Jorge Peixinho

1940 - 1995 ............................................................ .......................................... ............................................................ ................................ This site is managed by his friends ............................................................ ............................................................ ................................Thank you for stopping by1940 – 1995 (born January 19th 1940. A musical genius – Jorge Peixinho lived in Lisbon, Rua de São Bento, 17 – 1º Dto, and also had a home in his home town – Montijo)…......Upon having completed both his music courses: "Piano" and "Composition", by the age of 16 he received the Diploma for Composition - and by the time he was 18 he received similarly the Diploma for Piano, at the National Conservatory of Lisbon .......... / - High Studies in Composition "Curso Superior de Composição" 1948/1954 with Artur Santos & Jorge Croner de Vasconcellos 1954-1956... "Curso Superior de Piano" High Studies for Piano Performance - 1958 with Fernando Laires / ..... He had begun his piano studies at the tender age of 7 with his aunt - Judite Rosado - and at the age of 8, with her also, he amazingly began studying composition (this is when his first musical compositions were made). At 11 years of age he entered the conservatory for both music courses (continuing to write his musical compositions as an adolescent), having been awarded the National Consevatory's Music Award for Composition in 1958 - year he had finished his music studies at the Conservatory as mentioned. 1958 he also enroled and commenced studies in Phylosophy/History at the University in Lisbon - 'Faculdade de Letras de Lisboa / ............................................................ ..... ............................................................ . 1959 He then set forth – with a scholarship granted by the Gulbenkian Foundation - to Italy (Rome 1959 - 1961). There he continued his studies under Boris Porena and Goffredo Petrassi at the “Academia de Santa Cecilia”. There he also worked with Luigi Nono (in Venice). In a studio in Bilthoven, Holland / 1960 - having already experimented in varios styles: Serialism, Chromatic 'Integral' Succession, etc. as a basis to explore his new found creative techniques - he became familiar with the possibilities offered him through through the use of Electonics . With another scholarship from the Gulbenkian Foundation and one also from the Institute of High Culture, he continued his research and study at the Basileia Academy with Pierre Boulez and Karlheinz Stockhausen (you can see Stockhausen's influence for ex. in the piece "Eurídice Re-amada" - 1968). He collaborated with them on a regular basis between 1960 – 1970 - in the international courses for Music Composition in Darmstadt (Ferienkurse für Neue Musik de Darmstadt).................................................. ................ ............................................................ From 1969 on one could hear his already matured and unique 'musical language' with its: enigmatic and delicate play on Timbre, and lyricism, fragil and vulnerable, full of Texture and Form constantly unfolding, ... his music givig the demention of time as it were a three-dimentional space where musical objects float and evolve - so as to provide the listener with a "view" of the musical piece from different angles...... his music so full of charm seems to enter into you and play with you. (better known outside his country than within, he always tried to update the country's music scene. His having presented John Cage's music in Lisbon - in the early 60's - caused great scandal in Portuguese society, as did his 'muli-media happenings 1965, 1967 - etc - He also provided precious aid to promote colleagues Constança Capdeville and Emmanuel Nunes among others, to be known and heard... ). During this decade of his life he was always on demand – between his activities as: composer, pianist, professor, critic, lecturer / giving lectures countless times in a myriad of places, and organizing musical events (concerts) – he barely had time to catch his breath. He actively participated in innumerable festivals for Contemporary Music, among some of them are: Gaudeamus (Holland, 1963), Madrid (1964), Venice (1964) – and repeatedly at Festivals in: Royan (France), Santos (Brazil), Buenos Aires (1970 and 1982), Maracaibo, Maracaibo (Venezuela - 1977), São João del Rei (Brazil), Curitiba (Brazil – 1970) etc. ............................................................ .....................He received a scholarship from the Belgian Government for advanced studies in electro-acoustic music, enabling him to work at the IPEM studio in Ghent in 1972-73. He later attended a workshop on 'music and computers' at the Ircam, in Paris. As a composer he received many national awards: 1958 the National Conservatory Award, 1959 the Sassetti Award, 1972 'Casa da Imprensa' Award, 1974 Composition by the Gulbenkian Foundation, 1976 from the Portuguese Performing Rights Society (SPA) in two categories (Orchestra, and Chamber Music), 1984 'Portuguese Music Council' Award, 1985 again from SPA-Portuguese Performing Rights Society- Chamber Music Award, 1988 the 'Joly Braga Santos Award... In 1977 he was elected member of the prestigious ‘Presidential Council of the ISCAM (International Society for Contemporary Music). 1990 he was payed a long deserved homage - at the University "Universidade Nova de Lisboa - FCSH" …………………………………………………… ……………………………….how should one go about summing up this exceptional artist’s career? - a short list: he - composed a a vast and outstanding body of work - both in terms of quality and quantity (compositions that give away his masterful talent and genius), founded among other groups the “ Grupo de Música Contemporânea de Lisboa ” in the Spring of 1970 (this ensemble was particularly dear to him – and despite his no longer being around to lead and play in it, they still keep up their wonderful work – performing and promoting contemporary music) – with this group he gave many concerts in many of Europe’s countries, to name some of these events: the festivals at Royan / Manca / Nice (France), RNE - Madrid (Spain), Santiago de Compostela / Seville (Spain), Gaudeamus Festival / World Music Days (Holland), Antidogma Festival – Turin (Italy), Zagreb Bienal, Autumn in Warsaw, having also toured Brazil. To continue the list he: received many awards for composition and Titles, elected in 1977 member to the above mentioned Presidential Council (International Society for Contemporary Music), invited to make various works at the Electronic Music Studio – in Bourges (France) in 1979 – 1989 – and 1992. Having played and collaborated with many highly esteemed artists worldwide. His work and teaching has influenced many a fine composer and musician……………………………………………⠀¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦he was involved and performed on a regular basis at the International Contemporary Music Encounters – at the Gulbenkian Foundation, taught at the Oporto Conservatory (1965/1966) and at the Lisbon Conservatory (1985-1995), having also taught at the ‘Universidade Nova de Lisboa’ (University in Lisbon). He has performed and has had many perform his music countless times in concerts, festivals, etc. on stages throughout the world. He was always in high demand to partake as a jury member - in lectures and concerts all over. He wrote methods, essays, and articles on the subject of music as well as other subject matter……………………………………………… …...............…..He was repeatedly commissioned to write music for many: Portuguese institutions and others abroad - SEC (office of the - Secretary of State for Culture), Gulbenkian Foundation, Portuguese “Descobrimentos” Commission, Portuguese Music Council, “Oficina Musical”, Matosinhos City-Hall, Alicante (Spain) International Festival, GMEB – Bourges (France), New Music Concerts (Toronto - Canada), Acqui Terme Festival (Italy), and also for numerous national / international artists and ensembles. During the last years of his life (treacherously cut short due to his literally having a ‘Big Heart’) he was indeed in constant demand from all four corners of the earth. A Humanist, always standing up and fighting for his beliefs, he never left his native country – despite his tremendous success abroad. This was truly hard, and in fact a feat if you take into account his not being on friendly terms with the political regime prior to 1974 – those who knew him know what we’re talking about. After 1974 he still remained a thorn in the side of some …… but this is now totally irrelevent - as his music belongs to all of us (to: hear, play, theorize over, 'interpret', toast, talk about, argue over, write about, ...). While sitting on a bench, waiting to catch the ferry-boat to cross over the Tagus River - from Lisbon to Montijo, he left us – at the age of 55 (at the end of June - 1995) ............................................................ ......... We thank you very much for your visit and beg your indulgence for any omissions, as it has not been an easy task – to sum up his musical career ... (just yesterday - you could see him in his living room - piles and piles of sheet music stacked upon his piano - in animated conversation, excercizing his incredible wit and humour or playing his piano, looking for oddities to put in his piano or other peoples instruments, daring one to get up off the couch and play a duet, simply being being himself - Jorge)... ..and his having departed still leaves a gaping wound in some of us (an irreparable loss) thus making it harder still… he is sorely missed …………………………………………………… …………(in other areas of this page you may find words quoted by Jorge Peixinho himself – regarding his work, as well as various ‘Links’ to other web sites about him. .........................................Since this site is still under construction, and it being difficult to choose infomational web-sites or quotes, some of them remain to be posted - but shall soon appear.) - You can also, among other sites on this page, view http://www.em-conservatorio-nacional.rcts.pt/compositores/pe ixinho/peixinho.cronologia.html
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1940 - 1995 (data de nascimento - 19 de Janeiro 1940, morava na Rua de São Bento 17 - 1º Dto, Lisboa, e na sua terra natal - Montijo)... este grande compositor - mais conhecido fora que dentro da sua terra natal (Portugal), tendo terminado ambos os cursos de Piano e Composição no Conservatório Nacional de Lisboa: aos 16 recebeu o Diploma do Curso Superior de Composição / aos 18 anos de idade o Diploma do Curso Superior de Piano tendo - recebendo em 1958 um dos vários prémios que viria receber "Prémio de Composição do Conservatório Nacional .......... Aos 7 anos deu-se o início dos seus estudos de piano com a sua Tia D. Judite Rosado. Com ela também, aos 8 anos, iniciou-se nos estudos de composição (tendo feito as suas primeiras obras de composição). Entrou para o Conservatório de Lisboa em 1951 para estudar piano e composição (continua como adolescente - sempre a escrever obras musicais). Estudou o Curso Superior de Composição no Conservatório Nacional, em Lisboa, com Artur Santos (1948-1954) e Jorge Croner de Vasconcellos (1954-1956) / e o Curso Superior de Piano no Conservatório Nacional, com Fernando Laires,... tendo também em 1958 frequentado o 1º ano de Histico-Filosóficas na Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa, .......seguio com uma bolsa de estudo concedida pela Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian para a Itália - Roma(1959-1961), para continuar os seus estudos com Boris Porena e Goffredo Petrassi na Accademia de Santa Cecilia. Trabalhou tambem com Luigi Nono em Veneza - e mais tarde, com outra bolsa de estudo da Fundação Gulbenkian e do Instituto de Alta Cultura, continuou os estudos na academia de Basilea com Pierre Boulez e Karlheinz Stockhausen. Foi por diversas vezes colaborar com eles (entre 1960 e 1970) nos cursos internacionais de composição de Darmstadt. Ao longo desta década ele tinha uma actividade desenfreada como: compositor, pianista, professor, organisador de eventos (concertos), orador (dando palestras por toda a parte), e crítico. . . permitiu que nomes como Constança Capdeville, Emmanuel Nunes, Clotilde Rosa, e Paulo Brandão, entre outros, se fizessem ouvir. Participou em inúmeros festivais de música contemporânea, entre os quais os seguintes: Gaudeamus (Holanda, 1963), Madrid (1964), Veneza (1964), e por diversas vezes, nos Festivais de Royan (França) e Santos (Brasil), Buenos Aires (1970 e 1982), Maracaíbo (Venezuela, 1977), S. João del Rei (Brasil); Curitiba (1970), etc. Tendo recebido uma bolsa do governo Belga para - estudos avançados em música electro-acústica, ele teve a oprotunidade de fazer os seus trabalhos nos estúdios IPEM em Ghent. Mais tarde esteve num "workshop" sobre - música e computadores - no Ircam, em Paris. Em 1977 foi eleito membro do 'Concelho Presidêncial do ISCM (International Society for Contemporary Music) ............................................................ ............................................................ ..como continuar a resumir a carreira deste prodigioso artista? - uma pequena lista: escreveu uma vasta e riquíssima obra, fundou (de entre vários agrupamentos) o 'Grupo de Música Contemporânea de Lisboa' na primavera de 1970 (grupo que lhe era particularmente querido, dirigido por ele, e que felizmente continua a fazer actuações - assim prestando-nos um valioso serviço - com eles realizou concertos em vários países da Europa, nomeadamente nos Festivais de Royan e Manca (Nice), RNE (Madrid), Santiago de Compostela e Sevilha, Festival Gaudeamus e World music Days (Holanda), Festival Antidogma (Turim), Bienal de Zagreb, Outono de Varsóvia e uma digressão no Brasil), recebeu inúmeros prémios nacionais para composição: o Prémio do Conservatório Nacional em 1958, o Sassetti em 1959, o da Casa da Imprensa em 1972, o Gulbenkian em 1974, o da S.P.A. em 1976 (duas categorias), o do Conselho Português da Música em 1984, o da S.P.A. em 1985 (categoria de música de câmara) e, finalmente, o Prémio Joly Braga Santos em 1988, etc. Em 1977 foi eleito para o referido - Concelho Presidêncial do ISCM, foi convidado para realizar várias obras no estúdio de Música Electrónica de Bourges (França) em 1979, 1989 e 1992, tocou e colaborou com várias individualidades de grande vulto - nacionais e internacionais, ............................................................ ....................................................colabora va regularmente nos 'Encontros de Música Contemporânea' da Gulbenkian, foi professor no Conservatório de Música do Porto (1965-1966) e na Escola de Música do Conservatório Nacional em Lisboa (1985-1995). tendo tambem dado aulas na Universidade Nova de Lisboa), ... tocou e apresentou (são tocadas) as suas obras pelo mundo fora (em festivais e concertos, etc), era constantemente solicitado para entrar em júris para palestras e concertos, escrevia métodos - artigos - ensaios sobre música, foi o professor de vários excelentes compositores cuja lista é vasta - tendo leccionado em várias escolas, universidades etc......................................................... ..................................................Ele recebeu encomendas de várias instituições portuguesas e estrangeiras, entre as quais: SEC, Fundação Gulbenkian, Comissão dos Descobrimentos, Conselho Português da Música, Oficina Musical, Câmara Municipal de Matosinhos, Festival Internacional de Alicante, GMEB de Bourges (França), New Music Concerts (Toronto Canadá), Festival de Acqui Terme (Itália), assim como de artistas e agrupamentos nacionais e estrangeiros. Nos últimos anos da sua vida, encurtada de forma traiçoeira aos 55 anos (tinha o coração "literalmente" grande demais), estava constantemente a ser requisitado (nos quatro cantos do mundo). Um lutador e humanista - este singular homem nunca deixou o seu país - apesar do seu grande êxito no estrangeiro, coisa nada fácil para quem como ele, nada tinha a haver com o 'regime' (antes pelo contrário). Quem o conhecia sabe bem do que se trata. Mesmo depois de abril-74 ele continuava a ser incómodo para alguns (agora talvez não interesse quais - pois a obra dele é de todos - para: ouvir, tocar, 'interpretar', teorisar, brindar, falar / escrever / ou argumentar sobre a sua música ...). Tinha um forte sentido civico tendo inclusive de 1993 a 1995 presidido, pela CDU, à Assembleia Municipal do Montijo . Agradecemos a sua visita e pedimos perdão por qualquer omissão, pois como se sabe não é fácil fazer este resumo, e ainda é sentida uma profunda ferida devido ao seu desaparecimento ............................................................ ...................(noutra zona desta "página" haverá algumas citações dele sobre a sua música, e vários "Links" para outros "sites" a ele refrerentes) ... de entre os vários 'Sites' - poderá ver por exemplo http://www.em-conservatorio-nacional.rcts.pt/compositores/pe ixinho/peixinho.cronologia.html