manuel

seco de arpe

Composer

Biography

Manuel Seco de Arpe was born in Madrid in 1958. He studied at the Conservatory in his hometown, with Carmelo Bernaola and Anton Garcia Abril, among others. In 1981 he won the 'Prize Rome' and lived in Rome for two years, where he studied Musical Composition with Franco Donatoni. During these years, he came into contact with Goffredo Petrassi, who encouraged him and congratulated him on the work 'Trío Num.2' (performed at the Pontino Festival). Together, and working together with the critic Mario Bortolotto, they prepare the First Meeting of Italian and Spanish Composers in 1982.
Manuel Seco has won numerous composition competitions and his works have been performed at many international and national festivals. He has received commissions from prominent festivals and institutions, such as the Pontino Festival in Italy, the European Council, Europalia (Belgium), Musica D'Oggi (Italy), the Madrid Autumn Festival (Spain), the International Festival of Contemporary Music in Alicante (Spain), the Religious Week of Cuenca (Spain) or the Santander International Music Festival (Spain).
His available discography includes his 'Misa Jubilate Deo' (RTVE Music Label), chamber music performed by the Concertus Novo ensemble (EMEC Label) and piano works performed by Antonio Narejos (Opera Tres Label), awarded by the Ministry of Culture of Spain in 1991. His music has been recorded and broadcast on RNE, RTVE, RAI, Radio France and Radio Alsacia, among other media. NAXOS has published his works "Concertino for piano, harp, glockenspiel and strings", "Cabiria Song for oboe and strings" and "Concerto for strings" performed by Borja Quintas, Andrey Yaroshinsky and the Moscow Chamber Orchestra.
He has taught the highest degree of Composition at the High Conservatory of Murcia, heading the Department for 18 years. He has taken part in many contemporary music forums, and published articles in press and specialized magazines. He has also been a founder member and musical adviser of the “Concertus Novo” contemporary music ensemble, and founder director of the ‘Ciclos de Música Española’ and ‘Mayo Musical’ events in Murcia. He has been founder president of the Murcia Symphonic Orchestra and president of the ‘St. Cristobal Hermitage’ cultural association, dedicated to promoting and spreading scenic Spanish arts. He has been the director of the ‘Rafael Seco’ Art Museum, and the ‘Conciertos de Estio’ performing in St. Cristobal Hermitage.
He was teacher of Composition and Analysis of the Defense School Group and nowadays, he is Teacher of the Composition Department at the Royal High Conservatory of Madrid.
With an extensive catalogue, including more than 170 works of all genres, Manuel Seco de Arpe sets apart due to his aesthetic contribution to ‘post-vanguardism’, based on an eclectic and polistylistic approach with a high expressive content, and at the same time, with a strong serious structure.

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