Lluís Llach
Encyclopedia
Lluís Llach i Grande (born 7 May 1948 in Girona
, Catalonia
,) is a Catalan
composer and songwriter.
Though partially dependent on arrangers, like Manel Camp or Carles Cases
in his early works, Llach's songwriting has largely evolved from the more basic early compositions to a vastly more complex harmonic and melodic writing. Self-taught as a guitarist, Llach only strumms simple chords on guitar. As a pianist, he shows a good knowledge of the European song tradition from Schubert
to Hahn
with touches of Satie
(Nounou) and his local epygons like Mompou
and Manuel Blancafort (A la taverna del mar). Llach has used salsa
piano patterns (Terra) and jazzy whole-step block modulations (El jorn dels miserables) and progressions (Cançó d'amor a la llibertat). Some early songs depicted some inspiration from Baroque dances (Laura, Jo sé, Vinyes verdes vora el mar) and ostinato
chord patterns (Non, Somniem).
Among his influences as singer, Llach has recognized Mahalia Jackson
and Jacques Brel
.
His lyrics can range from the most traditionally romantic songs, to more complex, philosophical song-cycles and also to some more ironic, politically-based compositions, with a more upbeat tempo. Sea and vitalistic attitude in face of death are two of his cherished topics. When he doesn't write the lyrics of his songs he puts music to a variety of poets, including Constantine P. Cavafy
, Màrius Torres
, Josep Maria de Segarra, Pere Quart and, perhaps more often than with any of the others, Miquel Martí i Pol
.
Llach has occasionally performed as a classical baritone, including a series of performances of Gabriel Fauré
's Requiem, and has also been a wine producer. He marked his retirement as front man in music with a farewell concert in Verges
(March 2007), in Baix Empordà
on the Costa Brava
, the village in which he grew up. Afterwards, he has performed incidental music for theatre pieces.
Com un arbre nu (1972)
Viatge a Itaca (1975)
Somniem (1979)
Verges 50 (1980) Folkish arrangements in the Mediterranean tradition.
I amb el somriure, la revolta (1982)
T'estimo (1984)
Maremar (1985) Powerful songs about mourn, losses and hope, with some of Llach's most inspired lyrics.
Geografia (1988)
Un pont de mar blava (1993) Outstanding female singers as well as Greek and Arabic influences.
Nu (1997)
9 (1998) A mature work as composer; counterpoint textures and jazzy sounds.
Temps de revoltes (2000)
Jocs (2002)
Junts (2003)
Poetes (2004)
i. (2006)
Verges 2007 (2007)
' '“Lluís Llach“ (Col·lecció "Los Autores", SGAE, Barcelona, 1995) is a biography about the Catalan musician and songwriter Llach, which contains an interesting chronology, a collection of pictures, an anthology of songs and a discography.
Girona
Girona is a city in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain at the confluence of the rivers Ter, Onyar, Galligants and Güell, with an official population of 96,236 in January 2009. It is the capital of the province of the same name and of the comarca of the Gironès...
, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
,) is a Catalan
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
composer and songwriter.
Though partially dependent on arrangers, like Manel Camp or Carles Cases
Carles Cases
Carles Cases is a Spanish musician born in Catalonia.He was trained in piano and cello at the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu, in harmony and piano-jazz at the Hastad Modern Music Academy, and in orchestration and composition at the Instituto Superior de Arte de la Habana.He was a member...
in his early works, Llach's songwriting has largely evolved from the more basic early compositions to a vastly more complex harmonic and melodic writing. Self-taught as a guitarist, Llach only strumms simple chords on guitar. As a pianist, he shows a good knowledge of the European song tradition from Schubert
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer.Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies , liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music...
to Hahn
Reynaldo Hahn
Reynaldo Hahn was a Venezuelan, naturalised French, composer, conductor, music critic and diarist. Best known as a composer of songs, he wrote in the French classical tradition of the mélodie....
with touches of Satie
Erik Satie
Éric Alfred Leslie Satie was a French composer and pianist. Satie was a colourful figure in the early 20th century Parisian avant-garde...
(Nounou) and his local epygons like Mompou
Federico Mompou
Frederic Mompou i Dencausse was a Catalan Spanish composer and pianist. He is best known for his solo piano music and his songs.-Life:...
and Manuel Blancafort (A la taverna del mar). Llach has used salsa
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
piano patterns (Terra) and jazzy whole-step block modulations (El jorn dels miserables) and progressions (Cançó d'amor a la llibertat). Some early songs depicted some inspiration from Baroque dances (Laura, Jo sé, Vinyes verdes vora el mar) and ostinato
Ostinato
In music, an ostinato is a motif or phrase, which is persistently repeated in the same musical voice. An ostinato is always a succession of equal sounds, wherein each note always has the same weight or stress. The repeating idea may be a rhythmic pattern, part of a tune, or a complete melody in...
chord patterns (Non, Somniem).
Among his influences as singer, Llach has recognized Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson – January 27, 1972) was an African-American gospel singer. Possessing a powerful contralto voice, she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel"...
and Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel was a Belgian singer-songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in France initially, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson...
.
His lyrics can range from the most traditionally romantic songs, to more complex, philosophical song-cycles and also to some more ironic, politically-based compositions, with a more upbeat tempo. Sea and vitalistic attitude in face of death are two of his cherished topics. When he doesn't write the lyrics of his songs he puts music to a variety of poets, including Constantine P. Cavafy
Constantine P. Cavafy
Constantine P. Cavafy, also known as Konstantin or Konstantinos Petrou Kavafis, or Kavaphes was a renowned Greek poet who lived in Alexandria and worked as a journalist and civil servant...
, Màrius Torres
Màrius Torres
Màrius Torres was a [-Catalan poet, first published by fellow writer Joan Sales in Mexico. He's among the most influential poets in the first 30 years of post-Civil War Catalonia....
, Josep Maria de Segarra, Pere Quart and, perhaps more often than with any of the others, Miquel Martí i Pol
Miquel Martí i Pol
Miquel Martí i Pol was one of the most popular poets in Catalan in the 20th century.Martí i Pol was of humble origin and had to quit studying at 14 years, to start working at a factory. Nevertheless, he started publishing poetry in 1954. In 1970 he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis...
.
Llach has occasionally performed as a classical baritone, including a series of performances of Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Urbain Fauré was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th century composers...
's Requiem, and has also been a wine producer. He marked his retirement as front man in music with a farewell concert in Verges
Verges
Verges may refer to:* Bruno Verges , rugby league player* Verges, Catalonia, Spain* Verges, Jura, France* Verges, a character in William Shakepeare's play Much Ado About Nothing- See also :...
(March 2007), in Baix Empordà
Baix Empordà
Baix Empordà is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain, one of the two into which Empordà was divided in the comarcal division of 1936. It is popularly known as L'Empordanet .- Geography :...
on the Costa Brava
Costa Brava
The Costa Brava is a coastal region of northeastern Catalonia, Spain, in the comarques of Alt Empordà, Baix Empordà and Selva, in the province of Girona. Costa is the Catalan and Spanish word for 'coast', and Brava means 'rugged' or 'wild'...
, the village in which he grew up. Afterwards, he has performed incidental music for theatre pieces.
Recordings
Some popular albums include:Com un arbre nu (1972)
Viatge a Itaca (1975)
Somniem (1979)
Verges 50 (1980) Folkish arrangements in the Mediterranean tradition.
I amb el somriure, la revolta (1982)
T'estimo (1984)
Maremar (1985) Powerful songs about mourn, losses and hope, with some of Llach's most inspired lyrics.
Geografia (1988)
Un pont de mar blava (1993) Outstanding female singers as well as Greek and Arabic influences.
Nu (1997)
9 (1998) A mature work as composer; counterpoint textures and jazzy sounds.
Temps de revoltes (2000)
Jocs (2002)
Junts (2003)
Poetes (2004)
i. (2006)
Verges 2007 (2007)
Literature about Lluís Llach i Grande
Pep BlayPep Blay
Pep Blay is a Catalan writer, script writer and music journalist. As a music journalist, he interviewed stars like Lou Reed, The Cure and Nick Cave. He also often works together with Spanish artists, f.e. Enrique Bunbury, Iván Ferreiro, Amparanoia...
' '“Lluís Llach“ (Col·lecció "Los Autores", SGAE, Barcelona, 1995) is a biography about the Catalan musician and songwriter Llach, which contains an interesting chronology, a collection of pictures, an anthology of songs and a discography.