Santos, (José Manuel) Joly Braga

Santos, (José Manuel) Joly Braga, Portuguese conductor and composer; b. Lisbon, May 14, 1924; d. there, July 18, 1988. He studied composition with Luis de Freitas Branco at the Lisbon Cons. (1934–43), conducting with Scherchen at the Venice Cons. (1948), electronic music at the Gavessano (Switzerland) Acoustic Experimental Studio (1957–58), and composition with Mortari at the Rome Cons. (1959–60). He conducted the Oporto Radio Sym. Orch. (1955–59); subsequently was active as a guest conductor. His music represents a felicitous fusion of Portuguese Renaissance modalities and folk rhythms.

Works

DRAMATIC: Opera : Viver ou morrer (To Live or to Die), radio opera (1952); Mérope (Lisbon, May 15, 1959); Trilogia das Barcas (1969; Lisbon, May, 1970). Ballet : Alfama (1956); A nau Catrineta (1959); Encruzilhada (1968). orch. : 3 symphonic overtures (1945, 1947, 1954); 6 syms.: No. 1 (1946), No. 2 (1948), No. 3 (1949), No. 4 (1950), No. 5, Virtus Lusitaniae (1966), and No. 6 for Soprano, Chorus, and Orch. (1972); Nocturno for Strings (1947); Concerto for Strings (1951); Variaçōes sinfónicas sobre un theme de l’Alentejano (1952); Viola Concerto (1960); Divertimento for Chamber Orch. (1961); 3 esboços sinfónicos (3 Symphonie Sketches; 1962); Sinfonietta for Strings (1963); Double Concerto for Violin, Cello, String Orch., and Harp (1965); Variaçōes concertantes for Harp and Strings (1967); Piano Concerto (1973); Variaçôes (1976). chamber: Nocturno for Violin and Piano (1942); 2 string quartets (1944, 1956); Violin Sonata (1945); Piano Quartet (1957). vocal: Requiem à memória de Pedro de Freitas Branco for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1964); Ode à música for Chorus and Orch. (1965); choruses.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire