Fray José de Larrañaga (17281806) was a

Franciscan , image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg , image_size = 200px , caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans , abbreviation = OFM , predecessor = , ...

friar, organist, ''maestro de capilla'' of the

Sanctuary of Arantzazu The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Arantzazu is a Franciscan sanctuary located in Oñati, Basque Country, Spain. The shrine is a much appreciated place among Gipuzkoans, with the Virgin of Arantzazu being the sanctuary's namesake and patron saint of ...

, composer, and was active in the

Basque Basque may refer to: * Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France * Basque language, their language Places * Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France * Basque Country (autonomous c ...

musical and cultural movement of the 18th century.

Life

Larrañaga was born in

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(Spanish Azcoitia) in 1728, and entered the Franciscan order as a young man. Although formal music in the

was still modelled on traditional Spanish models of

Morales Morales is a Spanish surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Alfredo Morales (born 1990), American footballer * Alvaro Morales (disambiguation), several people * Amado Morales (born 1947), Puerto Rican javelin thrower * Bartolomé Mor ...

Guerrero Guerrero is one of the 32 states that comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in Municipalities of Guerrero, 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo and its largest city is Acap ...

and Victoria, Larrañaga also had access to, and was influenced by the late Baroque Italianate 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 concertos. Handel received his train ...

and

Domenico Scarlatti Giuseppe Domenico Scarlatti, also known as Domingo or Doménico Scarlatti (26 October 1685-23 July 1757), was an Italian composer. He is classified primarily as a Baroque composer chronologically, although his music was influential in the devel ...

. For example, the archive in Arantzazu contains two concertos by Handel copied in 1758. Despite his monastic status, Larrañaga was closely linked to the birth of the

Royal Basque Society of Friends of the Country Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a cit ...

, a movement bringing Enlightenment ideas in science and culture to the Basque country. Larrangada was therefore one of the 200 or more individuals in the Basque country who between 1789 and 1794 were investigated for their connections to Enlightenment movements abroad. Larrañaga was acquainted with

Rousseau Jean-Jacques Rousseau (, ; 28 June 1712 – 2 July 1778) was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer. His political philosophy influenced the progress of the Age of Enlightenment throughout Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revol ...

, possibly through his associate Manuel Ignacio Altuna y Portu, who had met Rousseau in Venice. Larrañaga also belonged to the circle of the ''Gentlemen of Azcoitia'' around Don Xavier María de Munibe e Idiáquez, count of Peñaflorida, who gathered at his home, the palace Insausti, in

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Guipúzcoa Gipuzkoa (, , ; es, Guipúzcoa ; french: Guipuscoa) is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the autonomous community of the Basque Country. Its capital city is Donostia-San Sebastián. Gipuzkoa shares borders with the French dep ...

, the composer's home town.notes Fabio Bonizzoni on Fray José de Larrañaga, Obrase religiosas. Capilla Peñaflorida, dir. Fabio Bonizzoni, NBMusika NB005, 2007 He died in Arantzazu.

Works

Partial list of edited works: * various keyboard works. * ''In omnibus requiem''. Spiritual cantata for 5 voices with instruments. * ''Missus est angelus'' (1785). Spiritual cantata for 5 voices with violins, trumpets and bass. * Lamentation for the first day (1759), for 5 voices with violins, oboes, clarinets and muted horns. * Prayer of Jeremiah - ''Oratorio Jeremías'', for 5 voices with violins, oboes, horns and basso continuo.

Selected recordings

* Fray José de Larrañaga ''Arantzazu XVIII'' - Sacred canatata ''In omnibus'', Lamentations. Capilla Peñaflorida, Fabio Bonizzoni, NB musika. 2008

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Larranaga, Jose De 1728 births 1806 deaths Basque classical composers Spanish male classical composers Spanish Baroque composers Spanish Classical-period composers 19th-century Spanish male musicians