Orbón (de Soto), Julián

Orbón (de Soto), Julián, Spanish-American composer; b. Aviles, Aug. 7, 1925; d. Miami Beach, May 20, 1991. He entered the Oviedo Cons. when he was 10. In 1938 he went with his family to Havana, where he continued his training under his father (piano) and Ardévol (composition). After completing his training in composition with Copland at the Berkshire Music Center in Tanglewood (summer, 1945), he returned to Havana and became director of his father’s Orbón Cons. in 1946. In the wake of the Cuban Revolution, he went to Mexico City in 1960 and worked with Chávez at the National Cons. until 1963. In 1964 he settled in the U.S. In 1964–65 he taught at the State Univ. of N.Y at Purchase and at Washington Univ. in St. Louis. He subsequently concentrated his efforts on composition. In 1959 and 1969 he held Guggenheim fellowships. In 1967 he received an award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. After composing works revealing Spanish and Cuban stylistic traits, he turned to a more expressive Romantic style in his later scores.

Works

orch.:Sym. (1945); Homenaje a la tonadilla (1947); Tres versiones sinfónicas (1953; Caracas, Dec. 11, 1954); Danzas sinfónicas (1955; Miami, Nov. 17, 1957); Concerto Grosso (1958; N.Y., Nov. 8, 1961); Partita No. 3 (1965) and No. 4 for Piano and Orch. (1982–85; Dallas, April 11, 1985). chamber:Concerto da camera for Horn, English Horn, Trumpet, Cello, and Piano (1944); String Quartet (1951); Preludio y danza for Guitar (1951); Partita No. 1 for Harpsichord (1963) and No. 2 for Harpsichord, Vibraphone, Celesta, Harmonium, and String Quartet (1964); numerous piano pieces; organ music. vocal:Crucifixus, motet for Chorus (1953); Hymnus ad galli cantum for Soprano, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Harp, and String Quartet (1956); Tres cantigas del rey for Soprano, String Quartet, Harpsichord, and Percussion (1960); Monte Gelboe for Tenor and Orch. (1962); Introito for Chorus (1967–68); Oficios: Liturgia de tres días for Chorus and Orch. (1970–75); Dos canciones folklóricas for Chorus (1972); Libro de cantares for Mezzo- soprano and Piano (1987).

Bibliography

V. Yedra, J. O.: A Biographical and Critical Essay (Miami, 1990).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire