Site Search


Other Resources
News Archive






Francisco Lara Interview

Posted on 24 February 2004. © Copyright 2004-2023 Composition:Today


C:T talks to one of Spain's leading young composers Dr Francisco Lara. Francisco won the prestigious Spanish Symphony Orchestra Association Composition Prize 2001, in which his orchestral piece Hopscotch was performed by all 25 of the associaton orchestras and was a finalist at the Queen Elisabeth Composition Competition Brussels 2003 for Fractures for piano and orchestra. He is currently writing a Violin Concerto for Miguel Borrego and the Spanish Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra, to be premiered in February 2005.

Tell us something about your backgound.

I started music as a guitarist and it was not until I started studying in London in 1991 that I decided to become a composer. I did a Master´s Course at the Royal College of Music and a PhD at King´s College under the supervision of Sir Harrison Birtwistle. I also studied conducting in London and finally got a job conducting a university orchestra in Spain. London was a real turning point in my view of music and composition. Studying there felt like being part of the history of music. That is something I quite miss here, back in Spain.

How did you start composing?

I got a place to study composition at the Royal College of Music having done virtually no composition at all and having had no performances. The situation in Spain was very stale at the time and I needed a change. London came as an incredible inspiration. I discovered lots of music and scores and went to many concerts. Then I realised that that was what I wanted to do.

Who are your favourite composers and why?

I like the madness of Schumann´s piano pieces that relates very much to the madness of Ligeti´s music. I am very fond of Birtwistle´s music, particularly his conception of time and the brutality of his statements. Magnus Lindberg is also one of my favourites.

What was your first success as a composer?

It was at a little concert at the Royal College of Music. It was a composers concert and it was the first time I had a piece played. My music was very primitive but some people seemed to see that I had potential, I was very surprised and very encouraged by that.

Where do your ideas come from?

I don´t think anyone knows where ideas come from, but I certainly know that they come more easily when I am actually working. I suppose I get ideas from other composer´s music and from sound in itself. As far as form is comcerned literature has been a great inspiration for me; not as a programatic influence but as a structural one.

Could you tell us a bit more about that?

Literature has been my main influence from my beginnings as a composer. I have used the structure of poems to plan the structure of some of my pieces. My approach to cycles and recurrences of identical musical passages also comes from literature. My orchestral piece Fin Again deals with the return of the ending and the link of the real end to the beginning ( as in Finnegan´s wake).

The influence of the Argentine author Julio Cortázar has been crucial. The chapters of his novel Rayuela can be read in several different orders. Thus, one can get a different perspective of the same reality. My pieces Rayuela, Hopscoth and Alles ist leer... all are based on musical blocks that are "read" in several different orders as the piece progresses. These blocks are always identical in their successive appearances in the piece.

More recently my latest orchestral piece, Murr is based on ETA Hoffmann´s novel Katze Murr, where he presents the unconnected stories of Meister Kreisler and Murr the cat. In this way my piece has several unconnected musical stories that get interrupted to be resumed a number of times in the course of the piece.

Do you have particular techniques - one's you come back to again and again? Tell us a bit about them.

The way I have developed my harmony has been conected with modal collections. I have been interested in the harmonic series in general and in the interaction of two harmonic series based on two fundamentals. One of these is always the one on G and the other any of the ones based on the rest of the chromatic notes. Leaving aside the microtonal differences resulting from natural resonance I have constructed 11 modes based on the interaction of 2 harmonic series. To build these modes I chose the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 11th harmonic of each of the series.

The 11 modes have different intervalic content and I use the to define harmonic areas. They are never used in transposition.

The way I have approached harmony has been by juxtaposing different modal areas. Musical ideas are usualy associated to a particular register and to a particular modal scale. The passages where harmony is most prominent are basicaly compsed as harmonic curtains. Each curtain consists of 4 or 5 chords superimposed. Each chord is based on one mode trying to avoid octave repetitions. The result is a kind of atonal consonance.

What's the worst thing about composing?

One of the worse thing for me is coming back to composing after a period away from it. It often takes a few days, or even weeks to get back into it. Those days are really discouraging because I never get any ideas. I used to feel depressed, but experience taught me that there is usually light at the end of the tunnel.

And the best?

For a long time the thing was actually hearing my music live. Nowdays, it is the idea of discovering and working out my own ideas that I find very pleasurable.

What inspires you to write?

I think sound is in the first place every composer´s inspiration. On the other hand, it is the fact that I am doing something absolutely personal and totally my own that really makes me do it. I have discovered that composition needs to be a joy in itself - apart from its realisation in performance - to be worth the effort.

What advice would you give to a young composer just starting out?

I think the most difficult thing for composers is to define their own language. It took me a long time to find my own. I would recommend people to spend quite a lot of time listening to music, trying to identify what they like about what they hear, and finally try to have their own voice independent from established trends or schools.

Do you have a routine? A place that's special

I usually start composing early in the morning, around 7.30. I like the quietness and stillness of the morning and also my mind is fresh and free. That´s when I try to find ideas, later in the day I work them out and other things like copying or typing music.

Do you do other work as well as composing?

I do some conducting. I am the University of Valladolid Symphony Orchestra´s Principal Conductor. We do all kinds of repertoire, including some contemporary. I like working with enthusiastic young people, it is often very rewarding


Interview by Composition:Today © Copyright 2004-2023

Comments by other Members


Posted by :  jamseales0 at 12:15 on 19 July 2021
I'd personally declare that will this is the a terrific article of an wonderful man or woman, i am just very happy to discover this specific. astm level 3
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 12:00 on 03 September 2021
Feetlu Foldable Yoga mat is designed easy to carry and easy to storage for multi-purpose yoga exercise. Most notably, the gripping property of the mat allows its surface to be slip-free throughout all practices. Feetlu Foldable Exercise Mat- 1/4 Inch Thick Anti-Tear Pilates Yoga Mat Easy to Fold for All Purpose Beginners Women Men, Yoga Pilates, Floor Workout Home Gym Unfold Size 72 x 24 Inch
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 15:36 on 03 September 2021
It has been more than 7 years since the private Toto market settled in Korea and grew rapidly, but not all Toto sites were operating normally . Many users had to worry a lot about so-called scam sites that did not receive winnings, and communities that verify and diagnose safety began to appear . 먹튀검증
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 16:22 on 04 September 2021
Tunasbola adalah situs resmi Login SBOBET, judi SBOBET Bola & Casino, agen SBOBET88 dengan minimal deposit 50ribu dan bonus terbesar di indonesia sbobet
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 05:21 on 05 September 2021
Enjoy effective Pest Control Services in all London areas by Archers Pest Control. Our pest treatments are guaranteed! Contact us today or book online your emergency pest exterminator. moth pest control
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 06:30 on 06 September 2021
I know your aptitude on this. I should say we ought to have an online discourse on this. Composing just remarks will close the talk straight away! What's more, will confine the advantages from this data. Dj ice cream
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 06:50 on 06 September 2021
The best IQOS UAE and Heets Dubai online mall. IQOS Dubai store provides Heets flavors Turquoise, Yellow label, Bronze, Amber, Purple Wave, Silver, Sienna and etc. Devices: IQOS 3, IQOS Multi, IQOS Lil Solid in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and UAE for good price. Free Delivery over AED600 order. Cash on Delivery available. Heets Dubai
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 05:52 on 07 September 2021
From a small company site to large online catalogs and stores - your future site is in good hands. Free training on how to update CMS quickly and easily. A community of professional developers with stable support and various plug-ins that are already available. изработка на сайт
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 12:38 on 07 September 2021
Reptiles Exotiques. All, All Animals, Exclusive Exotics, Geckos, LIzards, Mammals, Snakes, Tegus, Tortoises, Turtles, Venomous. Search for: Adult Pancake Tortoise
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 10:33 on 10 September 2021
Разнообразие, фототапети, картини, ръчно рисувани, акрилно стъкло, декоратвини паравани, скреч карти, рисуване по номера, качество, цена, най-добра цена wallpaper for wall
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 07:14 on 11 September 2021
Visit our blog to learn more about fleas & ticks , natural remedies to get rid of them and simple life hacks for pet owners to keep their beloved fur babies happy and healthy. [url=https://dewelpro.com]DEWELPRO[/url]
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 07:14 on 11 September 2021
Visit our blog to learn more about fleas & ticks , natural remedies to get rid of them and simple life hacks for pet owners to keep their beloved fur babies happy and healthy. DEWELPRO
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 13:22 on 11 September 2021
Our powerful website hosting services will not only help you achieve your overall website goals, but will also provide you with the confidence you need in knowing that you are partnered with a reliable and secure website hosting platform. best cloud hosting
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 10:02 on 12 September 2021
Here you will also find blankets, blankets, bedspreads, duvets, bathrobes, towels and beach towels at the best price. Delivery from 1 to 3 working days. New models every week. Prices directly from manufacturers of bed linen. Bed linen 2021 - high quality home textiles! спално бельо
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 06:19 on 14 September 2021
enamel badges made to order, Badge Creation make all types of badges and lapel pins, enamel and printed. Call us on 0845 299 6550 https://www.badgecreation.co.uk
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 07:50 on 21 September 2021
Skin Origins-Top Biomedic Skincare best SkinOrigin centre Singapore. Skin Origins Top Biomedic Skincare best review facial in Bedok available at Perfect Beauty Skin Origins can change your skin Tel 64425255, At the heart of SkinOrigin is Penta Peptides, a chain of five amino acids that works at the cellular layers and transforms skin – Perfect Beauty best review facial in Bedok -Perfecting You. Acne and acne scar treatment Bedok Mall
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 20:16 on 24 September 2021
Quickly and easily change your search engine with a drop-down menu on the search bar and save your favorite websites in one place. There are over 40+ search engines to choose from. Search Websites
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 20:38 on 24 September 2021
SLOTXO PGSLOT AMBPOKER ASKMEBET GAMATRON MICROGAMING JILI GIOCOPLUS collects the most game camps With fast, safe service, play anywhere, anytime. Think of customer service as number one. SUPERSLOT888, a new online slot that you must try. If anyone is interested in baccarat, we would like to present Slotxogame88 with Luckywinauto. ซุปเปอร์สสล็อต
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 16:14 on 29 September 2021
Best crystals for love, Romance, Marriage | Effectively Heal Heart Chakra, Learn shop the best crystals to manifest love, happiness Healing your Heart Chakra will change your life Love rituals Learn how to do them correctly.
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 21:16 on 15 October 2021
High quality Goliath log splitters ​for sale Check out our hydraulic log splitter and electric log splitter range, Please visit our website for more details. Thank You.
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 23:37 on 16 April 2022
From guerilla developing to full-blown webshop, Mike Campion continues to be perfecting his craft Due to the fact the occasions that most bud was riddled with seeds. click here
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 14:26 on 09 May 2022
Thank you because you have been willing to share information with us. we will always appreciate all you have done here because I know you are very concerned with our. freelance graphic designer websites
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 07:31 on 10 May 2022
You there, this is really good post here. Thanks for taking the time to post such valuable information. Quality content is what always gets the visitors coming. auto insurance bentonville ar
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 15:04 on 11 May 2022
Wow! Such an amazing and helpful post this is. I really really love it. It's so good and so awesome. I am just amazed. I hope that you continue to do your work like this in the future also DevOps for SAP
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 11:06 on 28 May 2022
I read that Post and got it fine and informative. best social media marketing companies
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 12:29 on 29 May 2022
สล็อต 888 หรือจักเรียว่า Slot888 ก็ตาม มันคือ เกมที่ถูกออกแบบมาให้ทุกท่านสามารถหารายได้เข้ากระเป๋าตัวเองได้อย่างสบาย ADDLINE : @game88s เกมสล็อต 888 ออนไลน์ได้เงินจริง
Posted by :  jamseales0 at 12:56 on 29 November 2023
This is certainly interesting posting plus i spend time to read simple things the following posting. your website is definitely brilliant and you simply currently have fine team in the site. awesome spreading stay the best. UFABETทางเข้าสมาชิกแทงบอล
To post comments you need to become a member. If you are already a member, please log in .