He was born in Sagunto, Valencia, and lost his sight almost completely at the age of three after contracting diphtheria. He began to study piano and violin at the age of eight, but despite being best known for his guitar music, never mastered the instrument himself.
Rodrigo studied music under Francisco Antich in Valencia and under Paul Dukas in Paris. After briefly returning to Spain, he went to Paris again to study musicology, first under Maurice Emmanuel and then under André Pirro. In 1925 he received Spain's National Prize for Orchestra for Cinco piezas infantiles [Five Children's Pieces]. From 1947 Rodrigo was a professor of music history, holding the Manuel de Falla Chair of Music in the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, at Complutense University of Madrid.
His most famous work, Concierto de Aranjuez, was composed in 1939 in Paris. It is a concerto for solo classical guitar and orchestra. The central adagio movement is one of the most recognizable in 20th century classical music, featuring the interplay of guitar with English horn.
The success of this concerto led to commissions from a number of prominent soloists, including the flautist James Galway and the cellist Julian Lloyd Webber. In 1954 Rodrigo composed Fantasía para un gentilhombre at the request of Andrés Segovia. His Concierto Andaluz, for four guitars and orchestra, was commissioned by Celedonio Romero for himself and his three sons.
In 1991, Rodrigo was raised to the nobility by King Juan Carlos, given the title Marqués de los Jardines de Aranjuez [Marquis of the Gardens of Aranjuez]. He received the prestigious Prince of Asturias Award—Spain's highest civilian honor—in 1996. He was named Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government in 1998.
He married Victoria Kamhi, a Turkish-born pianist, on 19 January 1933, in Valencia. Their daughter, Cecilia, was born 27 January 1941. He died in 1999 in Madrid. Joaquín Rodrigo and his wife Victoria are buried at the cemetery at Aranjuez.
En Tierras De Jerez
Joaquín Rodrigo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Había un molinero honrado,
Que ganaba su sustento
Con un molino alquilado;
Pero es casado
Con una moza
Como una rosa,
Como es tan bella,
Prendó de ella.
The lyrics of Joaquín Rodrigo's song "En Jerez de la Frontera" tell the story of a honrado, or honest, miller in the town of Jerez de la Frontera. The miller earns his living by renting a mill, but he is married to a beautiful woman, referred to as "una moza como una rosa," which means "a girl like a rose." However, the story takes a twist when the new corregidor, a local magistrate, becomes infatuated with the miller's wife and takes her as his own possession, or "prendó de ella."
This song paints a picture of a small town and explores themes of jealousy and power dynamics. The imagery of the miller's wife being compared to a rose emphasizes her beauty and allure, which ultimately captures the attention of the corregidor. The lyrics evoke a sense of injustice, as the corregidor is depicted as abusing his power to take what he desires.
Overall, the song portrays a tale of love and betrayal within the backdrop of a traditional Spanish town. It sheds light on the complexities of human relationships and the consequences that arise when power is misused.
Line by Line Meaning
En Jerez de la Frontera
In the city of Jerez de la Frontera
Había un molinero honrado
There was an honest miller
Que ganaba su sustento
Who earned his living
Con un molino alquilado
By renting a mill
Pero es casado
But he is married
Con una moza
To a young maiden
Como una rosa
As beautiful as a rose
Como es tan bella
Since she is so fair
El corregidor nuevo
The new magistrate
Prendó de ella
Became infatuated with her
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrDizzyvonclutch
WOW! LENDLE! TEAR IT UP, BABY!!!
@albatrosseable
Lendle zeigt wieder mal, wo der Hammer hängt und spielt den ersten Picado-Lauf in Doppeltempo - oder steht das so in den Noten?