Josep Mestres Quadreny

Josep Maria Mestres Quadreny with Bartomeu Marí, MACBA director, during the presentation of Joan Brossa Archive

Josep Maria Mestres Quadreny (born 4 March 1929 in Manresa) is a Spanish composer.

He studied sciences at the University of Barcelona, city where he moved to as a boy after his father relocated there for work. He first studied music in a self taught manner, before taking lessons in composition from Cristòfor Taltabull. In 1952 he produced his first compositions in the neoclassical vein, which showed some influence from Béla Bartók's work, before moving on to serialism with 1957's Sonata for piano.

He was one of the leaders of the Música Oberta group from 1960 onwards; in 1968 he started the Catalan Group of Contemporary Music (Conjunt Català de Música Contemporània), and in 1976 the Catalan Instrumental Group (Grup Instrumental Català) with Carles Santos. He also founded the Phonos Laboratory of Electroacoustic Music in 1973, and assumed functions in the coordinating commitee for music of the Congress of Catalan Culture between 1976 and 1977. Between 1977 and 1979 he was also president of the Catalan Association of Composers.

His output includes incidental music for theatre and cinema, musicals, ballet, opera and instrumental music. He has also collaborated with visual artists, including Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies and Joan Brossa. There is an emphasis in the incorporation of new techniques in his work, including pieces interpreted by the audience (Self service) or composed entirely on the computer (such as Ibèmia).

In 1965 he composed the first piece of electronic music in Catalonia, Pieza for mechanical saw. He continued with this style with a piece called Three Canons in Homage to Galileo , premiered in Barcelona in 1965 by Carles Santos.

On the other hand, his contact with the mathematician Eduard Bonet and with the computer scientist Lluís Callejo led him to create works with the computer. He was the first in Catalonia to use this technology to compose works, and Ibèmia (1969) was the first piece he composed in this way.

The constant reconsideration of the musical recreation of random processes later led him to create L'Estro Aleatorio, a work that summarizes part of his discoveries.

In addition to his compositional activities, he has taught at the Darmstadt New Music Courses and the Latin American Course of Contemporary Music in Brazil.

He is chairman of the Joan Brossa Foundation and an emeritus member of the board of trustees of the Joan Miró Foundation.

Works

• 1957 - Sonata for piano. - Solo music (piano)
• 1958 - Epitafis (Text: JR Jiménez), for orchestra with mezzosoprano soloist. - Orchestral music
• 1959 - Three Songs of Crib, mezzosoprano and piano. - Vocal music (piano)
• 1959 - The Hook (Opera Book: J. Brossa), opera in an act and four scenes. - Stage music (opera)
• 1960 - Five Days Collective Excursion (Text: J. Brossa) - Stage music (theatrical)
• 1960 - Sonata for organ. - Solo music (organ)
• 1961 - Triade for Joan Miró. I. Chamber Music nº 1. - Orchestral music (chamber)
• 1961 - Triade for Joan Miró. II. Chamber Music nº 2 - Orchestral music (chamber)
• 1961 - Triade for Joan Miró. III. Three Movements for Chamber Orchestra. - Orchestral music (chamber)
• 1961 - Invención Móvil II, soprano, trompeta y guitarra. - Vocal music
• 1961 - Invención Móvil I, flute, clarinet and piano. - Instrumental music (duo)
• 1961 - Invención Móvil III (may be played together with Invención Móvil I, II), 2 violins, viola, cello - Instrumental music (quartet)
• 1961 - Apple stroke, piano. - Solo music (piano)
• 1961 - Clothes and Bones (Libretto: Joan Brossa), ballet - Stage music (ballet)
• 1961/62 - Delivery to Tàpies, violin, viola and percussion - Instrumental music (trio)
• 1962 - Divertimento "La Ricarda", for flute, clarinet and double bass. - Instrumental music (set)
• 1962 - Submerged Vegetation (Libretto: J. Brossa), ballet - Stage music (ballet)
• 1962 - Petit Domingo (Libretto: J. Brossa), ballet - Stage music (ballet)
• 1962 - Catroc Quartet, for string quartet. - Chamber music (Quartet)
• 1962 - Three Pieces for cello and piano. - Instrumental music (duo)
• 1963 - Soliloquy flute - Solo music (flute)
• 1964 - Concert to represent (Llibret: J. Brossa), musical theater for chamber orchestra and 6 actors - Stage music (theatrical)
• 1964, 13-10 - Digodal, for string orchestra. - Orchestral music (chamber)
• 1964 - Duo for Manolo, clarinet and piano. - Instrumental music (duo)
• 1964 - Piece for Serra Mecànica, electronic music. - Electronic music
• 1964 - Antiodes, for orchestra. - Orchestral music
• 1965 - Three canons in tribute to Galileo, for piano and three magnetic tapes (2nd version, 1968; 3rd version, 1969; 4th version, 1974). - Electroacoustic music
• 1965 - Conversation (Text .: J. Brossa), chamber orchestra. - Orchestral music (chamber)
• 1966 - Bufa Suite (Llibret: J. Brossa), incidental music for musical theater, for soprano, piano and dancer - Stage music (theatrical)
• 1966 - Triptic Carnavalesc (Text: J. Brossa), mezzosoprano, heart and whole. - Choral music
• 1967 - Engidus (Commissioned by Alea), chamber orchestra. - Orchestral music (chamber)
• 1967 - Music for Anna, soprano and string quartet. - Vocal music
• 1968 - Trio (1968), violin, viola and cello. - Chamber music (trio)
• 1968 - Perl I for guitar. - Solo music (guitar)
• 1969 - Picture, chamber orchestra. - Orchestra music (chamber)
• 1969 - Frigoli-Frigold, indeterminate set. - Instrumental music (set)
• 1969 - Poem, soprano and piano. - Vocal music (piano)
• 1969 - Ibèmia, for chamber orchestra. Orchestra music (chamber)
• 1970 - Essential variations, violin, viola, violoncello and percussion. - Instrumental music (set)
• 1970 - Monkeys and Butterflies, guitar and percussion. - Instrumental music (duo)
• 1970 - Double concert, for Martenot waves, percussion and guitar. - Orchestra music (concert)
• 1971 - Aronada, indeterminate set. - Instrumental music (set)
• 1972 - Tribute to Joan Prats, set. - Instrumental music (set)
• 1972 - Xac, 6 percussion instruments - Instrumental music (set)
• 1973 - Self-Service, for percussion instruments and beam flutes played by the public. - Instrumental music (set)
• 1973 - Random Stroke. I. For violin and orchestra. - Orchestral music (concertante)
• 1973 - El Teler by Teresa Codina, electronic music. - Electronic music
• 1973 - Song for Jane, soprano and electronics. - Vocal music
• 1974 - Trio (Homage to Schumann). - Chamber music (trio)
• 1975 - Random Stroke. III. For typewriter and orchestra. - Orchestral music (concertante)
• 1975 - Going there is Shatem (Text ... Israel Najarra), orchestra with choir. - Choral music (chapel)
• 1975 - Tocatina, piece for anise bottles. - Instrumental music (set)
• 1975 - Random Stroke. II. For guitar and orchestra. - Orchestral music (concerting)
• 1976 - Homage to Robert Gerhard, piano and 9 instruments. - Instrumental music (set)
• 1976 - Percussion II for guitar. - Solo music (guitar)
• 1976 - Percussion III for guitar. - Solo music (guitar)
• 1976 - Sound space V, electroacustic. - Electroacoustic music
• 1976 - Random Stroke. IV. For piano and orchestra. - Orchestral music (concertante)
• 1977 - Concertino, with piano soloist. - Orchestral music (concert)
• 1977 - Random Stroke. V. For percussion and orchestra. - Orchestral music (concertante)
• 1977 - Annoyance (Libretto: J. Brossa) - Stage music (theatrical)
• 1977 - Trio (1977), clarinet, violin, piano. - Instrumental music (trio)
• 1978 - El Armario en el Mar (Llibret: J. Brossa), musical theater, for trio of singers, 2 knots, 2 actors and chamber ensemble - Stage music (theatrical)
• 1978 - Random Stroke. VI. For instrumental group and orchestra. - Orchestral music (concertante)
• 1979 - Variations on a Haydn theme, indeterminate set. - Instrumental music (set)
• 1979 - Sextina of the Veil Combat Nou, mezzsoprano and guitar. - Vocal music
• 1979 - Perlow IV for guitar. - Solo music (guitar)
• 1979 - Three Pieces for Guitar. - Solo music (guitar)
• 1979 - What for magnetic tape. - Electroacoustic music
• 1979 - Magoria (In charge of National Radio of Spain. Rev. 1993), set - Instrumental music (set)
• 1981 - Sound space VB, percussion and tape clarinet. - Electroacoustic music
• 1982 - Canviera, choir (text: J. Brossa) Mixed choir. - Choral music
• 1982 - Sounds on black background, for piano. - Solo music (piano)
• 1982 - Stick for Four, 4 pianists on a piano. - Solo music (piano)
• 1983 - Equinoccial Concert, solo percussion and 4 percussion. - Instrumental music (percussion)
• 1983 - Praying for Chile, chamber orchestra. - Orchestral music (chamber)
• 1983 - Symphony in Mi Bemoll, for orchestra. - Orchestral music
• 1984 - Summer Concert, for flute 2 percussion tape. - Electroacoustic music
• 1984 - Piano Xofer. Musical theater (action and text: Perejaume) Soprano, 5 piano and actor - Stage music (theatrical)
• 1984 - Sounds of heat from the fire, chamber orchestra. - Orchestral music (chamber)
• 1985/86 - Quintet of the night and the day, for five clarinets (2nd version, 1990). - Instrumental music (set)
• 1990 - First Time, for soprano and instrumental ensemble. - Vocal music (orchestra)
• 1990 - The Gold of the sea, for mixed choir. - Choral music
• 1991 - Capmaga, for piano or synthesizer and percussion. - Instrumental music (set)
• 1991 - Made for Making, chamber orchestra - Orchestral music (chamber)
• 1991 - El Armario en el Mar, suite for instrumental ensemble. Orchestral music (chamber)
• 1991 - Cap de Mirar (text: J. Brossa) opera in three acts. - Stage music (opera)
• 1992 - Sing to Maria Aurèlia, for mixed choir and orchestra. - Choral music (orchestra)
• 1992 - Garlanda tornado, for mezzo-soprano and percussion. - Vocal music
• 1992 - Symphony in fa, for orchestra. - Orchestral music
• 1992 - Sounds of the night of glass, for percussion and piano. - Instrumental music (set)
• 1992 - Stick for two, for piano four hands. - Solo music (piano)
• 1993 - In fatal disorder, six pieces for flute and guitar. - Instrumental music (duo)
• 1993 - Musical action for Joan Miró (text and action: J. Brossa) mezzo-soprano illusionist recitador 4 piano fl. cl guit harp and tape - Stage music (theatrical)
• 1993 - Sounds of old woman proverbs, chamber orchestra. - Orchestral music (chamber)
• 1993 - The free reality, for orchestra. - Orchestral music
• 1994 - Suite Bechtold, piano. - Solo music (piano)
• 1994 - Virtual landscapes, for orchestra. - Orchestral music
• 1994 - Satalia, for a wind quintet. - Instrumental music (set)
• 1994 - Sonadas de besllum, for two pianos. - Solo musician (pianos)
• 1994 - Fourteen duets for wind instruments, flute clarinet Oboe bassoon horn - Instrumental music (set)
• 1994 - Flying bird in front of the Sun, clarinet. - Solo music (clarinet)
• 1995 - Constellations for violin, violoncello and piano flute. - Instrumental music (quartet)
• 1995 - Sounds of the old new record, for brass quintet - Instrumental music (set)
• 1995 - SOS, for guitar. - Solo music (guitar)
• 1995 - Mountaineer, piano - Solo music (piano)
• 1995 - Clap de Luna, chamber orchestra. - Orchestral music (chamber)
• 1995 - No blow, flute, violin, viola and cello. - Instrumental music (quartet)
• 1996 - Sounds at dawn break, horn basetto. - Solo music
• 1996 - Three fragments of the Bufa Suite, singer and 2 pianos. - Vocal music (piano)
• 1996 - Shouts, organ - Solo music (organ)
• 1996 - Prompt of the dirs, piano. - Solo music (piano)
• 1997 - Nocturnal, flute, clarinet and piano. - Instrumental music (trio)
• 1997 - The Carnival of the Liceu, chamber. - Orchestral music (chamber)
• 1997 - Flute soundtracks, flute. - Solo music (flute)
• 1997 - Banús Channel, guitar. - Solo music (guitar)
• 1997 - Space beyond, flute and marimba (xylophone). - Instrumental music (duo)
• 1997 - Sounds of feeling bells and not knowing where, violin and piano. - Instrumental music (duo)
• 1997 - The perfumes, soprano and piano. - Vocal music (piano)
• 1997 - None in parentheses, 4 flutes. - Solo music (flutes)
• 1997 - Branch of branches, chamber. - Chamber music
• 1997 - Bagatel·les, flute, guitar and violoncello. - Instrumental music (trio)
• 1998 - Incidental music for When will a scene of endless background be painted? - Incidental music
• 1998 - Sebelia, violoncello. - Solo music (violoncello)
• 1998 - Concert of Vilafranca, chamber. - Chamber music
• 1999 - Touch for Joan Brossa, chamber. - Chamber music
• 1999 - Viarany, piano. - Solo music (piano)
• 1999 - Solsticial, organ - Solo music (organ)
• 1999 - Six violin duets. - Solo music (violin)
• 1999 - Minutes, soprano and clarinet. - Vocal music
• 1999 - The house salt, 2 saxophones. - Solo music (saxophones)
• 2000 - Dark hour sounds, 4 flutes. - Solo music (flutes) -
• 2000 - Paraselene, guitar and accordion. - Instrumental music (duo)
• 2000 - Spilled tone, piano 4 hands. - Solo music (piano)
• 2000 - Three poems of love and two landscapes, recitador and flute. - Vocal music
• 2000 - Baràlia, 4 percussionists. - Instrumental music (percussion)