Biography
Joaquín Rodrigo, (1901 – 1999), was a Spanish composer and virtuoso pianist, best known for composing the Concierto de Aranjuez, one of the most important works of the classical guitar repertoire.
Rodrigo was born in Sagunto on November 22, 1901 and lost his sight completely at the age of three after contracting diphtheria. He began studying solfège, piano and violin at 8, harmony and composition from the age of 16, first in Valencia and then in Paris, where he continued to study musicology.
His first published compositions date from 1923. From 1947 he was professor of music history, holder of the Chair of Music at the School of Philosophy and Letters, at the Complutense University of Madrid. Although he did not learn to play the guitar, his most famous work, the Concierto de Aranjuez that was written in 1939, is a concerto for guitar and orchestra. The success of this concerto led to commissions from various prominent soloists.
He was awarded Spain's highest composition award, the Premio Nacional de Música, in 1983. In 1991, he was awarded the hereditary title of Marquess of the Gardens of Aranjuez by King Juan Carlos I. In 1998 he was named Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government.
He was married in 1933, had one daughter and died on January 19, 1999, in Valencia.