%20sanz&lr=lang_es&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#emb=0&hl=es&q=%22villano%22%2B%22gaspar+sanz&view=3;
- Danza de las hachas http://www.epdlp.com/clasica.php?id=1508http://video.google.es/videosearch?hl=es&q=%22canarios%20III%22%2B%22gaspar%20sanz&lr=lang_es&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#emb=0&hl=es&q=%22danza+de+las+hachas%22%2B%22gaspar+sanz&view=3;
- Españoleta http://www.epdlp.com/clasica.php?id=1621http://www.delcamp.net/images/facsimile/t1f5e_espanoleta.jpghttp://video.google.es/videosearch?hl=es&q=%22canarios%20III%22%2B%22gaspar%20sanz&lr=lang_es&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#emb=0&hl=es&q=%22espa%C3%B1oleta%22%2B%22gaspar+sanz&view=3;
- Pavanahttp://video.google.es/videosearch?hl=es&q=%22canarios%20III%22%2B%22gaspar%20sanz&lr=lang_es&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#emb=0&hl=es&q=%22pavana%22%2B%22gaspar+sanz&view=3;
- Torneo http://www.delcamp.net/images/facsimile/t1f5g_torneo.jpghttp://video.google.es/videosearch?hl=es&q=%22canarios%20III%22%2B%22gaspar%20sanz&lr=lang_es&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#emb=0&hl=es&q=%22torneo%22%2B%22gaspar+sanz&view=3;
- Batalla http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PfoKQjVt0A;
- Passacalles sobre la D http://www.epdlp.com/clasica.php?id=1507;
- JácarasJacarasJacaras are Spanish songs of Arab origin, which are accompanied with instruments and are performed during the entr'acte of a theatrical performance and also as an accompaniment to many types of dance....
I http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Yqa74tkSdo; - Canarios http://video.google.es/videosearch?hl=es&q=%22canarios+II%22%2B%22gaspar+sanz&lr=lang_es&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=UilJS_GXAc-K4QaC95DvAg&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CA4QqwQwAA#emb=0&hl=es&q=%22canarios+III%22%2B%22gaspar+sanz&view=3http://www.epdlp.com/clasica.php?id=1216http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyhF9KEiDschttp://www.graner.net/nicolas/arbeau/orcheso23.php#danse11-0;
- Preludio y Fantasia;
- SesquiálteraSesquialteraSesquialtera may mean:*An organ stop of principal scale comprising ranks at 2' and 1'.*The ratio 3:2, used in medieval music theory.*The plural of sesquialterum....
1; - Alemanda, la Serenissima http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwgWfUwT9uo;
- Giga, al aire inglés http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0x92JteCos;
- ZarabandaZarabandaThe zarabanda is an old Spanish dance related to the sarabande especially popular in the 16th and 17th centuries. It is believed to have originated in Native American dances. In its time it was rather controversial since it was thought too indecent – Miguel de Cervantes once said it was...
francesa I http://video.google.es/videosearch?hl=es&q=%22canarios%20III%22%2B%22gaspar%20sanz&lr=lang_es&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#emb=0&hl=es&q=%22zarabanda+francesa%22%2B%22gaspar+sanz&view=3; - Preludio, o Capricho, arpeado por la cruz http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbi47a_gaspar-sanz-preludio-por-la-cruz-je_musichttp://johnny-jerome.com/partitions/1600/Sanz_Gaspar/Preludio%20o%20Capricho%20arpeado%20por%20la%20cruz%20(Sanz-Delcamp).pdfhttp://www.delcamp.net/images/facsimile/t1f11a_preludio.jpg;
- Sesquiáltera 2;
- Alemanda, la Preciosa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs4wNdSO5bo;
- CorrienteCouranteThe courante, corrente, coranto and corant are some of the names given to a family of triple metre dances from the late Renaissance and the Baroque era....
por la Cruz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs4wNdSO5bo; - Zarabanda francesa II;
- Fuga I por primer tono, al ayre español http://video.google.es/videosearch?hl=es&q=%22canarios%20III%22%2B%22gaspar%20sanz&lr=lang_es&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#emb=0&hl=es&q=%22fuga%22%2B%22gaspar+sanz&view=3;
- El que gustare de falsas ponga cuido en estos cromáticos;
- Fuga II, al ayre de jiga;
- Zarabanda francesa III;
- Passacalles por la E;
- Passacalles por la cruz.
Volume 2: Libro segundo, de cifras sobre la guitarra española (Zaragoza, 1675)
- Gallardas;
- Las hachas http://www.delcamp.net/images/facsimile/t2f3b_las_hachas.jpghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFDMCYpyyk0;
- La Buelta http://www.graner.net/nicolas/arbeau/orcheso16.php LavoltaLavoltaThe volta is an anglicised name for a Renaissance dance for couples from the later Renaissance. This dance was associated with the galliard and done to the same kind of music. Its main figure consisted of a turn and lift in a sort of closed position, which could be done either to the right or to...
; - FoliasFoliaLa Folia is one of the oldest remembered European musical themes, or primary material, generally melodic, of a composition, on record. The theme exists in two versions, referred to as early and late folias, the earlier being faster.-History:The epithet 'Folia' has several meanings in music...
http://www.epdlp.com/clasica.php?id=1622http://video.google.es/videosearch?hl=es&q=%22canarios%20III%22%2B%22gaspar%20sanz&lr=lang_es&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#emb=0&hl=es&q=%22folias%22%2B%22gaspar+sanz&view=3; - Rujero http://www.delcamp.net/images/facsimile/t2f4a_rujero.jpghttp://video.google.es/videosearch?hl=es&q=%22canarios%20III%22%2B%22gaspar%20sanz&lr=lang_es&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#emb=0&hl=es&q=%22rujero%22%2B%22gaspar+sanz&view=3http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEw8GVPmnXQ;
- Paradetas http://www.delcamp.net/images/facsimile/t2f4b_paradetas.jpghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4rfxOBxaNghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEw8GVPmnXQhttp://video.google.es/videosearch?hl=es&q=%22canarios%20III%22%2B%22gaspar%20sanz&lr=lang_es&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#emb=0&hl=es&q=%22paradetas%22%2B%22gaspar+sanz&view=3;
- Matachínhttp://video.google.es/videosearch?hl=es&q=%22canarios%20III%22%2B%22gaspar%20sanz&lr=lang_es&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#emb=0&hl=es&q=%22matachin%22%2B%22gaspar+sanz&view=3;
- Zarabanda;
- Jácaras II http://www.epdlp.com/clasica.php?id=1713;
- Chaconahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dzV4z_YEhQ;
- Españoletas http://www.delcamp.net/gaspar_sanz.htmlhttp://video.google.es/videosearch?hl=es&q=%22canarios%20III%22%2B%22gaspar%20sanz&lr=lang_es&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#emb=0&hl=es&q=%22espa%C3%B1oletas%22%2B%22gaspar+sanz&view=3;
- Pasacalles;
- Canarios II http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddBUQUKcXFI;
- Canarios III;
- Villanos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcDDw9AUiiohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8TwXArmrrIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSXR5B_I3IE;
- Marionas II http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=029MGqigOxM;
- Marizápalos http://www.epdlp.com/clasica.php?id=1620http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCtVWhL9DBk;
- Granduque I;
- Otro Granduque;
- Passacalles;
- Pavanas por la D http://vimeo.com/1063804http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3APqQnymdmU;
- Giga Inglesa;
- Bailete Frances;
- Passacalles por la D;
- Clarines y Trompetas con canciones muy curiosas españolas, y de estranjeras naciones: La Cavalleria de Nápoles con dos clarines; Canciones: La Garzona, La Coquina Francesa, Lantururú, La Esfachata de Napoles, La Miñona de Cataluña, La Minina de Portugal, Dos Trompetas de la Reyna de Suecia, Clarín de los Mosqueteros del Rey de Francia.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9kERGd4iZohttp://vimeo.com/2769614http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0aI3cMAAVQ;
- La Cavallería de Nápoles http://www.epdlp.com/clasica.php?id=1810http://www.delcamp.net/images/facsimile/t2f12b_cavaleria_napoles.jpghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddfqXof46Cohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYh1P0nFcpY;
- La Garzona;
- La Coquina Francesa;
- Lantururú;
- La Esfacheta de Nápoles;
- La Miñona de Cataluña http://www.epdlp.com/clasica.php?id=1537http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPAn6ik1t6g;
- La Minina de Portugal;
- Dos trompetas de la reyna de Suecia;
- Clarín de los mosqueteros del rey de Francia http://www.epdlp.com/clasica.php?id=1619.
Volume 3: Libro tercero de musica de cifras sobre la guitarra española (Zaragoza, 1697)
- Pasacalles por la C http://www.delcamp.net/images/facsimile/t3f1_passacalles_por_la_c.jpg;
- Prosiguen más diferencias sobre los antecedentes Passacalles;
- Passacalles por la I;
- Passacalles por la E y la D;
- Passacalles por la Cruz y K;
- Passacalles por la H;
- Passacalles por la G y B;
- Passacalles por la D por el Uno bemolado y por segundo Tono;
- Passacalles por la L;
- Passacalles por la K.
External links
- Gaspar Sanz - Guitarra Magazine
- Gaspar Sanz in El poder de la palabra (Spanish)
- Rasgueados y punteados: Gaspar Sanz y la guitarra española La Lira de Orfeo (Spanish)
- En el Tercer Centenario del fallecimiento de Gaspar Sanz Escritos de José Antonio Bielsa (Spanish)
Manuscripts
- Instruccion de musica sobre la guitarra española - Biblioteca Nacional de España info