Antonio Juan-Marcos Composer

To see a video about my work in composition click here

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BiographyFor more information click here

Antonio Juan-Marcos

Antonio has been selected to participate in important fes-tivals and academies such as: Acanthes (France)- where he studied with Salvatore Sciarrino, Musicalta (France), and the “Festival Internacional de Guitarra de Córdoba” (Spain)- where he studied guitar and composition with Leo Brouwer.

Born in Mexico City, Antonio Juan-Marcos began his musical training studying classical guitar; he later studied composi-tion, piano and guitar at the Boston Conservatory. In 2003 he continued his bachelor’s and master’s degree at the “Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et Danse de Paris’’, where he graduated with honors with the piece “Arder Aprender.” From 2012 to 2013 he participated in the Elec-troacoustic Composition Course at the “Institut de Recher-che et Coordination Acoustique / Musique’’ (IRCAM). He has studied with some of the most renowned composers such as Kaija Saariaho, O. Golijov, Stefano Gervasoni, Narcís Bo-net, Allain Gaussin, Philippe Leroux and Franck Bedrossian.

Antonio is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in Musical Composition at UC Berkeley, where he also works as a pro-fessor of harmony.

Antonio Juan-Marcos has recently been awarded with the Gold Medal-Best of Show honors at the Global Music Awards for his piece “Nocturno Eléctrico’’; he also received the pres-tigious “Eisner Prize for the Highest Achievement in the Creative Arts” on behalf of the University of California Ber-keley for the ensemble of his recent compositions, as well as the first place in the composition competition “Nicola De Lorenzo Prize in Music Composition’’ granted by the Depart-ment of Music at UC Berkeley.

Important recent world premieres include: “Amanece’’- for countertenor and orchestra (2014) written as a celebration of the birth centenary of the literature Nobel Prize winner, Octavio Paz, as well as “Nocturno Eléctrico’’- for electric gui-tar and orchestra (2015). It is worth noting that Alejandro Marcovich (guitarist, founder of the famous Latin American rock group “Caifanes”) was the soloist for “Nocturno Eléc-trico’’. Both pieces were commissioned by The Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra. “Amanece’’ will receive its American premiere in December 2016 by the UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, in a program next to Beethoven’s Ninth Sym-phony.

Mr. Juan-Marcos is currently composing a song cycle for the internationally known ensemble “Les Folies Françoises’’ in which he musicalizes four sonnets attributed to Antonio Vivaldi. These sonnets were written in correlation with the violin concerti “The Four Seasons’’. Antonio Juan-Marcos is the third composer to receive a commission from the “Les Folies Françoises’’. The first two composers to appear in this select catalog where Kaija Saariaho (2009) and Thierry Pé-cou (2013). Antonio has also received a commission from the “Festival Internacional Cervantino” to compose a mono-drama for voice, video and ensemble inspired by the short story “Macario” by Juan Rulfo, one of Latin America’s most prominent writers and a fundamental source of the literary movement known as “Magical Realism” . This piece will be premiered by the “Ensemble 2e2m” in 2017 and will celebra-te Mr. Rulfo birth centenary. Additional commissions include new orchestral music for some of the most important Mexi-can national orchestras.

His pieces have been presented in the United States, Fran-ce, Belgium, Spain and his native Mexico, under the direc-tion of José Areán, David Milnes, Zsolt Nagy, Kanako Abe, Jean-Philippe Wurtz, Laurent Cuniot and Pierre Roullier. An-tonio’s works are included in the repertoires of prestigious ensembles and orchestras such as the “Orchestre National de Lorraine’’, Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra, “Ensem-ble InterContemporain”, “Eco Ensemble,” “L’Instant Donné”, “L’Ensemble Multilatérale’’, amongst others. His piece for cello and electronics ‘’El Afilador’’ was recorded by the ce-llist Marie Ythier for Evidence Classics records (distributed by Harmonia Mundi).

El Afilador To listen to this piece click here

Antonio Juan-Marcos

“Rightfully placed in the beginning of the program ... “El Afilador” of Antonio Juan-Marcos, is one of the pieces that introduces rich acoustic universes... The piece demands both, the roundness of sound that Marie Ythier (cellist) can offer in a melodic context, as well as the mastery of extended techniques; the whole increased by an electronic spacey aura.”- Pierre Rigaudière, Diapason

“Features the beautiful, mysterious and delicate atmos-phere of “El Afilador”… Antonio is a Mexican composer to follow…” - Franck Mallet , Musikzen

“In the piece of Antonio Juan-Marcos… the fusion of the cello and electronics in real time verges on the ambiguity of the sound sources... in “El Afilador” he evokes a melody of his childhood - that of the sharpeners of knives. Antonio’s seductive and sensitive piece captures the sound imaginary of the this haunting memory with a warm cello that evolves within the heart of an electronic part that is as delicate as virtuous.” - Michèle Tosi, ResMusica

Place and date of creation:“Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique / Musi-que (IRCAM); Espace de projection”.April 6, 2013.

Performer: Cello- Marie Ythier

Duration: ca. 9’

Recorded by Marie Ythier, with Evidence Classics, distributed by Harmonia Mundi.

Instrumentation: Cello and electroacoustic sounds.

www.antoniocomposer.com

AmaneceTo listen to this piece click here

Antonio Juan-Marcos

“The premiere (of Amanece) was a great discovery: the blossoming of our academic composers to write vocal mu-sic… Amanece has elements which are very mexican... but it is not there where the “Mexican-ness,” lies, but instead in the seductive manner in which it has transformed every verse by Paz in sound ideas forming a great orchestral episode.”- Iván Martínez, Confabulario, El Universal

“Amanece, inspired in Octavio Paz and he’s poetry, presents a detailed orchestration through which the composer ac-complishes a succession of suggestive atmospheres used to surround the work of the soloist voice.”- Juan Arturo Brennan, La Jornada

Place and date of creation:Centro Cultural Ollin Yoliztli; Sala Slivestre Revueltas. September 20 and 21, 2014. Commemorative Concert for the Centenary of Octavio Paz’s birth.

Performers:Direction: José Areán / Countertenor: Rodrigo Ferreira / The Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra.

Duration:ca. 15’

Piece inspired by Octavio Paz’s poem ‘‘Árbol Adentro’’.

Instrumentation: Symphonic Orchestra, countertenor.

www.antoniocomposer.com

Nocturno EléctricoTo listen to this piece click here

Antonio Juan-Marcos

“The premier of ‘‘Nocturno eléctrico’’ is an invitation to the listeners to open themselves to the sound experience of something well done in Mexico, to experience not a con-cert for guitar and orchestra, nor a symphonic rock piece, but the surprising coexistence of the range of sounds and textures that nest in an electric guitar, between the vast timbres and origins of the instruments from a philharmonic orchestra, performing a composition not created under conventional structures, that invites to let go without resis-tance so that the enjoyment can be completed.”- Andrea Aymes de la Cueva, Arts-history

“The mixture of electric guitar and orchestra is not a usual combination… it is a hard combination. Antonio is very faithful to his proposal in the title. It is a nocturne, a delica-te piece, mysterious… with a professional and intelligent writing”- Juan Arturo Brennan, La Jornada

Place and date of creation:Centro Cultural Ollin Yoliztli; Sala Slivestre Revueltas. September 12 and 13, 2015. Electric guitar and orchestra piece.

Performers:Electric guitar: Alejandro Marcovich / Direction: José Areán / Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra.

Duration:ca. 13’

Instrumentation: Symphonic Orchestra, electric guitar.

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WorksBy Antonio Juan-Marcos

Antonio Juan-Marcos

Nocturno EléctricoFor electric guitar and orchestra. Mexico City Philharmonic Orches-tra. September 12 and 13, 2015. Conductor: José Areán. Guitarrist: Alejandro Marcovich.

Amanece (3rd piece from the cycle ‘‘Dos son un Jardín’’) For countertenor and orchestra. Mexico City Philharmonic Orches-tra. September 20 and 21, 2014.Conductor: José Areán. Countertenor: Rodrigo Ferreira.

El AfiladorFor cello and electroacoustic sounds. IRCAM, ‘‘Espace de Projec-tion’’. April 6, 2012.

Arder Aprender (2nd piece of the cycle ‘‘Dos son un Jardín”)For countertenor, 20 instruments and electroacoustic stereophonic sounds. ‘‘Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris’’ (CNSMDP). Graduation Concert. October 23, 2012. Conductor : Jean- Philippe Wurtz. Countertenor : Rodrigo Ferreira.

Tum Tum (2nd version)For Bass Drum and quadraphonic electroacoustic sounds. Festival ‘‘Ars Musica’’, ‘‘Palais des Princes-Évêques’’, Liège, Belgium. March 3, 2012. Gerrit Nulens percussion class.

Noviembre Fragmentado (2nd version)CNSMDP, New Technologies Applied to Composition Concert. January 13, 2012.

Árbol de AbrilVersion for solo cello. Festival ‘‘Ars Musica’’ 2012. Inaugural Concert for ‘‘Ars Musica’’, December 2011. Brussels, Belgium. ‘‘Wiels- Centre pour l’art contemporain’’. Cello: Askar Ishangaliyev.

Nocturno de CenizasFor flute, clarinet, oboe, 1 percussionist (vibraphone, udu, cymbals) viola and stereophonic electronics. Contemporary Mexican Music Concert. November 22, 2011.Ensemble: ‘‘L’Instant Donné’’

Árbol de AbrilFor solo cello and a 13 instrument ensemble. CNSMDP, “Journées de la composition”. November 16, 2011. Conductor: Laurent Cuniot / Cello: Askar Ishangaliyev.

Sin Nombres (1st piece of the cycle “Dos son un Jardín”)For countertenor, 15 instruments and stereophonic electronics. CNSMDP, “Atelier de composition”. February 14, 2011. Conductor: Pierre Roullier. Countertenor: Rodrigo Ferreira.

Árbol AdentroMonodrama for voice and piano on a poem by Octavio Paz.CNS-MDP. Graduation concert for the class of piano accompaniment. June 4, 2010.Piano: Nicolas Chesneau. Soprano: Mailys de Villoutreys.

Noviembre Fragmentado (1st version)For clarinet in b flat, 1 percussionist, violin and stereophonic elec-tronics.Colegio de España. May 2010. Ensemble: ‘‘L’Instant Donné’’.

Tum Tum (1st version)For bass drum and electronics with quadraphonic sound projection.Conservatoire de Reims. March 24, 2010. Percussionist: Maxime Echardour.

MadramiSymphonic orchestra.‘‘Opéra de Massy’’. February 13 and 14, 2010. Conductor: Julien Masmondet.

Nocturno MarFor 11 musicians: oboe, english horn, tenor sax, horn, trombone, tuba, accordion, piano, 1 percussion, 2 violins. CNSMDP, “Journées de la composition”. Oc-tober 22, 2009. Conductor: Zsolt Nagy.

Toro MataFor violin and cello. CNSMDP. 30 creations on the theme of dance. April 29, 2009.

Canto EmpedradoFor 7 instruments: english horn, bassoon, horn in F, trumpet in C, trombone, violaand cello. CNSMDP, “Atelier de composition”. January 30, 2009. Conductor: Jean-Philippe Wurtz.

EscaparseFor flute, clarinet in b flat, horn in F, marimba, vibraphone, 4 wood blocks, 4temple blocks, 2 bongos, 3 finger cymbals, harp, violin, viola, and cello.‘‘Acanthes’’, Contemporary Music Festival. July 10, 2008. Conduc-tor: Zsolt Nagy.

AdentrarseFor piano and 9 instruments. CNSMDP, “Atelier de composition”. April 11, 2008. Conductor: Jean-Philippe Wurtz.

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Education Antonio Juan-Marcos

University of California Berkeley 2014 -PhD in Music Composition IRCAM 2012-2013 Cursus

Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP) 2007-2012. 1er et 2ème cycles supérieures (Bachelor and Master Degrees equivalency) Principal professors:

-S. Gervasoni (composition). L. Naón (Electro -acoustic composition) -Y. Marez and D. Cohen (Orchestration) -L. Naón, T. Mays, Y. Geslin and K. Haddad (Electro -acoustic composition) -C. Ledoux (Analysis)

Boston Conservatory 1998-2002 Bachelor of Music in Composition (Principal composition professor: O.Golijov)

Academies, Festivals and non-degree music studiesAcanthesSummer 2008. Composition (S. Sciarrino and F. Nieder)

Conservatoire de Nanterre2005-2007 Composition and electro-acoustic compo-sition (J-L. Hervé and P. Leroux)

Conservatoire de Sevran2005-2007 Composition (A. Gaussin).2003-2005 Analysis (V. Decleire).

Schola Cantorum2003-2006 Harmony, counterpoint, composition, har-monic analysis (N. Bonet)

European American Musical AllianceSummer 2003 Composition (M. Merlet), Harmony, analysis and counterpoint (P. Lasser), Sight reading (M. Shapiro).

Conservatorio Nacional Superior de la Ciudad de México2002-2003 Composition (J. Torres), Analysis (M. Lavista).

Festival Internacional de guitarra de CórdobaVerano 1997 Summer 1997 Composition for guitar (L. Brouwer).

Contact Antonio Juan-Marcos

Telephone: +1 (510) 693 3532E-mail: ajuanmarcos@mac.com

Web Site: www.antoniojuanmarcoscompositor.com

www.antoniocomposer.com