Gaspar Cassadó i Moreu (30 September or 5 October 1897 – 24 December 1966) was a Catalan

cellist The violoncello ( , ), commonly abbreviated as cello ( ), is a middle pitched bowed (sometimes pizzicato, plucked and occasionally col legno, hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually intonation (music), tuned i ...

and

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...

of the early 20th century.

Biography

Gaspar Cassadó i Moreu was born in

Barcelona Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...

to a church musician father, Joaquim Cassadó, and began taking cello lessons at age seven. When he was nine, he played in a recital where

Pablo Casals Pau Casals i Defilló (Catalan: ; 29 December 187622 October 1973), known in English as Pablo Casals,Alfredo Casella Alfredo Casella (25 July 18835 March 1947) was an Italian composer, pianist and conductor. Life and career Casella was born in Turin, the son of Maria (née Bordino) and Carlo Casella. His family included many musicians: his grandfather, a f ...

. In 1920 he toured Argentina. From 1922 he began to make known his own compositions, both pieces for cello and concerts, chamber music, oratorios and a sardana. He also made transcriptions for cello. In 1923 and thanks to the friendship with Francesco von Mendelssohn he met the singer and pianist Giulietta Gordigiani, with whom he lived for more than three decades, settling in Florence. Gaspar and Giulietta created a cello and piano duo with which they toured the European stages for more than a decade, achieving great success. Giulietta Gordigiani, widow of Robert von Mendelssohn, offered him fundamental support for the development and promotion of his career, as well as an excellent piano collaboration. Great virtuosos, they reaped for years the praise of the public and the admiration of the critics. In 1940 he toured the United States and spent the years of World War II in the village of Striano with Giulietta. His career suffered a very significant and irreparable decline in the postwar period, due mainly to a famous letter published by his former teacher Casals in the New York Times accusing him of collaboration with the fascist regimes and asking that Cassadó not be allowed to play in the allied countries. Cassadó disputed Casals' allegations, and scholars have questioned Casals' motivation. Cassadó and Casals eventually reconciled with the help of

Yehudi Menuhin Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin (22 April 191612 March 1999), was an American-born British violinist and conductor who spent most of his performing career in Britain. He is widely considered one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century. ...

. Cassadó combined his solo career with his participation as a jury in international competitions. From 1946 he was professor at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, and from 1958 at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Cologne. That same year he co-founded the "Course of Spanish Music in Compostela" in Santiago de Compostela. He was also the author of several notable musical hoaxes, notably the "Toccata" that he attributed to

Girolamo Frescobaldi Girolamo Alessandro Frescobaldi (; also Gerolamo, Girolimo, and Geronimo Alissandro; September 15831 March 1643) was an Italian composer and virtuoso keyboard player. Born in the Duchy of Ferrara, he was one of the most important composers of ke ...

. The personal papers of Cassadó's father are preserved in the

Biblioteca de Catalunya The Library of Catalonia (, ) is the Catalan national library, located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The primary mission of the Library of Catalonia is to collect, preserve, and spread Catalan bibliographic production and that related to the ...

. Gaspar's own papers, along with those of his wife, the pianist , are preserved at the Tamagawa University Museum of Education. On the invitation of his great friend Alicia de Larrocha, with whom he had a cello-piano duo (touring extensively with him from 1956–58), Gaspar Cassadó played concerts and led frequent classes at Academia Marshall in Barcelona. The Professor of Cello chair at Academia Marshall is named after Gaspar Cassadó and held since 2018 by Professor Jacob Shaw. ]

Compositions

Original works

Cassadó's many transcriptions are listed below his original works.

Concertos

* Cello Concerto in D minor (Cassadó), Cello Concerto in D minor (1926) :This piece, like the Suite for Cello Solo, is influenced by Spanish and Oriental folk music, and

Impressionism Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by visible brush strokes, open Composition (visual arts), composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage ...

. Cassadó studied composition with

Maurice Ravel Joseph Maurice Ravel (7 March 1875 – 28 December 1937) was a French composer, pianist and conductor. He is often associated with Impressionism in music, Impressionism along with his elder contemporary Claude Debussy, although both composer ...

, and a Ravel-influenced "carnival music" appears in the second theme of the first movement. The second movement is a theme and variations which leads directly to a pentatonic Rondo.

Solo cello works

* Suite for Cello Solo :The Suite, like the Cello Concerto and the Piano Trio, came from one Cassadó's most prolific periods, in the mid-1920s. It consists of three dance movements: Preludio-Fantasia (a Zarabanda); Sardana; and

Intermezzo In music, an intermezzo (, , plural form: intermezzi), in the most general sense, is a composition which fits between other musical or dramatic entities, such as acts of a play or movements of a larger musical work. In music history, the term ha ...

e Danza Finale (a

Jota Jota may refer to: __NOTOC__ * Iota (Ι, ι), the name of the 9th letter in the Greek alphabet; * (figuratively) ''Something very small'', based on the fact that the letter Iota (lat. i) is the smallest character in the alphabet; * The name of the ...

). The first movement includes quotations from

Zoltán Kodály Zoltán Kodály (, ; , ; 16 December 1882 – 6 March 1967) was a Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, music pedagogue, linguist, and philosopher. He is well known internationally as the creator of the Kodály method of music education. ...

's Sonata for Cello Solo, Op. 8, and the famous

flute The flute is a member of a family of musical instruments in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, producing sound with a vibrating column of air. Flutes produce sound when the player's air flows across an opening. In th ...

solo from

's ballet '' Daphnis et Chloé''. The ''sardana'' of the second movement is a traditional dance from

Catalonia Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationalities and regions of Spain, nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006, Statute of Autonomy. Most of its territory (except the Val d'Aran) is situate ...

. *Fugue in the Style of

Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti. Born in Halle, Germany, H ...

Solo guitar works

*Canción de Leonardo *Catalanesca *Dos Cantos Populares Finlandeses (Two Finnish Folk Songs) *Leyenda Catalana *Préambulo y Sardana *Sardana Chigiana

Works for cello and piano

*Allegretto Grazioso "After

Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; ; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical period (music), Classical and early Romantic music, Romantic eras. Despite his short life, Schubert left behind a List of compositions ...

" *Archares 1954 *Danse du diable vert (Dance of the Green Devil) for violin or cello 1926 *La Pendule, la Fileuse et le Galant 1925 *Lamento de Boabdil 1931 *Minuetto "After Paderewski" *Morgenlied 1957 *Partita 1935 *Pastorale "After Couperin" *Rapsodia del Sur *Requiebros 1934 *

Serenade In music, a serenade (; also sometimes called a serenata, from the Italian) is a musical composition or performance delivered in honour of someone or something. Serenades are typically calm, light pieces of music. The term comes from the Ital ...

1925 *Sonata in A minor 1925 *Sonata nello stile antico spagnuolo (Sonata in an "Old Spanish Style") 1925 *Toccata "After Frescobaldi" 1925

Chamber works

Piano Trio A piano trio is a group of piano and two other instruments, usually a violin and a cello, or a piece of music written for such a group. It is one of the most common forms found in European classical music, classical chamber music. The term can also ...

in C major 1926/1929 *String Quartet No. 1 in F minor 1929 *String Quartet No. 2 in G major 1930 *String Quartet No. 3 in C minor 1933

Transcriptions

Concerto transcriptions

*Cello Concerto in F major, based on

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (8 March 1714 – 14 December 1788), also formerly spelled Karl Philipp Emmanuel Bach, and commonly abbreviated C. P. E. Bach, was a German composer and musician of the Baroque and Classical period. He was the fifth ch ...

's Concerto No. 3 in A major, Wq. 172 *Cello Concerto in D major, based on Mozart's Horn Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, K. 447 *Cello Concerto in A minor, based on Schubert's Arpeggione Sonata, D. 821 * Cello Concerto in E major, based on Tchaikovsky's Piano Pieces, Op. 72 (1940) :Cassadó transformed nine of Tchaikovsky's pieces into a concerto. He used No. 18 ''Scene dansante (Invitation au trepak)'', No. 3 ''Tendres Reproches'' and No. 14 ''Chant Elegiaque'' in the first movement; No. 5 ''Meditation'' and No. 8 ''Dialogue'' in the second and No. 4 ''Danse Caracteristique'', No. 2 ''Berceuse'', No. 17 ''Passe Lointain'' and No. 1 ''Impromptu'' in the third. This concerto was a favorite of Cassadó's. It was published in 1940 by ''Edition Schott No. 3743''. *Cello Concerto in D major, based on Weber's Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 74 *Cello Concerto in E minor, based on Vivaldi's Cello Sonata No. 5, RV. 40 *Guitar Concerto in E major, based on Boccherini's Concerto No. 2 in D major, G. 479 :Cassadó completely rewrote the Concerto for his colleague Andrés Segovia. The transcription features a solo string quartet, and trumpet fanfares make it reminiscent of

Rodrigo Rodrigo () is a Spanish, Portuguese and Italian name derived from the Germanic name ''Roderick'' ( Gothic ''*Hroþareiks'', via Latinized ''Rodericus'' or ''Rudericus''), given specifically in reference to either King Roderic (d. 712), the la ...

Transcriptions for solo cello

Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (German: Help:IPA/Standard German, �joːhan zeˈbasti̯an baχ ( – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque music, Baroque period. He is known for his prolific output across a variety ...

- Cello Suite No. 4, BWV 1010 :Cassadó transposed the suite to F major from its original key of E-flat major. *

Frédéric Chopin Frédéric François Chopin (born Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin; 1 March 181017 October 1849) was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic period who wrote primarily for Piano solo, solo piano. He has maintained worldwide renown ...

- Étude, Op. 25, No. 1 *

George Frideric Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti. Born in Halle, Germany, H ...

- '' The Harmonious Blacksmith'' (from the Harpsichord Suites Vol.1 No.5 "Air and Variations")

Transcriptions for cello and piano

Isaac Albéniz Isaac Manuel Francisco Albéniz y Pascual (; 29 May 1860 – 18 May 1909) was a Spanish virtuoso pianist, composer, and conductor. He is one of the foremost composers of the post-romantic era who also had a significant influence on his con ...

: ** Cádiz (Serenata española) **'' Malagueña'', Op. 165, No. 3 * Martin Berteau - Studio *

Luigi Boccherini Ridolfo Luigi Boccherini (, also , ; 19 February 1743 – 28 May 1805) was an Italian composer and cellist of the Classical era whose music retained a courtly and '' galante'' style even while he matured somewhat apart from the major classi ...

- Minuetto *

Alexander Borodin Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin (12 November 183327 February 1887) was a Russian Romantic composer and chemist of Georgian–Russian parentage. He was one of the prominent 19th-century composers known as " The Five", a group dedicated to prod ...

- Serenata all spagnola (from String Quartet B-La-F) *

Jean-Baptiste Bréval Jean-Baptiste Sebastien Bréval (6 November 1753 – 18 March 1823) was a French cellist and composer. He wrote mostly for his own instrument, including pedagogical works as well as virtuoso display pieces. Life Bréval was born in Paris, ...

- Sonata in G major (realization of figured bass) *

- Minute Waltz, Op. 64, No. 1 * Constantino de Crescenzo - Prima Carezza *

Claude Debussy Achille Claude Debussy (; 22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918) was a French composer. He is sometimes seen as the first Impressionism in music, Impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. He was among the most influe ...

: **''Clair de lune'' **''Golliwog's Cakewalk'' **''Minstrels'' *

Antonín Dvořák Antonín Leopold Dvořák ( ; ; 8September 18411May 1904) was a Czech composer. He frequently employed rhythms and other aspects of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia, following the Romantic-era nationalist example of his predec ...

- Sonatina in G major, Op. 100 (Indian Lament) *

Gabriel Fauré Gabriel Urbain Fauré (12 May 1845 – 4 November 1924) was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th-century composers. ...

- Nocturne No. 4 *

Enrique Granados Pantaleón Enrique Joaquín Granados Campiña (27 July 1867 – 24 March 1916), commonly known as Enrique Granados in Spanish or ''Enric Granados'' in Catalan, was a Spanish composer of classical music, and concert pianist from Cat ...

- Intermezzo (from the opera ''Goyescas'') * Ernesto Halffter - Canzone e Pastorella * Blas de Laserna - Tonadilla *

Franz Liszt Franz Liszt (22 October 1811 – 31 July 1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor and teacher of the Romantic music, Romantic period. With a diverse List of compositions by Franz Liszt, body of work spanning more than six ...

- Liebestraum (Notturno) No. 3 * Benedetto Marcello: **Sonata No. 1 in C major **Sonata No. 4 in A minor * Federico Mompou - '' Chanson et Danse'' * Federico Moreno Torroba - Fandanguillo *

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...

: **Rondo alla turca (from Piano Sonata K.331) **Serenata de ''

Don Giovanni ''Don Giovanni'' (; K. 527; full title: , literally ''The Rake Punished, or Don Giovanni'') is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. Its subject is a centuries-old Spanish legen ...

'' eh vieni alla finestra**Sonata K. 358 (from Sonata for Piano Four Hands) *

Georg Muffat Georg Muffat (1 June 1653 – 23 February 1704) was a Baroque composer and organist. He is best known for the remarkably articulate and informative performance directions printed along with his collections of string pieces ''Florilegium Primum'' a ...

- Arioso *

Ignacy Jan Paderewski Ignacy Jan Paderewski (; r 1859– 29 June 1941) was a Polish pianist, composer and statesman who was a spokesman for Polish independence. In 1919, he was the nation's Prime Minister of Poland, prime minister and foreign minister durin ...

- Minuet in G *

Manuel Ponce Manuel María Ponce Cuéllar (8 December 1882 – 24 April 1948), known in Mexico as Manuel M. Ponce, was a Mexican composer active in the 20th century. His work as a composer, music educator and scholar of Mexican music connected the concert s ...

- Estrellita (Little Star) * David Popper - Elfentanz *

Johann Strauss II Johann Baptist Strauss II (; ; 25 October 1825 – 3 June 1899), also known as Johann Strauss Jr., the Younger or the Son (), was an List of Austrian composers, Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas as well ...

- An der schonen Blauen Donau

References

External links

Brief biography from the International Cello Society
* ttp://www.soundfountain.org/rem/remcassado.html His Profile at The Remington Sitebr>Personal papers Joaquim Cassadó in the Biblioteca de Catalunya
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cassado, Gaspar 1897 births 1966 deaths Spanish classical cellists Catalan classical cellists Spanish music educators Spanish male classical composers 20th-century Spanish classical composers 20th-century male composers Musicians from Barcelona 20th-century Spanish musicians 20th-century Spanish male musicians 20th-century cellists Academic staff of Accademia Musicale Chigiana