Municipal Conservatory of Barcelona
Encyclopedia
The Municipal Conservatory of Barcelona is a teaching institution, which is devoted to music education. The present ownership belongs to the Barcelona
City Hall
.
as a school of music, so that the new musicians of the band could be trained there. Other cities that had a band had made the same thing, since they had the same necessity.
The first director was Josep Rodoreda, until in 1896 Antoni Nicolau replaced him. In 1911 the position of assistant director was created. The fist assistant director was Enric Morera until 1935. In 1930, when a new director was needed for the band, Lluís Millet was elected. He was more conservative and he was preferred by the Barcelona
City Hall
. His election for this position created some polemics.
In the meantime, in 1928 the conservatory building was placed in the corner between Bruc and València streets.
Millet left the position in the year that the Spanish Civil War
ended (1939). The next year, Joan Baptista Lambert replaced him until 1945. During this time, the institution was transformed from a School of Music into a Conservatory
. In 1945 a new studies plan was introduced, which was based on the 1942 decree that unified the studies in all the conservatories of Spain.
When Lambert died Joaquim Zamacois
was the new director until 1965. During this period, contacts with other European conservatories were made, important musicians from all Europe were invited, and a new department for ancient music was created. It was also created the Barcelona Music Museum. In 1952 Joan Pich i Santasusana was appointed assistant director, first provisionally until 1968 and officially appointed until 1977. According to the arrival of democracy to Spain, important efforts were made in order to update this institution, and also to decentralize it, since it was during that time the only public educational music institution of the city. Moreover, during Pich's term of office a new studies plan was introduced, according to a 1966 decree. This studies plan ruled the professional music education for four decades. So that the students could perform concerts during their formation, the construction of an auditorium was envisaged, but Xavier Turull (who was appointed director in 1977) inaugurated it. During this period, the students orchestra (conducted by Edmon Colomer) had a certain stability, the Music Museum was moved to the Quadras house, and the first steps in order to create the Library
of the Conservatory were made. He resigned in 1982 due to disagreements with the City Hall, and first Maria Cateura and afterwards Marçal Gols succeeded him. He made important reforms, decentralizing the institution, limiting the registration in certain instruments, reducing the teachers in certain specialities, and promoting the registration in string instruments.
But not everyone in the institution understood these reforms, and he resigned. He was replaced by Pilar Figueras and then Francesca Ruiz (1988-1997) and Carme Vilà.
In 2001, when the Education Department of the Generalitat de Catalunya
opened the Superior School of Music of Catalonia (ESMuC), the Municipal Superior Conservatory of Music of Barcelona did not teach superior music studies any more, and thus it changed its name. At the same time, many teachers began to teach in the new institution.
Since then, the Conservatory has adapted its task to the new situation, inside the Municipal Institute of Education of Barcelona. In this context, many municipal schools of music have been created as well.
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
City Hall
City hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
.
History
The beginnings took place in 1886; it was founded by the Municipal Band of BarcelonaMunicipal Band of Barcelona
The Municipal Band of Barcelona is a music institution with a long tradition, which was founded in 1886.- Beginnings :The Municipal Band of Barcelona had a great social significance when it was founded. Its main aim was to bring the great authors to the ordinary people...
as a school of music, so that the new musicians of the band could be trained there. Other cities that had a band had made the same thing, since they had the same necessity.
The first director was Josep Rodoreda, until in 1896 Antoni Nicolau replaced him. In 1911 the position of assistant director was created. The fist assistant director was Enric Morera until 1935. In 1930, when a new director was needed for the band, Lluís Millet was elected. He was more conservative and he was preferred by the Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
City Hall
City hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
. His election for this position created some polemics.
In the meantime, in 1928 the conservatory building was placed in the corner between Bruc and València streets.
Millet left the position in the year that the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
ended (1939). The next year, Joan Baptista Lambert replaced him until 1945. During this time, the institution was transformed from a School of Music into a Conservatory
Music school
The term music school refers to an educational institution specialized in the study, training and research of music.Different terms refer to this concept such as school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department or conservatory.Music instruction can be provided...
. In 1945 a new studies plan was introduced, which was based on the 1942 decree that unified the studies in all the conservatories of Spain.
When Lambert died Joaquim Zamacois
Joaquim Zamacois
Joaquín Zamacois i Soler , was a Chilean-Spanish composer, music teacher and author.Zamacois was born in Santiago de Chile. Being of Spanish descent, he moved to Barcelona. He began his musical career under the tutelage of his father, studying later at Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu and...
was the new director until 1965. During this period, contacts with other European conservatories were made, important musicians from all Europe were invited, and a new department for ancient music was created. It was also created the Barcelona Music Museum. In 1952 Joan Pich i Santasusana was appointed assistant director, first provisionally until 1968 and officially appointed until 1977. According to the arrival of democracy to Spain, important efforts were made in order to update this institution, and also to decentralize it, since it was during that time the only public educational music institution of the city. Moreover, during Pich's term of office a new studies plan was introduced, according to a 1966 decree. This studies plan ruled the professional music education for four decades. So that the students could perform concerts during their formation, the construction of an auditorium was envisaged, but Xavier Turull (who was appointed director in 1977) inaugurated it. During this period, the students orchestra (conducted by Edmon Colomer) had a certain stability, the Music Museum was moved to the Quadras house, and the first steps in order to create the Library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
of the Conservatory were made. He resigned in 1982 due to disagreements with the City Hall, and first Maria Cateura and afterwards Marçal Gols succeeded him. He made important reforms, decentralizing the institution, limiting the registration in certain instruments, reducing the teachers in certain specialities, and promoting the registration in string instruments.
But not everyone in the institution understood these reforms, and he resigned. He was replaced by Pilar Figueras and then Francesca Ruiz (1988-1997) and Carme Vilà.
In 2001, when the Education Department of the Generalitat de Catalunya
Generalitat de Catalunya
The Generalitat of Catalonia is the institution under which the autonomous community of Catalonia is politically organised. It consists of the Parliament, the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia and the Government of Catalonia....
opened the Superior School of Music of Catalonia (ESMuC), the Municipal Superior Conservatory of Music of Barcelona did not teach superior music studies any more, and thus it changed its name. At the same time, many teachers began to teach in the new institution.
Since then, the Conservatory has adapted its task to the new situation, inside the Municipal Institute of Education of Barcelona. In this context, many municipal schools of music have been created as well.
Important teachers
- Conxita Badia i Millàs
- Antoni Besses i Bonet
- Miquel Farré i Mallofré
- Francesc Xavier Joaquín Planes
- Joan Massià i Prats
- Manuel Oltra i Ferrer
- Eduard Toldrà i Soler
- Montserrat Torrent i Serra