Laúdes Españoles Gaspar Sanz

The Chamber - Music Ensemble Laúdes Españoles Gaspar Sanz was founded by its director in Madrid in 1987 with two main purposes: gathering a broad repertoire which would include pieces of work from different periods and musical styles as well as spreading and confering prestige to these genuine Spanish instruments although little known - and little considered - in their orchestral side.

The modern Spanish lute has little to do with the Renaissance and Baroque lute. It consist of six double strings and is tuned in fourths. The Spanish lute family, with its different instruments, covers an extensive sound range, which makes this instrumental ensemble as complete as more traditional ones. Many important Spanish composers as well as foreing ones have written both original scores and arrangements for the Spanish lute family such as among many others, Joaquín Turina - La Oración del Torero was especially written for the Cuarteto Aguilar, being eventually adapted for orchestra -, Igor Strawinsky, Angel Barrios, Paco Aguilar, Muñoz Molleda, Joaquín Rodrigo... Nevertheless, the lack of specific scores makes necessary an intensive work of research and adaptation, which our ensemble is especially devoted to. That is the reason why it has been possible to gather a vast repertoire, which comprises works from the Middle Ages up to contemporary tendencies, with special emphasis on Renaissance and Baroque periods.

The Chamber - Music Ensemble Laúdes Españoles Gaspar Sanz consist of the different instruments from the Spanish lute family also including the guitar, because of its special characteristics, and other wind instruments, such as the flute. Both enlarge the possibilities of performing different musical styles and forms.

The Chamber - Music Ensemble Laúdes Españoles Gaspar Sanz is a member of the Asociación de Amigos del Laúd Español, a non - lucrative asociation whose main purpose is to spread the knowledge of the instruments from the Spanish lute family. The asociation welcomes all those persons who are interested in participating and collaborating to reach that aim.

Manuel Rodríguez Sánchez.

C/ Espíritu Santo, 36.

28004 - Madrid. España.

Cantiga nº 8......................................................................Alfonso X El Sabio

Tres Pavanas......................................................................Luys de Milán

Suite de Danzas del S. XVII.................................................Gaspar Sanz

Technical Consultor: Manuel Tenorio

Félix Conde. Graduated from The Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid obtaining the soloist diploma with honours. He was a foundation member of the Flute Orchestra of Madrid and was a member of the Flute Quartet Tielenka. He was Flute Instructor at the Conservatorio de Música Pablo Sorozábal of Alcázar de San Juan - Campo de Criptana (Ciudad Real) and at the Conservatorio de Música in Avila and Madrid. He has been appointed Flute Professor at the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Oviedo, where he teaches at present.

Santiago Pollán. Studied with Pedro Zaspe and Pilar Couceiro in Madrid and Barcelona. He has played the lute soprano with the Orchestra Gaspar Sanz and the Gupo Ibérico, making different recordings with them.

Manuel Rodríguez. Studied music in Madrid with Félix Conde, a member of the ensemble Laúdes Españoles Gaspar Sanz at present. His musical activities have been focused on the lute. He was a foundation member of the ensemble in 1987 and its conductor as well. He has played with other important ensembles, such as the extinct Orquesta Gaspar Sanz , founded by Manuel Grandío, and the Grupo Ibérico, taking part in different Festivals and recordings. He also collaborates with RAICES, a group of traditional music, and has made two recordings and several performances with them.

Rosa Jiménez. Graduated from the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid and is a member of the Orquesta de Guitarras del Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid.. She has been conductor of The Plectrum Orchestra of Moraleja de Enmedio (Madrid) since 1991. She is a member of The Dance University Asociation "El Candil" , where she plays and makes arrangements as well. She has also taught at the School of Music of las Rozas and the School of Music of Villafranca del Castillo (Madrid). Her interest in folklore music has made her participate in organizing folklore festivals, such as the 1^st Folklore Festival Villa de Madrid and the 1^st Folklore Meeting of Moraleja de Enmedio, (Madrid).

Manuel Tenorio. Studied guitar in Madrid. He has been a member of ensemble Laúdes Españoles Gaspar Sanz since 1990. He was a member of Boronia, a group of traditional music. At present his attention is focused as musicology research.

The necessity of gathering a repertoire arranging scores to the specific characteristics of the ensemble has become a permanent activity. That is the reason why the ensemble has gathered an important number of scores as well as developed a large experience in making specific arrangements for plectrum ensembles. Thus, we offer the possibility of purchasing them or making arrangements on request of those scores you may be interested in.

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