THE UNIVERSAL CATALAN MUSIC
1897
Manuel Blancafort was born August 12, 1897 in La Garriga (Barcelona).
The first years of the composer's life took place at the Spa Balneari Blancafort
1903
"I will make the family name shine with my music".
Six of the Blancafort i de Rosselló siblings.
1912
"La Victoria", the manufacturer of rolls for the pianola, came to have a very extensive catalogue in its prime.
Blancafort learned music by transferring the notes from the stave to the continuous paper rolls of the pianola
1914
His friendship with Frederic Mompou was instrumental to the musical career of Manuel Blancafort.
"You are a musician at heart. Don't give up on yourself"
Frederic Mompou to Manuel Blancafort.
1923
In July of that year Manuel Blancafort traveled to New York.
The composer aboard the transatlantic ship Mauretania.
"The sea is so smooth and so flat that thoughts skip".
Fragment from a travel journal.
1924
Manuel Blancafort's international recognition began with the first audition of "El parc d'atraccions" ("Fun Fair"), performed by Ricard Viñes in Paris.
Figures by Grau Sala used by Joan Magrinya in the dance performance of "Polka de l'equilibrista" ("The Tightrope-Walker's Polka").
1929
The first production of Blancafort's music coincided with the boom of French Impressionism.
"In my opinion, the first thing that the new Catalan music needs to do is to distance itself from Wagner"
Interview in the daily newspaper "La noche" in 1929.
1931
Los The Independent Composers of Catalonia. From left to right: Robert Gerhard, Agustí Grau, Joan Gilbert Camins, Eduard Toldrà, Manuel Blancafort, Baltasar Samper and Joan Lamote de Grignon. Frederic Mompou is missing from the photo.
1932
The first performance of "The Rape of the Sabines" represented the consecration of Manuel Blancafort as a composer in the orchestral sphere.
"Manuel Blancafort should be placed among the most prominent representatives of the new school of Spanish music".
Henry Collet, french music critic, in "Revue Musicale".
During the 1930's Blancafort became one of the most important composers of the new generation of Catalan musicians.
1936
The festival of the International Society of Contemporary Music is an example of the acclaim obtained by the composer during those years.
The Civil War marked the end of a chapter in the life of Manuel Blancafort.
"My 'modus vivendi' had changed forever".
1944
Since the 1940s, Blancafort's music has been focused toward great orchestral forms.
Program from the first audition of the first concert for piano, performed by Maria Canals and Eduard Toldra.
"This is the biggest success “in situ” that any of my works have obtained".
"I set forth the goal that it would be me personally who would be in charge of mounting a symphonic repertoire".
1949
Manuel Blancafort's two String Quartets constitute his most important production of chamber music.
"My wife had studied the violin. She played very well".
Blancafort was awarded the Prize of the City of Barcelona for his "Sinfonia en Mi" ("Symphony in E").
1953
Society of Contemporary Music. From left to right: Ramon Ferrer, Manuel Blancafort, Frederic Mompou, Gaspar Cassadó, Eduard Toldrà and Xavier Monsalvatge.
Manuel Blancafort also had a remarkable repertoire of works for voice and chamber music, many of which were performed during the 1950s.
1958
Two of Manuel Blancafort's sons made music their career.
Albert Blancafort. Composer and orchestral conductor.
Gabriel Blancafort. Master organ builder.
1965
During the 1960s, Manuel Blancafort dedicated a large part of his time to the composition of a symphonic-choral work of great form, the oratorio "Verge Maria", which received the award Orfeó Català ("Catalan Orpheon").
Original score of the oratorio Cantata Verge Maria.
1980
During the last decade of his life, Manuel Blancafort received public and professional recognition.
"Music should be a means of expressing one's internal feelings and impressions of the outside world".
1997
During the Blancafort centennial they paid homage to the composer.