Juan José Falcón Sanabria
Biography

1936 Born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, on 11 February.

1954 Attended classes in harmony, countepoint and fugue with José Moya, conductor of the Banda Militar del Regimiento de Las Palmas, until 1956.

1956 Completed his piano studies with Luis Prieto at the Conservatory in Santa Cruz de Tenerife with the Distinction of Honour when he finished his studies. He also received lessons from César Morales.

1958 Completed composition studies with distinctions.  Founded the Coro de Juventudes Musicales de Las Palmas. Moved to Madrid to continue his training with Ricardo Dorado.

1959 Took lessons in orchestral conducting for several months in Las Palmas with the German conductor Steinkopf.  Commenced his compositional output with the works Capricho Canario,Juguete-rondó for band, and the ballet Tauriagua. "

1960 Made his debut as a band conductor during a concert given by Juventudes Musicales, performing some of his own compositions, as well as works by José Moya.

1963 Once he completed his studies with Ricardo Dorado, he established himself definitively in Las Palmas, where he began to give classes in harmony at the conservatory of the Philharmonic Society.

1964 Began to give classes as a full-time lecturer at the above-mentioned conservatory.

1968 "Founded the Polyphonic Choir - Caja Insular de Ahorros of Las Palmas, which would later be called the Polyphonic Choir of Las Palmas, and which he continues to conduct today with the name of the Polyphonic Choir of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. At the helm of this choral ensemble he would obtain numerous prizes and, from 1970, made a number of recordings ranging from compositions from the fifteeth century to works by contemporary composers.  Founded the Youth Band - Caja Insular de Ahorros of Las Palmas, which would remain active until 1977.

1971 At the time of his appointment to the professorship of music at the Instituto Isabel de España, he founded the Alba Vox Choir.  Completed his first work which produced significant repercussions: the Poema Coral del Atlántico which he had commenced in 1969. "

1973 In October the Polyphonic Choir -Caja Insular de Ahorros of Las Palmas premièred his Poema Coral del Atlántico in Las Palmas, during a homage to the painter Néstor Martín Fernández de la Torre. On 19 November it was performed in Helsinki by the RTV Chamber Choir of Finland, this being the first international performance of his work.

1976 Received the title of "Full member" of the "Museo Canario" for his dissemination of the music of the Archive of the Cathedral of Las Palmas and his merits as a composer.

1977 In December he obtained the Primer Premio Nacional de Villancicos from the Ministry of Education and Science for his work Diridín tam tan.  Several of his works were programmed during the Festival Hispano- Mexicano de Música Contemporánea held in México. This feat would be repeated in later festivals. Joined the Association of Spanish Symphonic Composers. The RTV Chamber Choir of Finland performed and recorded Chácaras blancas. This work served as the music for the video presented by TVE during the "II Samur Video-Clip Festival"(France) and obtained three awards.

1978 Toured Poland with the Polyphonic Choir of Las Palmas after accepting an invitation from the Choir of the Technical University of Szczecin (Socialist Union of Polish Studies), presenting the cultural heritage of the Canary Islands outside Spain.  Conducted the recording "Maestros de Capilla de la Catedral de Las Palmas, siglos XVII y XVIII" (Religious Masterpieces from the Cathedral of Las Palmas), released by the Ministry of Education and Sciences in 1979 as part of the collection "Monumentos Históricos de la Música Española" (Spanish Music from Historical Monuments). Cum palmis et ramis was commissioned by Radio Nacional de España. 

1979 Radiophonic première of Cum palmis et ramis in Easter of that year, performed by the Tomás Luis de Victoria Quartet.  Conducted the Polyphonic Choir of Las Palmas during the closing ceremony of the "15th International Day of Choral Song" held in Barcelona. Premiére of Ibaliain Bad-Homburg (Germany), performed by Wiltrud Bruns and Angelika Nebel.

1981 Publication of the didactic method Prácticas de conjunto coral, a result of the meetings of choral conductors which Falcón initiated.  Beginning of the collaboration between the Polyphonic Choir of Las Palmas and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Gran Canaria. Conducted the Polyphonic Choir once again, in similar circumstances to those of 1979. "

1982 Obtained the Primer Premio Nacional de Composición de Música a Capella with Canarias Canta.  Completed the symphonic ballet Iguaya with a grant from the Ministry of Culture. "

1983 The Encuentro de Polifonía Juvenil de Cuenca, commissioned the choral work Psalmus Laudis which was première in the Iglesia de San Pablo by all the choirs who attended the gathering and the horn quartet from the Orquesta de Radiotelevisión Española.  Première in November, in the Teatro Real de Madrid, of his work Kyros conducted by Werner Torkanowsky. This work, commissioned by the Orquesta Nacional de España, marked the consolidation of his creative language and wider recognition of his work in the Spanish musical panorama. The Government of the Canary Islands commissioned him for the composition of an autonomous hymn. Following its première the following year, various problems prevented it form becoming the official hymn of the Isles.  Named President of the Federación de Coros de Las Palmas and a member of the Confederación Española.

1984 Named Director del Aula de Música de la Universidad Politécnica, later the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.  Founded the University's Schola Cantorum.

1985 Obtained first place in public examinations held for the oposition of secondary school music attaché.  Performed in several European countries with the Coral Polifónica: Latvia, Belgium (Europalia-85), and was guest of the Swedish government. Developed the pedagogical program "El lenguaje de la música en vivo" ( The language or live music) for the Consejería de Educación (Ministry of Education) and formed part of the committee of the Congreso de Cultura de Canarias.

1986 "Invited to attend the Festival "Musical Days in March", held in the city of Ruse, by the Composers' Union of Bulgaria.  Première of his work Aleph for orchestra, by the Filarmónica de Gran Canaria conducted by Max Bragado Darman. It was commissioned by the Government of the Canary Islands for the commemorative concert of the Día de Canarias in May. Presented the paper "Planificación de la Enseñanza Musical en las Comunidades Autónomas" (Planning Music Education in the Autonomous Communities) during the summer courses of the Universidad del País Vasco. Named member of the Consejo para la Planificación de la Enseñanza Musical en Canarias (Council for the Planning of Music Education in the Canary Islands).

1987 Participated in the "Muestra Internacional de Polifonía para Coros Jóvenes de Cuenca" with the Schola Cantorum.

1988 Recording of his works Kyros, Aleph and Agáldarfor orchestra, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by José Ramón Encinar, in the Henry Wood Studios of London. The recording, sponsored by the Government of the Canary Islands, reached the semi- finals o the "1989 Montreux International Prize".  Invited to attend the "VI Encuentro Coral del Mediterráneo" held in Málaga, with the Coral Polifónica.

1989 His work Aleph was performed by the NDR Orchestra of Hamburg, conducted by Heinz Fricke.

1990 Première of Laudate vitam for choir and instrumental ensemble, commissioned by the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid.  The government of the Canary Islands excused Falcón from other professional activities so as to facilitate his compositional labour. Guest of the "Warsaw Autumn Festival" of contemporary music. Première in November of Itálicafor orchestra in the Teatro Monumental, Madrid, performed by the RTVE Orchestra, conducted by José Luis Temes. This work was commissioned by the above-indicated orchestra.

1991 Première on 7 June of the Sinfonía Urbana for orchestra, with Ernest Martínez Izquierdo conducting the Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria, which commissioned the work from the composer.  Première of Elan for orchestra, the result of a commission by the CDMC, during the "VII Festival Internacional de Música Contemporánea de Alicante", performed by the Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria, conducted by José Ramón Encinar. As a guest of the Composer's Unions of Moldavia and Cuba, he visited both these countries. In Moldavia his work Itálica was performed by the State Symphony Orchestra. Presented a computerized version of the Sinfonía urbana at the European Congress of Microelectronics and Computation EUROMICRO 91, held in Vienna. Publication of Guillermo García-Alcalde's book Falcón Sanabria, composer.

1992 Première of Atlántica for narrator, two choirs and orchestra in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, performed by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Jiri Behlolavek and the Prague Philharmonic Choir. It was commissioned by Rafael Nebot for the "VII Festival Internacional de Música de Canarias".  Première of Celebración del sonido for orchestra at the Auditorio Nacional de Madrid, performed by the Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria, conducted by Antonio Wit.

1993 On the occasion of the Coral Politécnica's incorporation into the Aula de Música of the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Juan José Falcón wrote an essay about twentieth-century spanish vocal music fron the Aula de Música de la Universidad. Mention is made of it in the CD Polifonía Española del siglo XX (vol. I), with works by R. Halffter, J. Pildain, F. Mompou, L. Siemens, G. García-Alcalde and Falcón himself.

1994 On 30 May he received the Premio Canarias de Bellas Artes e Interpretación " for the originality of his compositional language which is giving musical creation in the Canary Islands a universal dimension".  In October he gave a seminar at the Real Conservatorio de Música de Lieja to the members of the orchestra of the conservatory, who performed three of his works: Alhama, Psalmus Laudis and Lux gloriosa. Première on 4 May of Hesperidum for choir and orchestra, commissioned by the Patronato de Cultura del Ayuntamiento de Santa Cruz de Tenerife to commemorate the Fith Centenary of the foundation of Santa Cruz. Composed his Misa gloriosa for choir and orchestra.

1995 Première on 9 March of his Adagio sinfónico for orchestra.  The record label Arte Nova Classics released his Misa gloriosa (1994) for choir and  orchestra together with Beethoven's Mass in C major.

1996 His work Alhama was performed by the Academic Orchestra of Bucarest, conducted by Dimitru Goia, during tne New Music International Week (Bucarest). Two days later it was broadcasted by the Radio-Difussion Society of Rumania.

1997 Finished its Concert for piano and orchestra. Composed Helios, commissioned by the Fundación Auditorio Alfredo Kraus de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to be performed on the ocassion of its inaguration.  On 3 April it was the first concert of his Misa Gloriosa in the Palatului Cultural Hall in Arad (Rumania), performed by the Arad State Orchestra and conducted by Dimitru Goia. Presented the paper "Lenguaje y problemática en la música coral del S.XX" (Lenguage and problems of the S.XX choral music) during the summer courses of the Universidad del País Vasco. The 19th of July conduts a thanksgiving concert for the Cruz Prades family in wich several components from Filarmonica de Las Palmas and Coral Polifonica de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, having as solist Edita Gruberova. Composed Luz Aura for piano, commissioned by the Festival de Música de Canarias. Première on 5 December of Helios, performed by the Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria, conducted by Adrian Leaper. In the same month, he was awarded with the Golden Medal of Arts confered by H.M. the King after being proposed by the Minister Council. Jury's member beside Jesus Villa Roj o y Roberto Tubaru from the 1st. composition contest "Isla de la Gomera". The awarded piece was "Nebbie" from Jose Miguel Moreno Sabio.

1998 Première of  Luz de Aura, performed by Guillermo González at the Festival de Música de Canarias. The 13th. of March recives the cultural merit awarded in the first edition in Telde city. The 24th. of March is awarded with the Golden Merit Medal of Arts confered by the King of Spain in the Real Alcazar de Sevilla. On April 22th, the Hungarian Chamber Orchestra performed "Alhama" at the Great Concert Hall of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest. The 8 of  May gives a conference in the Cesar Manrique's Foundation titled "El compositor ante su obra", opening the groups foundation "Foro Archipielago". In June, within pronountiation organized by Pabellon Espanol because of the Expo98 in Lisbon takeplace the wold's premier of the concert for piano and orchestra performed by the grancanarian's pianist Jorge Roabaina and the Orquesta Filarmonica de Gran Canaria, conducted by Adrian Leaper. The 21th of June the Major's House from Las Palamas de Gran Canaria names him predilect son of  the city. The recognizement was confered by Major Jose Manuel Soria. On December 27th, conducts the Coral Polifonica de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in a conmemorative concert at his 30th Anniversary. In September gives the composition course of Int. Contemporanean Music Festival in Alicante. At the Festival de RTV orchestra under the conduction of Jose de Eusebio performs "Helios" in the Theatre Principal.

1999 The 28th of April performed by the Hungarian Chamber Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Alberto Roque is performed for the first time in Spain the Adagio Sinfónico for orchestra. The 10th of June within the XXXIV Jornadas Int. de Canto Coral conducts by the Coral Polifónica de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, a spanish polifonic concert from the XX century at the Iglesia de Santa Ana. In Octuber the Hungarian Chamber Symphony Orchestra and its conductor Alberto Roque record a monographic CD of the composer including the Concert for piano and orchestra (1997), Helios (1997), Alhama (1993) and Adagio Sinfónico as piano solist performer Jorge Robaina from Gran Canaria. Jury's member beside José Luis Turina de Santos and Roberto Túbaru from the 2nd. composition contest "Isla de la Gomera". The awarded piece was "Isla y Mujer" from Emilio Coello Cabrera.

2000 The 5th of January the II vol. Polifonía Española del S/XX at the Canarian Press Club. The CD is performed by the Coral Polifónica de La Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria conducted by it's own conductor. The CD contains pieces from seven different nationals composers including canarian composers. The 29th of January within the program from the XVI music festival from Canarias dedicated to the "Festival de los continentes", the New York Phylarmonic Orchestra under the conduction of Kurt Masur performed the world premier of the Obertura Hespérides instrumental opening from the opera wich he writes commissioned by Antonio Cruz Prendes. On February 10th, Helios is performed for the first time at Venezuela by the Orquesta Sinfonica de Maracaibo under the conduction of Alberto Roque. The 29 of September takes part in the jury of the composition contest Alberto Ginastera besides Mario Bonaventura, Tomás Marco, Michail Mautner, Marlos Nobre and Gabino Senanes. The winning piece was the "Concierto para viola" from Katsushiro Oguri. In September he's invited as the coral conductor to perform at the Contemporanean Music Festival of Alicante.

2001 The 8th of june Misa Gloriosa is performed at the Teatro Guimera in Santa Cruz de Tenerife besides a selection of the Atlantida from Falla.The performers were the Orquesta Sinfonica de Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Coral Polifonica de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the Coral Universitaria from La Laguna under the conduction of Victor Pablo. The same concert is repeated for the Sociedad Filarmonica de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. He's elected member of the Sociedad General de Autores Españoles. Numeric academic of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes San Miguel Arcángel Jury's member beside Jordi Cervelló and Roberto Túbaru from the 3st. composition contest "Isla de la Gomera". The awarded piece was "Todo se ha cumplido" from José Echeverríia.

2002 On February 21th gives a learned lecture at the Terensa Berganza Conservatory (Madrid) about his work, in which he showed the guidings that have led his musical reasoning and his main procedure used in the planification of his ideas. The Orquesta Sinfonica Ciudad de Oviedo performed the Concert for Piano and Orchestra, playing as a pianist Jorge Robaina from Gran Canaria, conducted by the Orquesta Gregorio Gutierrez director. The play was the first concert in Spain and took place on February 28th, 2002 at the Teatro Campoamor. On March 24th, the Rilke Ensemble of Sweden, conducted by Gunnar Eriksson, performed the première of the choral composition for ten voices Entre Luz y Tinieblas, with text by Gonzalo Angulo, at the Gabinete Literario de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The play was an order from the Fundacion Orquesta Filarmonica de Gran Canaria for an Easter series of concerts through Gran Canaria's main towns. On November 6th, is named adopted son of Ciudad de Telde. On November 7th, is awarded with the Knight Grand Cross in the Canary Islands Order on an institucional ceremony of that Order. On November 8th, joins in the Real Academia Canaria de Bellas Artes de San Miguel Arcangel. The ceremony ended with a Manuel Estalante recital about his piano work. On October 25th, his Concert for Piano and Orchestra is performed for the first time by Anthony Zerpa Falcon under the conduction of Jose de Eusebio and the Orquesta Filarmonica de Gran Canaria. On November 25th, was a Member of Jury in the Premio de Composicion Coral del Ayuntamiento de La Laguna.

2004 On May 17th, the première of the play for wind cuartet and voice Concomitancia at the Gabinete Literario de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, playing as a soloist the soprano Narmis Hernandez from Cuba. Throughout June and July, and under de conduction of Alberto Roque, the play for string orchestra Alama is performed by the Orquesta Sinfonica de Guayana on June 19th at the Teatro Sidor de Puerto Ordaz and the Orquesta Sinfonica de Merida on June 26th, celebrating this time the 13th anniversary of this Orchestra. The Orquesta Sinfonica de los Llanos Occidentales do it on July 1st at the Universidad Nacional de Guanare and at the Teatro Olrando Araujo de Barina on July 2nd. Also, the Orquesta Sinfónica Municipal de Caracas perform the same play on July 11th at the Teatro Municipal de Caracas.