CARLES MAGRANER

Viol / Viella / Viola da gamba
Chamber Music

Interpretation of medieval music for bowed instruments (fiddle, rebec or viella). Introduction to early music for instruments of the violin family (viola, violoncello or double bass). Music from the origins of the viola da gamba to the early Baroque marks this course in the interpretation of medieval and renaissance music. It will deal with the technique of the instrument in its various tessituras (soprano, tenor and bass) and its various repertoires at all levels. From estampies and royal dances to ensemble music of vihuelas de arco, vocal Renaissance songbooks and Renaissance instrumental music, especially the repertoire of diminutions on Italian madrigals by Dalla Casa, Rognioni and Ortiz. We will work on solo music, individual technique classes, the modal application to improvisation on the instrument and the practice of instrumental adaptation of medieval and renaissance works for the viola, as well as the repertoire with other instruments or singers. The course is open to all bow players who wish to introduce themselves to the performance of early music (instruments of the violin family) or to those who play the viella, rebec or viella.

He studied at the Conservatorio Superior de Valencia, obtaining the degrees of Professor of Violoncello and Superior of Musicology. He soon became captivated by early music and specialised in baroque cello and viola da gamba, studying in Barcelona, Madrid and the Department of Ancient Music at the Conservatoire National de Région de Toulouse. He also attended several seminars on medieval, renaissance and baroque music given by Miquel Querol and Josep Bonastre, among others, completing his training in Iberian music from the 11th-18th centuries. He was awarded the Prize for Musical Creativity by the University of Valencia in 1988 and 1989 and by the Ministry of Culture for Young Performers. Carles Magraner holds a Master’s and Doctorate in Music from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, specialising in early music. He has developed a great concert activity as a soloist and in various chamber ensembles and has also shared his knowledge, on the one hand as a teacher in various conservatories and music schools, and on the other hand with his participation in lectures and conferences at the Universitat de València, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, the Universitat de Girona, the Stockholm School of Music, the Shanghai Conservatory, the Havana School of Art, the International Congress Els mons de Vicente Martín y Soler, among others. In addition to this individual professional career, his best known facet is his work as founder and director of the Valencian early and baroque music group Capella de Ministrers, with more than 1000 concerts given since its creation in 1987 and his extensive discography, all of which have been received with very good reviews from the public and specialists, as well as national and international awards from institutions and professional magazines.