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António Pinho Vargas

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António Pinho Vargas (born 15 August 1951 in Vila Nova de Gaia) is a Portuguese composer and pianist specializing in jazz and contemporary music.[1] He has also authored books, essays, and articles on music.

Career

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After earning a degree in history from the University of Porto, he studied music at the Rotterdam Conservatory from 1987 to 1990, graduating with a degree in Musical Composition. In 1991, he began teaching musical composition at the Escola Superior de Música in Lisbon.[2] His first jazz album, Outros Lugares, was released in 1983. He has also composed soundtracks for Portuguese films and theatrical plays.

Since his return from the Netherlands, he has primarily focused on classical composition, creating operas, orchestral and ensemble works. His pieces have been recorded by groups such as the Arditti Quartet, Galliard Ensemble, Royal Scottish Academy Brass, and the Northern Sinfonia.

List of works

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Ensemble

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  • SIX PORTRAITS OF PAIN (2005)

For Violoncello and Large Ensemble: alto flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, cornet, trombone, 3 percussion, piano, cello solo, 6 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, 2 contrabasses

Duration: 27'

Commissioned by: Casa da Música / Porto 2001

First Performance: Anssi Karttunen (violoncello) and Remix Ensemble, conducted by Frank Ollu, Porto, 2005

  • MACHINES FICTIVES (pour Pierrot le fou) (2003) (withdrawn for revision)

For Ensemble: flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, 2 percussion, piano, violin I, violin II, viola, cello, contrabass

Duration: 12'

Commissioned by: Fundação Oriente

First Performance: OrchestrUtópica, conducted by Yu-Feng, Lisbon, 2003

  • TRÊS VERSOS DE CAEIRO (1997)

For 12 Instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon, piano, percussion, violin I, violin II, viola, cello, contrabass

Duration: 10'

Commissioned by: Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

First Performance: Ensemble Nuova Sincronia, conducted by Renato Rivolta, Lisbon and Milan, 1997

  • TRÊS QUADROS PARA ALMADA (1994)

For 10 instruments: flute, clarinet I, clarinet/bass clarinet, bassoon/contrabassoon, trumpet, cornet, trombone, piano, violin, cello

Duration: 17'

Commissioned by: Professional School of Music – Almada

First Performance: Soloists from Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa, Lisbon

  • ESTUDO/FIGURA (1990)

For 10 instruments: flute, clarinet, clarinet in b-flat/bass clarinet, vibraphone/marimba, cello/piano, violin I, viola, cello, contrabass

Duration: 12'

Commissioned by: [Commissioning entity]

First Performance: Ensemble RC, conducted by Arie Van Beck, Amsterdam

  • MÚSICA PLANA / MÚSICA CONTRAPLANA (1989)

For Opus Ensemble (withdrawn): oboe/clarinet in b-flat, viola, contrabass, piano

Duration: 12'

Commissioned by: RTP

First Performance: Soloists from Rotterdam Conservatorium, Amsterdam (withdrawn for revision)

Orchestra

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  • CONCERTO para VIOLINO in memorian Gareguin Aroutiounian

For Violin and Orchestra

Commissioned by: CCN

First Performance: February 2016, Tamila Kharambura (violin), Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa, conducted by Gary Walker

  • QUADROS (de arte moderna)

For Orchestra

Commissioned by: Orquestra Clássica do Sul

First Performance: July–August 2014

  • OUVERTURES AND CLOSURES (2012)

For Orchestra: (2.2.2.2 – 4.2.2.1 – Timpani, 1/2 percussion, harp – 8.8.6.6.5)

Duration: 12'

Commissioned by: Guimarães Capital Europeia da Cultura

First Performance: Orquestra Estúdio Guimarães, conducted by Rui Massena, October 2012, Auditório do CC Vila Flor.

  • ONZE CARTAS (2011)

For Orchestra, 3 Narrators (prerecorded), and Electronics

Commissioned by: Casa da Música, Centro Cultural de Belém, and Teatro de São Carlos, for the composer's 60th birthday

First Performance: Orquestra Sinfónica Casa da Música, conducted by Christopher Konig, 1 October 2011

Second Performance: Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa, conducted by Diego Masson, 17 January 2012

  • AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK (2009)

For Orchestra (Strings: 3 violins, 2 violas, 3 cellos, 1 contrabass, and harpsichord)

Duration: 12'

Commissioned by: Centro Cultural de Belém

First Performance: Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa, conducted by Michael Zilm, April 2009, Grande Auditório do CCB

  • UM DISCURSO DE THOMAS BERNHARD (2009)

For Speaker and Orchestra (2.2.2.2 – 2.2.2 – 1 percussion, harp – 6.6.4.4.2)

Duration: 12'

Commissioned by: Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa

First Performance: Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa, conducted by Michael Zilm, December 2007, Pequeno Auditório do CCB

  • GRAFFITI [just forms] (2006)

For Large Orchestra: (3.3.3.1, 3.1 – 6.3.3.1 – 5 percussion, piano, harp – 16.14.12.10.8)

Duration: 25'

Commissioned by: Teatro Nacional de São Carlos

First Performance: Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa, conducted by Lothar Königs, March 2006, Grande Auditório do CCB

  • REENTERING (2004)

For Orchestra and Percussion Obligato: (2.2.2.2 – 0.2.0.2 – 1 percussion) (10.8.6.5.4)

Duration: 8'

Commissioned by: Teatro Nacional de São Carlos

First Performance: Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa, conducted by Donato Renzetti, Lisbon, 2004

  • ... VON FREMDEN LÄNDLER ... (2004) (withdrawn for revision)

For Piano Solo and Orchestra: (2.2.2.2 – 4.2.0.0 – 2 percussion – 14.12.10.6.5)

Duration: 18'

Commissioned by: International Music Festival of Coimbra

First Performance: Gulbenkian Orchestra, conducted by Yu Feng; piano: Anne Kaasa, Coimbra, 2004 (withdrawn for revision)

  • DUAS PEÇAS (1992–2000)

For String Orchestra: (8.6.6.6.5)

Duration: 15'

Commissioned by: [Commissioning entity]

First Performance: Orquestra Nacional do Porto, conducted by Cesário Costa, Vila Nova de Gaia

  • A IMPACIÊNCIA DE MAHLER (1999)

For Orchestra: (2.2.2.2 – 4.2.0.0 – 1 percussion); (14.12.10.6.5)

Duration: 20'

Commissioned by: Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

First Performance: Gulbenkian Orchestra, conducted by Michael Zilm, Lisbon, 2001

  • ACTING-OUT (1998–2000)

For Piano, Percussion, and Orchestra: (2.2.2.1.2 – 2.2.2.2.1.2 percussion);

Strings A: (6.6.4.4.3); Strings B: (6.6.4.4.3)

Duration: 19'

Commissioned by: Teatro Nacional de São Carlos

First Performance: Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa, conducted by António Saiote, Piano: Miguel Henriques, Percussion: Elizabeth Davies, Lisbon, 1998

  • EXPLICIT DRAMA (1992) (withdrawn for revision)

For Orchestra and Jazz Trio

Duration: 20'

Commissioned by: Comissão Portuguesa dos Descobrimentos

First Performance: Gulbenkian Orchestra, conducted by Michel Swiertchevisky, Lisbon

  • GEOMETRAL (1988–2000) (withdrawn for revision)

For Orchestra (27 instruments)

Duration: 20'

Commissioned by: Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

First Performance: Gulbenkian Orchestra, conducted by Michel Tabachnik, Lisbon, 1989

Chamber music

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  • NO ART II (2013)

For String Quartet and Piano

Duration: 9'

Commissioned by: Síntese, GMCG

First Performance: 14 November 2013

  • QUATRO NOVOS FRAGMENTOS (2012)

Version for Flute and Piano

Duration: 9'

Commissioned by: Luís Meireles, 2010

First Performance: 5 January 2013

  • STRING QUARTET No. 3 (2011)

For String Quartet

Commissioned by: Instituto Superior Técnico de Lisboa

First Performance: Quarteto de Cordas de Matosinhos at IST, July 2012

  • QUASI UNA SONATA (2011)

For Violin and Piano

Duration: 10'

Commissioned by: Centro Cultural de Belém

First Performance: 29 May 2011

  • QUATRO NOVOS FRAGMENTOS (2010)

For Clarinet and Piano

Duration: 9'

Commissioned by: António Saiote, 2010

First Performance: 2012

  • ONE MINUTE TO GO (2010)

For Sond'art Ensemble (Flute, Clarinet, Horn, Cello, Piano)

Duration: 1'

Commissioned by: MisoMusic Portugal for its 25th Anniversary, 2010

First Performance: 14 April 2010, Instituto Franco-Português

  • MOVIMENTOS DO SUBSOLO, QUARTETO DE CORDAS No. 2 (2008)

For String Quartet

Duration: 11'

Commissioned by: XXX Festival Internacional de Música da Póvoa de Varzim

First Performance: Quarteto Verazin, Póvoa de Varzim, 2008

  • DOIS VIOLINOS FOR CARLOS PAREDES (2003)

For 2 Violins: (2.2.2.2 – 0.2.0.2 – 1 percussion); (10.8.6.5.4)

Duration: 6'

Commissioned by: Movimentos Perpétuos

First Performance: Aníbal Lima and Pedro Pacheco, Lisbon, 2003

  • STEP BY STEP, WOLFS! (2002)

For 6 Percussionists: (2.2.2.2 – 0.2.0.2 – 1 percussion); (10.8.6.5.4)

Duration: 6'

Commissioned by: Drumming

First Performance: Drumming, conducted by Miguel Bernat, 2002

  • TRÊS ESTUDOS FOR 2 PIANOS (2000–2001)

For 2 Pianos

Duration: 15'

Commissioned by: [Commissioning Body]

First Performance: Miguel Henriques and Ana Valente, Lisbon, 2001

  • TWO FAMILY DISCUSSIONS (2001)

For 2 Trumpets or 2 Recorders

Duration: 6'

Commissioned by: International Music Festival of Mafra

First Performance: John Wallace and John Miller, Mafra, 2001

  • QUATRO OU CINCO MOVIMENTOS FUGIDIOS DA ÁGUA (2001)

For Clarinet Trio

Duration: 15'

Commissioned by: [Commissioning Body]

First Performance: Clarinet: António Saiote, Cello: Jed Barahal, Piano: António Rosado, Póvoa de Varzim, 2001

  • SETE CANÇÕES DE ALBANO MARTINS (2000)

For Baritone and Piano

Duration: 18'

Commissioned by: [Commissioning Body]

First Performance: Paulo Ferreira (Baritone), Jaime Mota (Piano), Porto, 2000

  • ESTUDOS E INTERLÚDIOS (2000)

For 6 Percussionists

Duration: 25'

Commissioned by: [Commissioning Body]

First Performance: Drumming, conducted by Miguel Bernat, Lisbon, 2000

  • TERCEIRO VERSO DE CAEIRO (1997)

For 4 Instruments

Duration: 10'

Commissioned by: "Sven for Parlor"

First Performance: "Sven for Parlor," Athens, 1997

  • NOVE CANÇÕES DE ANTÓNIO RAMOS ROSA (1995)

For Voice and Piano

Duration: 25'

Commissioned by: Encontros Primavera de Guimarães

First Performance: Rui Taveira (Voice), Jaime Mota (Piano), Guimarães, 1995

  • NOCTURNO/DIURNO (1994)

For String Sextet

Duration: 8'

Commissioned by: Câmara Municipal do Porto

First Performance: Sextuor L'Artois de Lille, Porto, 1994

  • MONODIA – Quasi un Requiem (1993)

For String Quartet

Duration: 15'

Commissioned by: Câmara Municipal do Porto for the Jornadas de Arte Contemporânea de 1993

First Performance: Ensemble MusikFabrik, Porto, 1993

  • MECHANICAL STRING TOYS (1992)

For String Orchestra (8, 6, 6, 4, 4)

Duration: 6'

Commissioned by: Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa

First Performance: Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa, conducted by Miguel Graça Moura, Lisboa, 1992

  • POETICA DELL'ESTINZIONE (Secondo Mikhal Serguievitch) (1990)

For Flute and String Quartet

Duration: 6'

Commissioned by: Oficina Musical

First Performance: Oficina Musical, conducted by Álvaro Salazar, Porto, 1990

  • CUT (1989 / rev. 2004)

For Saxophone Quartet (Alto/Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone)

Duration: 8'

Commissioned by: [Commissioning Organization]

First Performance: Quarteto de Saxofones de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1989

  • GRAVITAÇÕES (1984)

For Flute and Clarinet (Alto/Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone)

Duration: 6'

Commissioned by: Oficina Musical

First Performance: Eduardo Lucena, Américo Aguiar (Oficina Musical), Porto, 1984 (withdrawn for revision)

Opera, Oratoria

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  • DE PROFUNDIS (2014)

For Choir A Cappella

Commissioned by: Paulo Lourenço

First Performance: May 2014

  • MAGNIFICAT (2013)

For Choir and Orchestra

Commissioned by: Culturgest

First Performance: Choir and Orchestra Gulbenkian, conducted by Cesário Costa, 11–12 October 2013

  • REQUIEM (2012)

For Choir and Orchestra

Duration: 30'

Commissioned by: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian

First Performance: Choir and Orchestra Gulbenkian, conducted by Joana Carneiro, 21–22 November 2012

  • OUTRO FIM (2009)

Chamber opera

For 5 singers; flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, contrabassoon; 2 horns, trombone; 2 percussionists, piano; 3 violins I, 3 violins II, 2 violas, 2 cellos

Libretto: José Maria Vieira Mendes

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Commissioned by: Culturgest

First Performance: Sónia Alcobaça, Luís Rodrigues, Larissa Savchanko, Mário Alves, Madalena Boleo, Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa, conducted by Cesário Costa, Lisbon, 2008

  • A LITTLE MADNESS IN THE SPRING (2006) (withdrawn for revision)

Chamber opera

For 3 singers; flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, horn, trombone; 2 percussionists, harp, piano; violin I, violin II, viola, cello

Electronics by Carlos Caires and António Pinho Vargas

Libretto: Paulo Tunhas

Duration: 32 minutes

Commissioned by: Casa da Música

First Performance: Eduarda Melo, Matthew Bean, Ivan Ludlow, Remix Ensemble, conducted by Franck Ollu, Lisbon, 1996

  • JUDAS (secundum Lucam, Joannem, Matthaeum et Marcum) (2002)

For choir and orchestra

Large choir; (2.2.2.2.4.2.2.0, 1 percussionist); (12.10.8.8.6)

Duration: 30 minutes

Commissioned by: Festival de Música Sacra de Viana do Castelo

First Performance: Choir and Orquestra Gulbenkian, conducted by Fernando Eldoro, 2002

  • OS DIAS LEVANTADOS (1998)

Opera

8 singers; large choir; (2.2.3.2 – 2.0.2.2 – 3 percussionists); strings

Libretto: Manuel Gusmão

Duration: 105 minutes

Commissioned by: Expo'98

First Performance: Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa, choir from Teatro Nacional de São Carlos, conducted by João Paulo Santos, Lisboa, 1998

  • ÉDIPO – Tragédia de Saber (1996)

Opera

4 singers; 32-voice choir; flute; fagot; clarinet; oboe; trumpet; trombone; 2 percussionists; piano; violin I; violin II; viola; cello; double bass

Libretto: Pedro Paixão

Duration: 64 minutes

Commissioned by: Culturgest

First Performance: Soloists from Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa, choir from Teatro Nacional de São Carlos, conducted by João Paulo Santos, Lisboa, 1996

  • ANCESTRAL E MUDO (1994)

Opera for 4 mixed choirs

Duration: 5 minutes

Commissioned by: [Commissioning organization not specified]

First Performance: Coro de Câmara de Lisboa, conducted by Teresita Gutierrez Marques, Lisboa, 1994

Solo

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  • NO ART: Four Études for Solo Violin (2012)
  • POLÍTICAS DA AMIZADE: Estudo para Vibrafone (2011)

For Vibraphone Solo

Duration: 6'

First Performance: Auditório da Academia de Música de Espinho, Miquel Bernat, 2011

  • SUITE PARA VIOLONCELO SOLO (2008)

For Cello Solo

Duration: 12'

First Performance: Conservatório de Música das Caldas de Rainha, Nuno Abreu, Caldas de Rainha, 2008

  • IL RITORNO (2002)

For Harpsichord

Duration: 14'

Commissioned by: International Music Festival of Mafra

First Performance: Instituto Camões, 2003, Ana Mafalda Castro, Mafra (withdrawn for revision)

  • HOLDERLINOS (2001)

For Piano

Duration: 26'

Commissioned by: International Music Festival of Coimbra

Published by: Partituras PortugalSom

First Performance: Miguel Henriques, Coimbra

  • LA LUNA (1996)

For Guitar

Duration: 3'

Performed by: Cecilia Colien Honneger

Album: Cecilia Colien Honneger

First Performance: Gabriel Estrahellas, Madrid

  • MIRRORS (1989)

For Piano

Duration: 9'

Commissioned by: Secretaria de Estado da Cultura

Published by: Musicoteca, 1994; Portuguese Music Information Centre

First Performance: Paul Prenen, Amsterdam, 1990

  • TRÊS FRAGMENTOS (1985–87)

For Clarinet Solo

Duration: 5'

Published by: Oficina Musical, 1995

First Performance: António Saiote, Lisboa

  • PEÇA (1983)

For Flute Solo

Duration: 4'

Commissioned by: Calouste Gulbenkian School of Braga

First Performance: Olavo Tengner, Jorge Salgado, Braga (withdrawn for revision)

Film music

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Directed by João Botelho

Directed by José Fonseca e Costa

References

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  1. ^ Wilson, T.M. (2023). Europe: An Encyclopedia of Culture and Society [2 volumes]. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 1052. ISBN 979-8-216-17140-9. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  2. ^ Soveral, M.; Zurletti, S. (2018). Performance Analysis: A Bridge between Theory and Interpretation. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 321. ISBN 978-1-5275-2306-7. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
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