MARCO GARCÍA DE PAZ

Choir / Choral Conducting

Improvised counterpoint played a fundamental role in the music of the Renaissance. Today we base our approach to Renaissance music on the written compositions that have come down to us; but we have to be aware that these were the fruit of a musical creativity based on oral polyphony, which covered a wide spectrum – from popular music to the sophisticated improvisations of contrapuntalists in cathedrals. The purpose of the course is the practice of different historical techniques of oral polyphony, such as the fauxbourdon, the folias, the canon, the counterpoints of dozens and other concerted counterpoints. The course does not require any previous experience or special talent, since polyphonic improvisation was not based on the romantic idea of ​​an innate and original inventiveness, but on the imitation, repetition and assimilation of typical patterns proposed by the teacher. In this context, historical methodology tools such as solmisation and the Guidonian hand will also be applied. Finally, we will also explore how historical improvisation can contribute today to teaching and a musical practice that is closer to the creative process.

Higher degree in Violin and Chamber Music from the Higher Conservatory of Music of the Principality of Asturias and in Direction from the Higher Music Center of the Basque Country. He currently develops his work as a teacher at the Conservatory of Music of the Principality of Asturias, where he teaches chamber music, choir and conducting techniques. In addition to his facet as an instrumentalist, he also has a solid choral formation. He began in music at the “Escolanía de Covadonga”, continued his studies at the “Schola Cantorum” of the Cathedral of León and trained as a choral director in the courses of the Federation of the Basque Country with maestro J. Duijck. He has completed his studies in choral conducting with G. Baltés at the Higher Music Center of the Basque Country. Other fundamental personalities in its formation have been J. Busto, P. Phillips among others. He is director-founder of the choir “El León de Oro” of Luanco. with whom he has performed throughout Spain and abroad. He has twice been proclaimed winner of the “National Grand Prize for Choral Singing”, in its 2003 and 2006 editions. He collaborates with such prominent figures as Peter Phillips and the “Tallis Scholars”. As a conductor, he received the award for best conductor at the XXVIII International Choral Competition «Prof. Georgi Dimitrov”, held in Varna (Bulgaria) in 2005 and at the IX “Internationale Koorwedstrijd van Vlaanderen” – Maasmechelen (Belgium) in 2007