Joly Braga Santos

Short bio Joly Braga Santos

Birthday: 1924 in Lisbon, Portugal

Died: 1988 in Lisbon, Portugal

Genre: Classical

Period: Modern

Full biography Joly Braga Santos

José Manuel Joly Braga Santos (1924-1988) was a Portuguese composer and conductor known for his significant contributions to 20th-century music ). He was born and raised in Lisbon, where he began his musical studies at a young age. Santos' extensive musical excellence led to him becoming one of the leading figures of contemporary Portuguese music.

Throughout his career, Santos composed an impressive body of work that spanned over six symphonies, three operas, ballets, concertos, and much film music. He was particularly renowned for his ability to incorporate Portuguese folk music into his works, creating a unique blend of classical and popular music.

Santos' music was known for its dramatically driven intensity, emotional range, and often-fascinating technical achievements. He was also the first Portuguese composer to adopt the twelve-tone system and incorporate it into his works. This avant-garde approach to composing made him one of Portugal's most remarkable contributions to the development of contemporary music.

Santos' compositions have been recorded and performed by notable orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the Gulbenkian Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Some of his famous works include "Lisboa," "Symphony No.2," "String Quartet No.1," and "Viola Concerto."

Joly Braga Santos passed away in 1988 in Lisbon, but his music continues to be celebrated and performed both nationally and internationally. He remains one of Portugal's most significant and influential composers, who left an indelible mark on the world of music with his beautiful compositions and innovations.

Compositions featuring Joly Braga Santos

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Staccato brillante, for orchestra, Op. 63	2:24 min	Orchestral	1988
2	Improviso, for clarinet & piano, Op. 70	5:02 min	Chamber Music	1988
3	Melodia, for cello & piano	1:43 min	Chamber Music	1987
4	Cello Concerto	22:54 min	Concerto	1987
5	Sextet for 2 violins, 2 violas & 2 cellos, Op. 65	21:41 min	Chamber Music	1986
6	Piano Trio, Op. 64	27:53 min	Chamber Music	1985
7	Suite for Brass, for 3 trumpets, horn, 2 trombones & tuba	9:23 min	Chamber Music	1985
8	Dance Suite for oboe, viola, double bass & piano, Op. 63	12:44 min	Chamber Music	1984
9	Aria a Tre con Variazione, for clarinet, viola & piano, Op. 62	9:07 min	Chamber Music	1984
10	Divertimento for chamber orchestra No. 2	13:11 min	Orchestral	1978
11	Aria for cello & piano No. 2, Op. 57	5:51 min	Chamber Music	1977
12	Variations for orchestra	12:47 min	Orchestral	1976
13	Piano Concerto, Op. 52	16:39 min	Concerto	1973
14	Canção, for viola & piano	1:51 min	Chamber Music	1971
15	Encuzilhada (Crossroads), ballet in one act	16:51 min	Ballet	1967
16	Sinfonietta for chamber orchestra		Orchestral	1963
17	Symphonic Sketches (3) for orchestra	10:43 min	Orchestral	1962
18	Divertimento for orchestra No. 1	21:03 min	Orchestral	1959
19	Piano Quartet, Op. 28	14:38 min	Chamber Music	1957
20	String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 27	21:14 min	Chamber Music	1957
21	Adagio e Scherzino, for woodwind quintet	6:39 min	Chamber Music	1956
22	Intermezzo for orchestra	2:45 min	Orchestral	1956
23	Alfama, ballet suite for orchestra	24:16 min	Orchestral	1956
24	Symphonic Prelude for orchestra	4:31 min	Orchestral	1955
25	Romance for orchestra	2:31 min	Orchestral	1955
26	Pastoral for orchestra	2:06 min	Orchestral	1955
27	Symphonic Overture No. 3	14:00 min	Orchestral	1954
28	Viver ou Morrer, radio opera, Op. 19		Opera	1952
29	Concerto for strings in D minor ("Concerto in D"), Op. 17	18:38 min	Orchestral	1951
30	Symphonic Variations on a popular song from the Alentejo, for orchestra	14:54 min	Orchestral	1951
31	Symphony No. 4	53:15 min	Symphony	195?
32	Elegia a vianna da motta, for orchestra	10:00 min	Orchestral	1949
33	Theme and Variations for cello & piano, Op. 12	7:44 min	Chamber Music	1948
34	Symphonic Overture No. 2 ("Lisboa") (Abertura Sinfónica), Op. 11	12:40 min	Orchestral	1947
35	Symphony No. 2 in B minor	48:37 min	Symphony	1947
36	Symphonic Overture No. 1, Op. 8	7:23 min	Orchestral	1946
37	Aria for bassoon & piano No. 1	3:48 min	Chamber Music	1946
38	String Quartet No. 1 in D minor, Op. 4	36:21 min	Chamber Music	1945
39	Nocturno for strings	6:50 min	Orchestral	1944
40	Aria for cello & piano No. 1, Op. 2	4:22 min	Chamber Music	1943
41	Nocturno, for violin & piano, Op. 1	8:27 min	Chamber Music	1942
42	Scherzino, for wind quintet	2:56 min	Chamber Music	-
43	Variações concertantes, for string orchestra, harp & solo string quartet	11:14 min	Orchestral	-
44	Symphony No. 6	26:01 min	Symphony	-
45	Symphony No. 5	30:59 min	Symphony	-
46	Symphony No. 3	39:04 min	Symphony	-
47	Symphony No. 1	36:21 min	Symphony	-
48	Piece for flute & piano	2:37 min	Chamber Music	-
49	Sinfonietta for Strings, Op. 35	18:12 min	Chamber Music	-
50	Double Concerto for violin, cello, strings & harp	18:56 min	Concerto	-

Albums featuring Joly Braga Santos

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	Azevedo, Braga Santos, Fragoso, Camerata Atlântica, Ana Beatriz Manzanilla – Bows Up ! : Portuguese Music For Strings(11×File, AAC, Album)	2021	Naxos
2	Complete Chamber Music, Volume One, Volume Two And Volume Three(3×CD, Album)	2020	Toccata Classics
3	Joly Braga Santos - Nuno Ivo Cruz, António Saiote, Carolino Carreira, Luís Pacheco Cunha, Leonor Braga Santos, Irene Lima, Catherine Strynckx, Olga Prats – Complete Chamber Music, Volume Three(CD, Album)	2020	Toccata Classics
4	Complete Chamber Music, Volume Two(CD, Album)	2020	Toccata Classics
5	Freitas Branco, Delgado, Braga Santos, De Freitas, Trio Pangea – Portuguese Piano Trios • 2(CD, Album)	2019	Naxos
6	Complete Chamber Music, Volume One(CD, Album)	2019	Toccata Classics
7	Joly Braga Santos - Goran Filipec, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Álvaro Cassuto – Piano Concerto • Symphonic Overtures Nos. 1 And 2(CD, Album)	2018	Naxos
8	Joly Braga Santos - Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Álvaro Cassuto – Alfama • Symphonic Overture • Elegy • Variations • Three Symphonic Sketches(CD, Album)	2011	Naxos
9	Joly Braga Santos, Maria Orán, Gérard Caussé, Extremadura Symphony Orchestra, Jesús Amigo – Abertura Sinfónica No. 3, Op. 20 - Cantares Gallegos Op. 54 - Três Esboços Sinfónicos Op. 34 - Concierto Para Viola E Orquestra, Op. 31(CD, Album)	2011	XXI-21 Productions Inc.
10	Quarteto Com Piano Op. 26 / Trio Com Piano Op. 58 / Sexteto De Cordas Op. 59(CD, Album)	2009	Numérica
11	António Victorino D'Almeida, Joly Braga Santos, Jorge Peixinho, Filipe De Sousa, José Viana da Mota – Klang der Welt:Portugal(SACD, Hybrid)	2006	New Classical Adventure
12	Freitas Branco – Joly Braga Santos, Alexandre da Costa, Extremadura Symphony Orchestra, Jesús Amigo – Concerto Pour Violon / Symphonie Nº 2(CD, Album)	2006	Disques XXI 21 Records
13	Integral Para Canto E Piano(CD, Album)	2006	Tradisom
14	Joly Braga Santos - Jan Bastiaan Neven, Algarve Orchestra, Álvaro Cassuto – Cello Concerto • Staccato Brilhante • Divertimentos Nos. 1 And 2(CD, Album)	2004	Marco Polo
15	Joly Braga Santos - Lisbon String Quartet – String Quartets Nos. 1 And 2(CD, Album)	2002	Strauss
16	Joly Braga Santos - National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland • Álvaro Cassuto – Symphony No. 4 • Symphonic Variations(CD, Album)	2002	Marco Polo
17	Joly Braga Santos – Northern Sinfonia, Álvaro Cassuto – Music For Strings • Concerto For Strings • Concerto For Violin, Cello, Strings And Harp(CD, Album)	2001	Marco Polo
18	Joly Braga Santos, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Álvaro Cassuto – Symphony No. 2 • Crossroads (Ballet)(CD, Album, Stereo)	2000	Marco Polo
19	Joly Braga Santos, Portuguese Symphony Orchestra, Álvaro Cassuto – Symphonies Nos. 1 And 5	1998	Marco Polo
20	Joly Braga Santos – Portuguese Symphony Orchestra • Álvaro Cassuto – Symphonies Nos. 3 And 6	1998	Marco Polo
21	Pedro de Freitas Branco - Mozart, Joly Braga Santos, National Symphony Orchestra, Emil Gilels – Piano Concerto In C Major K. 467 • Symphony No. 1(CD, Compilation, Limited Edition, Remastered, Mono)	1996	Strauss
22	Joly Braga Santos - Hungarian State Orchestra, Mátyás Antal – Symphony No. 1, In D Minor, Op. 8 • Symphonic Overture No. 3, Op. 20(CD, Album)	1995	Strauss
23	Joly Braga Santos, Orquestra Clássica do Porto, Meir Minsky – Joly Braga Santos: Orchestral Works-Obras Orquestrals-Orchesterwerke(CD, Stereo)	1994	Koch Schwann
24	Joly Braga Santos - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, András Kórodi – Sinfonietta, Op. 35 • Concerto In D, Op.17	1989	Portugalsom
25	Joly Braga Santos / Álvaro Cassuto, Orquestra Sinfónica de Londres – Sinfonia N.º 3 Em Dó, Op. 15	1989	Portugalsom
26	Joly Braga Santos - Ana Bela Chaves, Orq. Filarmónica De Budapeste, Janos Sandor – Divertimento N.º 1 • Concerto Para Violeta E Orquestra	1983	Diapasão
27	Joly Braga Santos - Orquestra Sinfónica Da Radiotelevisão Romena, Coro Da Filarmónica «George Enescu», Silva Pereira – Sinfonia N.º 4, Em Mi	1980	Melodia (4)
28	Joly Braga Santos – Orquestra Sinfónica da Radiodifusão Portuguesa, Álvaro Cassuto – Três Esboços Sinfónicos • Elegia A Vianna Da Motta • Variações Sinfónicas Sobre Um Tema Alentejano	1978	Imavox
29	Armando José Fernandes, Marcos Portugal, Joly Braga Santos - Orquestra Filarmónica de Lisboa, Manuel Ivo Cruz, Nella Maissa – Concerto Em Si Bemol / Abertura Sinfónica N.º 3 / Il Duca Di Foix	1975	Tecla
30	Joly Braga Santos - Portuguese Boadcasting Symphony Orchestra, Silva Pereira – Fifth Symphony (Virtus Lusitaniae)	1969	Decca
31	Luís de Freitas Branco / Joly Braga Santos / António Fragoso - The Lanier Trio, William Steck, Dorothy Hall Lewis, Cary Lewis – Music Of Portugal(LP, Album)	-	Educo