Manuel Quiroga Losada

Manuel Quiroga Losada (15 April 189219 April 1961) was a Spanish violinist and composer. He was described by music critics as "the finest successor of Pablo de Sarasate", and he is sometimes referred to as "Sarasate's spiritual heir". Enrique Granados, Eugène Ysaÿe (whose sixth Solo Sonata is dedicated to Quiroga) and other composers dedicated compositions to him. Violinists Ysaÿe, Fritz Kreisler, George Enescu, Mischa Elman and Jascha Heifetz, as well as composers such as Igor Stravinsky and Jean Sibelius, held Quiroga's artistry in great regard.

Biography

Early years Manuel Quiroga Losada was born in Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain in 1892. His first study of the violin was with a local amateur named Juan Sayago. He then moved on to a more qualified teacher, Benito Medal. He gave his first public concert in 1900, at the age of 8. and in 1904 at the Circulo Mercantil in Santiago de Compostela. and Jules Boucherit; he also had some lessons with Jacques Thibaud in 1911. He also associated with George Enescu and Eugène Ysaÿe, and learned some of Kreisler's compositions, while enjoying the friendship of Manuel de Falla, Joaquín Turina, Pablo Casals, Darius Milhaud, the cellist Juan Ruiz Casaux and the French pianist Marthe Lehman, a fellow student at the Conservatoire. Her family helped Quiroga financially and arranged social introductions.

Quiroga was a soloist in performances with the Conservatory Orchestra and the Concerts Lamoureux. Back in Britain he played with the London Symphony Orchestra under Sir Thomas Beecham,

Dedications Musical works dedicated to Manuel Quiroga included: Enrique Granados: Violin Sonata (one movement) Eugène Ysaÿe: Sonata No. 6 for solo violin Eduardo Fabini (1882–1950): Fantasía para violin y orquesta Joaquín Nin: Sur un air de danse de Pablo Esteve, 1779, the fifth of "Cinq comentaires" Marcel Samuel-Rousseau: Les Promis Édouard Nadaud: the fifth of his Six Études de Concert César Espejo (1892–1988): Fileuse, Op. 12 Roger Penou: Air de danse Jacques Arnay: Fragment Lyrique, Op. 11. The street on which he was born, Calle del Comercio, has been renamed Calle Manuel Quiroga in his honour.

The people of A Coruña in Galicia erected a sculpture in his honour in 1950. There is also a memorial bust in Pontevedra, the work of the sculptor Francisco Asorey, and in the city square is a full-size statue of him shown playing the violin to a group of friends seated around him.

In his centenary year 1992, the City Museum of Pontevedra organized a series of commemorative events such as an exhibition of his paintings and drawings and some musical homages.

Compositions

Spanish dances Canto y danza Andaluza Jota nº 1 Jota nº 2 Lamento andaluz Playera y zapateado Rondalla Zapateado Zortzico

Cuban and Argentine dances 1ª Guajira 2ª Guajira 1ª Habanera 2ª Habanera 1ª Danza Argentina 2ª Danza Argentina

Hymns and songs to Galicia and Spain ¡España! Galicia Alalá Alborada Emigrantes celtas Muñeira

Concertos Premier Concierto en el Estilo Antiguo (Concerto Antico I) for violin and chamber orchestra. Also arranged for violin and piano. Segundo Concierto en el Estilo Antiguo, for violin and chamber orchestra (only a fragment preserved)

Other original compositions Canto Amoroso Viena Bruissement d’ailes Scherzando

Transcriptions Allegrissimo de Scarlatti Allegro de Scarlatti Andante cantabile de Mendelssohn

Études, caprices and variations for solo violin Estudio Tres caprichos Seis caprichos 9 Variations on Caprice No. 24 by Paganini 12 Variations on Caprice No. 24 by Paganini Another is available online.