Jesús Guridi

Full biography Jesús Guridi

Jesús Guridi Bidaola was a Spanish Basque composer born on September 25, 1886, in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. He lived through the tumultuous times of the Spanish Civil War and World War II before he passed away on April 7, 1961, in Madrid, Spain.

Guridi's music is characterized by clarity in its formal structure, melody, and harmony. He composed a wide range of works, including orchestral pieces, chamber music, zarzuelas (Spanish light operas), and choral music. Some of his most notable works include his Symphony No. 1, "Diez Melodías Vascas," a set of ten Basque melodies arranged for orchestra, and his famous "Diez Canciones Populares Vascas" for voice and piano.

Guridi studied at the Madrid Royal Conservatory and later at the Schola Cantorum in Paris before returning home to Bilbao, where he worked as a composer, conductor, and organist. He was a prolific musician, and his music was widely performed during his lifetime. Guridi is recognized as one of the leading Basque composers of the 20th century, along with Joaquín Rodrigo and Manuel de Falla.

Today, Guridi's music is still performed and celebrated in Spain and around the world. His compositions have been recorded by numerous top orchestras and performers, and his legacy continues to inspire new generations of composers and musicians.