Ardévol, José

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Ardévol, José

Ardévol, José, Spanish-born Cuban composer, conductor, and administrator; b. Barcelona, March 13, 1911; d. Havana, Jan. 7, 1981. He studied with his father in Barcelona, and then settled in Havana in 1931. After Castro’s seizure of power in 1959, Ardévol became a leading figure in the reorganization of musical life in Cuba. He served as national director of music until 1965. His orch. and chamber works followed along neo-Classical lines, but he pursued more advanced writing in his vocal scores.

Works

ORCH Concerto for 3 Pianos and Orch. (1938); 3 syms. (1943, 1945, 1946); Triptico de Santiago (Cologne, May 25, 1953); Música para pequeña orquestra (Washington, D.C., April 19, 1958). OTHER: Several string quartets, numerous piano pieces, and various vocal works, some on revolutionary themes.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire