Jose Maria Usandizaga 1887-1915

[giles.enders]

Jose Maria Usandizaga  Born 31.3.1887 San Sebastian -  Died 5.10.1915  Yanci, Navarre

Jose Maria Usandizaga was the son of the Uruguayan consul in San Sebastian. His mother was Ana Soraluce.  Jose was the eldest of four children.  He demonstrated his musical talents from an early age and at the age of 9 composed his first waltz. His earliest studies were in San Sebastian at the local conservatory under German Cendoya and Beltran Pagola.  Following an audition with Francois Plante, he was recommended to  Vincent d'Indy in Paris.

In 1901 he went to the Schola Cantorum in Paris to complete his training, where he studied under  Gabriel Grovlet, Jesus Guridi and Vincent d'Indy he remained in Paris until 1906 in order to work with Paul Dukas. He then returned to San Sebastian. From this time his music was increasingly harmonically daring. Some of his later orchestration has been likened to that of Puccini.

He died from consumption at the age of 28.

Orchestral

Suite in A  1904
'Dans la mer'  Symphonic poem, Op.20  1904
Symphonic overture on a theme of plain-chant  Op.21 1905
Irurak bat, rapsodia popular vasca  (Rhapsody on 3 Basque songs) Op.35 1906 (also piano 4 hands)
'Hasan y Melihah  (fantastic dance)  1912  (also for solo piano)
'Bidasoa' Overture for wind orchestra 1907
Euskal festara , Marcha vascongada for wind orchestra. 1908 (also arranged for piano, 4 hands)

Chamber

'Souvenir'. Lied for violin solo with strings (4-2-2-1) ded. to Maestro Larrocha  Op.41  1907
String Quartet with double bass ad lib. In G major, sobre temas populares vascos Op.31  1905
First mvt. of a string quartet in A major  1912
Cortejo, para dos trompas de caza y piano (trio)  1913
Lied for violin & piano  Op.16  1904
Serenade for violin & piano  Op.19  1904
Romance for violin & piano 1902
Danza for violin & piano (also piano solo)  1902
Fantasia for cello & piano ; 1. Grave-Andante, 2. Allegro  1908

Piano

Capriccio  Op.1  1901
Danza Espanola  Op.2 1902 
Scherzo  No.1 in F minor  Op.3 1902
Valse No.1 in C major Op.5 then changed to 6 & 7
Valse No.2 in A flat major  Op.12  1904
Romanza in C sharp minor  Op.13  1904
Harmonisation d'un theme populaire Grec  Op.17  1904
Twp pieces  for piano !. Moderato in C major, 2. Andante in F major  Op.18  1904
Three pieces for piano 1. Prelude in C sharp minor, 2. Intermezzo in A flat major, 3. Final in B minor  Op.28
Valse in G major 1895. Earliest extant composition.
Scherzo No.2 in B minor  1902
Andante 1902
Gigue in A major  1904
Valse in E flat major  1906
Impromptu (dedicated to Leo de Silka)  1908
Scherzo No.3 in G major  ms marked No.11  1909
Rapsodia Vascongada  1909
Jota  1910
Schottische  1910
Valse in b flat minor (Chopin)  1912
'Hasshan y Melihah', Fantasia-danza.  (also an orchestral version)  1912
Unos titiriteros en la feria de Tetuan, Fantasia-danza 1912
'Los Reyes Magos', sobre un canto popular vasco. Also for voice ^ piano or voice & orchestra. 1912
'En la aldea estan de fiesta  para 'Nuevo mundo', danza
Canto popular vasco (posth. Pub. Revista Artes y Letras)
Valse in A flat major
Allegro in A major
Souvenir de Monye de Marsan,

Organ - solo

Five pieces: 1. Entree, 2. Offertoire, 3. Elevation, 4. Communion, 5. Sortie.  Op.15 1905
Offertoire & Elevation  Op.21
Pieza sinfonica.; Introduction, Cantabile and Final  Op.25
Toccata  Op.32
Choral varie – 5 pieces: 1.Entree, 2. Offertoire. 3. Elevation, 4, Communion, 5. Sortie. ( not sure if this is a version of Op.15) 1907
Postludio 1908
Variation Sinfonicas. ded. to .de Gabiola 1909

Voice and piano

Romanza No.2 for soprano & piano  Op.8 1902
Cantos populares vascos  - 'Itasoa' (The Sea)  Op.22  1904
'Gure erri maite ari'  Op.34 (originally Op.33)  1906
Allegretto in F major  1904

Published in 'Ecos de Vasconia' collection (1905):
No.82 Nere onguille maiteri – harmonization of an original zortziko
No.84. Errukarriya – harmonization of an original zortziko
No.86  Zugana Manuela – harmonization of an original zortziko
No.87. Mari Domingui – harmonization of a folk song (there is also an orchestrated version)
No.90 Chan changorriya – text by Manuel Arrese

Iru erregue orianteco (The three Orient Kings) (there are also orchestrated and solo piano versions.
Pastoria divina

Voice and organ

Ave Maria – for tenor & organ  Op.23

Choral

Los Reyes Magos for voice & orchestra (also voice & piano) 1912
Novena de Sta Teresa for soloist, chorus & organ  Op.27
Umezurtza, escena popular vascongada for soloist chorus & orchestra 1913
Bitz (Romance), La cancion de Laurita, for voice & strings (also version for voice & piano) words by W K Hamilton
Horra Mari Domingui begira for voice & orchestra
Misa – Kirie, Gloria, Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus. for soprano, contrailto, baritone & bass.1901
Uskal Herri Maitiari, Rapsodia vasco-francesca, for baritone & 4 part male chorus 1907
Fantasia vascongada for 4 part male chorus (also version for mixed chorus): 1. Benat Mardo, 2. Ormatxulo, 3. Uzariyo ederrak, 4. Chorichoa  1909
31 de Agosto 1813. Himno para la Conmemoracion del Centenario del incendio de San Sebastian, for chorus & wind orchestra

Opera

'Mendi Mendiyan' (High in the Mountains) 1909 (Naxos recording)
'Las Golondrinas' (The Swallows) 1913 revised by his brother Ramon¹ in 1929 lyrics by Martinez Sierra
'La Ilama' (The Flame) completed by his brother Ramon  1918 lyrics by Martinez Sierra

1. Ramon Usandizaga  24.3.1889 - 28.6.1964  Musician and composer

[eschiss1]

"ms marked no.11" or possibly "no.2" in Roman numerals? I have seen this at times (when "no. III" or "op. III" in manuscript or even publication has been read by someone as "no. 111"/"op. 111"...)

[Mark Thomas]

Interesting, thank you Giles. In addition to Mendi Mendiyan, several other works by Usandizaga have been recorded, including the opera La Ilama,

[Mark Thomas]

Usandizaga's second opera Las Golondrinas is available on YouTube (Act 1 here and Acts 2 & 3 here) and proves to be a rewarding listen in this rather good concert performance. It's a vibrant, energetic score, colourfully orchestrated, chock-full of good tunes and, as the story is basically a re-hash of Pagliacci, it's not lacking in drama. On this showing Usandizaga is a composer worth investigating, and I shall certainly be doing so. Thanks again, Giles.

[Alan Howe]

I've managed to track down a copy of the DG recording of La llama, so I'll be reporting back on that in due course.

[semloh]

The Claves CD of Usandizaga's orchestral works, Vol.II in the Basque Music Collection series, is lush, melodious, neo-romantic and mostly undemanding. I find it very enjoyable, and wonder whether his chamber music is in similar vein.