Antonio Soler

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Antonio Francisco Javier José Soler Ramos, usually known today as Padre Antonio Soler, (baptized December 3, 1729 - died December 20, 1783) was a Spanish composer whose works span the late Baroque and early Classical music eras. He is best known for his keyboard sonatas, an important contribution to the harpsichord, fortepiano and organ repertoire.

Soler was born in Olot in Girona, Catalonia. In 1736, when he was 6, he entered the choir school of the great Monastery of Montserrat where he studied with the resident maestro Benito Esteve and organist Benito Valls. In 1744 he was appointed organist at the cathedral in Seo de Urgel and appointed as a subdeacon there. Later in his life, he held posts as chapel master in Lleida and El Escorial.

He took Holy Orders at the age of 23 and his routine at the Escorial, near Madrid, was a simple one for the next 31 years. His 20-hour days were filled with prayer, contemplation and farming -- a simple and unadorned life. Yet, in these austere surroundings, Soler managed to produce more than 500 musical works. Amongst these were around 150 keyboard sonatas -- many were believed to have been written for his music pupil, the Infante Don Gabriel, a son of King Carlos III. No portraits of Soler are known to exist.

Padre Soler's most celebrated works are his keyboard sonatas, which are comparable to those by Domenico Scarlatti (with whom he is rumored to have studied). However, Soler's works are more varied in form than Scarlatti's with some pieces in three or four movements, for example (Scarlatti's are in one or two movements). Fortunately, Soler's sonatas were catalogued in the early twentieth century by Fr. Samuel Rubio and so all have 'R' numbers assigned to them.

Soler also wrote concertos, quintets for organ and strings, motets, masses and pieces for solo organ. His treatise Llave de la modulación (1762) is on modulation.

Soler's very fine "Six Concertos for Two Organs" are still very much in the repertoire and have been often recorded. A fandango once attributed to Soler, and probably more often performed than any other work by him, is now thought by some to be of doubtful authorship.

[edit] Selected discography

Recordings of works solely by Soler
- Soler: Fandango, 9 Sonatas. Played by harpsichordist Scott Ross. Erato
- Soler: Fandango & Sonatas. Played by harpsichordist David Schrader. Cedille 004
- Soler: Harpsichord Sonatas, vol. II. Played by harpsichordist David Schrader. Cedille 009
- Soler: Sonatas. Played by pianist Elena Riu. Ensayo 9818

Recordings of works by Soler & other composers
- Favourite Spanish Encores. Played by pianist Alicia de Larrocha with R. Frühbeck de Burgos conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. London/Decca Legends 467687
- Grandes Pianistas Españoles. Played by pianist Alicia De Larrocha. Rtve 65235
- Piano Español. Played by pianist Jorge Federico Osorio. Cedille 075