Fernando Lopes-Graca and the works for cello - the Concerto da Camera col violoncello obbligato
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Abstract
Fernando Lopes-Graca is unarguably one ofthe greatest Portuguese composers of the 20th century, as well as an extremely prolific one. His repertoire is rich both in the amount of works written, but also in the variety of genres and instrumentation. Living during times of political (nationalistic) attempts of standardizing a concept of Portuguese folkloric culture based on inaccurate urban views, Lopes-Graca decided to develop an esthetic of nationalistic music based on the "deep roots" ofthe Portuguese culture.
This esthetic lead him to a long work ofethno-musicological research within the deep areas ofthe mid 20th century rural Portugal. Lopes-Graca developed then, a unique compositional style deeply influenced by what he considered as the real roots of Portuguese music, and also by the main music currents ofthe early 20th century.
Being a composer of mostly vocal and piano music, his works for cello solo and cello and piano constitute a rich and important part of his instrumental music, and a clear example of his main esthetics translated into instrumental music. The Concerto da Camera col violoncello obbligato (wrote from a request by the great cellist Mstislav Rostropovich), was called by Lopes-Graca himself as his work of "biggest maturity and consequence", and is one of the best examples of his mature style. Its formal structure is perhaps the best revealing example ofhis compositional organization and style development.
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Thesis (D.M.A.)--Boston University