Marlos Nobre (1939- ). Internationally acclaimed Brazilian composer, pianist and conductor, and certainly the most important among our contemporary composers.
Contemporary classical music is characterized by many 'isms'; in following posts, we shall look into expressionist and neoclassicist contemporary composers. Nobre, influenced by composers such as Aaron Copland (USA, 1900-1990), is deemed a nationalist contemporary composer.
Nationalism had been a feature of the music of the Romantic Era, and continued to be a strong musical influence in the first half of last century. In contemporary music, it has been enriched by the study of folk songs.
Nobre got his diploma cum laude in Harmony and Counterpoint in 1959, and studied with composers Camargo Guarnieri in Brazil and Aaron Copland in the U.S. Nobre is considered a genious, all over the world.
Here are a few snatches of press reviews about him that most moved me: "Marlos Nobre travaille le son en sculpteur, par larges plans, dessinant des arêtes vives, opposant des masses compactes; la matière s´étire et se contracte, la couleur est franche ou sombre, rarement en demi-teinte; pas de traquenard, on sait où l´on va, même dans les chemins secrets de l´aléatoire" (André Schaeffer, Revue Scherzo, Paris, December 1971); "Nobre´s music is a remarkable fusion of a variety of styles. The result is surprisingly individual and distinctive: heady, evocative, sensual at times, yet always controlled within a finely imaginative and experienced framework by a fastidious creative mind".(Robert Matthew-Walker, Music and Musicians International, London, April 1988).
For more information on Nobre and his works, see http://marlosnobre.sites.uol.com.br/index1_i.html
Notice the nationalist tone and exuberance of Nobre's 4 Momentos for Piano. Performed by the composer himself. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwIV43DXtzM
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