Jose Maria Castro

Biography:

José María Castro was an Argentine composer, conductor, and cellist born in Avellaneda, Buenos Aires province, Argentina on December 15, 1892. As was his father and four younger brothers, he was very involved in the music world. His early music education took place at the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia in Rome, Italy. There he studied cello, harmony, and composition with José García, Humberto Ferrari, Gaito, and Fornarini. In 1907 he graduated with a gold medal and a diploma of honor. He later became a professor at the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia and at the Municipal Manuel de Falla. 

In 1914 he joined his brother Juán José Castro, León Fontova, Anibal Canut, and Constantino Gaito in the Argentine Chamber Music Society until 1915. In 1916 he became part of the Wagnerian Association with Telmo Vela, Roque Citro, Bruno Bandini, and his brother Juán José until 1917. In 1926 he co-founded the Quartet Society and two years later he formed the Orchestra of the Asociación del Profesorado Orquestal. In 1929 along with Juán Carlos Paz, he founded the Grupo de Renovación which later separated in 1937. In 1931 he became the conductor of the Asociación del Profesorado Orquestal. In 1936 he co-founded the Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes with Carlos López Buchardo. He won two municipality prizes in 1927 and in 1933. He also received an International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) prize in 1939. From 1933 to 1953 he was the director of the Banda Municipal of Buenos Aires with which he wrote many of his major pieces. Most of his music was of the neoclassical style. Castro passed away in Buenos Aires on August 2, 1964.

Bibliography:

Information found at Oxford Online Music (2010). Retrieved from: http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com.ezproxy.lib.umb.edu/subscriber/article/grove/music/44159pg1#S44159.1

Information found at the Música Clásica Argentina Website. Retrieved from: http://www.musicaclasicaargentina.com/castrojm/

Information found at: Oxford Online Music. Retrieved from: http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com.ezproxy.lib.umb.edu/subscriber/article_works/grove/music/44159pg1#S44159.1.1

Discography:

Ballets: 

·         El sueño de la botella (L. Cané), 1948; 

·         Falarka (J. de Obeita), 1951

·         Georgia (E. Mallea), 1937; 

Orchestral: 

·         Conc. for Orch, 1944; Conc., vn, 18 insts, 1953; 

·         Con la patria adentro, T, orch, 1964; 

·         Pf Conc., 1941, rev. 1956; 

·         Preludio, tema con variaciones y final, 1959; 

·         Sinfonia de Buenos Aires, 1953; 

Other works: 

·         Pf Sonata, G, 1931; 

·         Sonata, vc, pf; 

·         Sonata, vn, pf; 5 pf sonatas; 

·         Tres string quartets, C, 1944, G, 1947, 1956;