Juan José Eslava

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ARTISTIC PROFILE

Composer, sound artist and performer. Author of instrumental, vocal and electronic music, installations and performances, his work focuses on the relationship between body, sound and space, the exploration of traditional instruments as creative spaces and the exploration of natural materials from the instrumental point of view.

 

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

National Superior Conservatory of Paris. Main professors: Emmanuel Nunes, Gérard Grisey, Michael Lévinas, Marc-André Dalbavie, Luis Naon.

High Conservatory of Music of Aragon (Spain). IRCAM Composition Cursus of Computer Music, Royaumont-Voix-Nouvelles Foundation, Centre Acanthes, Veruela, Szombathey, and Composition Academy of Festival d'Aix-en-Provence (France). Main professors: Jonathan Harvey, Brian Ferneyhough, Philippe Leroux, Philippe Manoury, Mikhail Malt. 

Research degree from the Public University of Navarra in the field of musical pedagogy.

 

RECENT WORKS

2023. “eszku”. Performative installation, commissioned by Trío Zukan, in collaboration with After Cage festival and Fundación-Museo Jorge Oteiza. For txistu, accordion, percussion, electronics and sound objects.

2023. “tanta i intzi tanta”. Interactive installation (commissioned by Gobierno de Navarra and Baluarte Foundation). 

2022. "de cerca", for grand piano (commissioned by Gobierno de Navarra and Baluarte Foundation). A collaboration with piano player Lluïsa Espigolé.

2022. "cuerpo abierto", for bass-baritone, electroacoustic and an actor. Commissioned by Nicholas Isherwood & Museo Universidad de Navarra. With Javier Álvaro, actor.

2022. "desprendida voz", for txistu, accordion, percussion and electronics. Commissioned by Trio Zukan. In collaboration with Patxi Araujo (video) and Sophie Bancon (voix).

2021. "Canta madera, grita!", for solo amplified 5 octaves marimba and resonnators. Commissioned by Juanjo Guillén (Neopercusión).

2020. “el tercero es la sombra”, for quintet (flute, bass clarinet, violon, celo, piano) Commissioned by Grupo Enigma. Madrid, Teatros del canal, 2021-11.

2020. "Melos", for baritone oboe and electronics. Commission by Pilar Fontalba, oboe player.

2019. "shut down", for guitar and koto. Commissioned by Norio Sato. Pamplona, 2019-10.

2019. "máscaras" (solo electronics, octophonic system).

2019. “Oteiza”: A work on the sculptor, poet and essayist Jorge Oteiza. For ensemble, basse and electronics. Commissioned by the Collective E72 and Ópera de Cámara de Navarra. First performance by Nicholas Isherwood, Nacho de Paz, Ensemble E7.2, Ángel Faraldo, Pablo Ramos, Ópera de Cámara de Navarra, Museo de la Universidad de Navarra, Spain, 2019-05. 

 

OTHER WORKS

2017. “Sin horizonte”, for mesotonic accordion. Commissioned by Ander Tellería.

2017. "Scapeland", for piano, cello, gestures and words. Commissioned by Alberto Rosado and David Apellániz.

2016. “Robar Belleza”, Commissioned by the collective E7.2, (collaboration with the choreographer Bertha Bermúdez and NeoPercusión ensemble).

2013. “Desde el muro”, concerto for baritone saxophone and orchestra. Commissioned by Foundation Pablo Sarasate and AEOS.

2012. “Suave ubicuidad”. For flute, bass clarinet and cello. Commissioned by PLural Ensemble.

2012. “Nozarashi”, for 16 voices and 3 percussionists. Commissioned by CNDM and KEA.

2011. “Senderos de la risa”, for orchestra, flute, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, soprano (2), mezo, baritone, electronics). Commissioned by ORCAM and Madrid’s Community.

2010. “L’Oeil”, for saxophone quartet and electronics. Commissioned by Sigma Project saxophone quartet.

2010. “Pulsar”, for classic guitar. Commissioned by Public University of Navarra.

2008. “Under Construction”, for classic guitar and electronics. Commissioned by Norio Sato.

2007. “Skin’s Traces”, for frame-drum and electronics. Commissioned by Rie Watanabe.

2006. “El umbral de una línea III”, for saxophone and electronics. Commissioned by Josetxo Silguero.

 

TRANSCRIPTIONS

 

1999. “Tellur”, for orchestra. Original by Tristan Murail, for classic guitar.

1998. “Out of doors IV”, for orchestra. Original by B. Bartok, for piano

1996. “Asturiana” and “Polo”, for strings chamber orchestra. Original by M. de Falla, for voice and piano.

 

RECENT ARTISTIC COLLABORATIONS

Performers: Lluïsa Espigolé, Trio Zukan, Norio Sato, Kimura Maya, Nicholas Isherwood, Rody van Gemert, Juanjo Guillén, Grupo Enigma, Pilar Fontalba, Ángel Soria.

Visual artists: Patxi Araujo.

Other artists: Xabier Erkizia, Florian Conil, Javier Álvaro, Sophie Bancon.

Institutions: Fundación-Museo Jorge Oteiza, Fundación Baluarte, Museo Universidad de Navarra, Centro Huarte de Arte Contemporáneo, Clínica Universitaria de Navarra 

 

WORK IN PROGRESS

Eszku. A collaboration with Trío Zukan, artistic collective E7.2 and Fundación-Museo Jorge Oteiza.

De cerca: expansion (for grand piano). A collaboration with Lluïsa Espigolé.

MotoAuscult. An interdisciplinary project for percussion, actors, electronic music and a motorcycle.

[no title], for classical guitar. A commission by Rody van Gemert

 

MAIN FESTIVALS 

World New Music Days, Labirinti sonori, Time-of-Music, Seoul International Computer Music Festival, International Computer Music Festival, World Saxophone Congress, Puentes, Résonnances, festival d’Art Lyrique d’Aix-en-Provence, Punto de Encuentro, Son, Musikaste, Contemporary Music Circuit of Euskadi, After Cage. 

 

AWARDS

International Computer Music Conference’s prix to the best European work (2008); Finalist in the  Transitio International Festival of Electronic art (Mexico)

 

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Books: 

Ritmos infantiles: tejidos de un paisaje interior (Octaedro, 2007)

Ritmos infantis: tecidos de uma paisagem interior (revised) (Pedro % João, 2020)

Articles: 

El París de los años noventa: un testimonio personal. Scherzo. 03/05/2023, https://scherzo.es/author/juan-jose-eslava-cabanellas/

Music:

Soinuzko Begiradak. Take 2. Trio Zukan. IBS Classical, 2023.

Tempo. Pilar Fontalba, oboe. Cezanne, 2022

Horors (fronteras). Ander Tellería (Cezanne, 2020. Melómano de Oro 2020-09)

Truths. The saxophone in the early 21st Century. Ángel Soria (Ibs* classical, 2017)

Utopías. New music for saxophone quartet. Sigma Project (Sigma records, 2013)

Momentos: cantos entre balbuceos. Incidental music for video (UPNA, 2002)

 

ORGANISING EVENTS

He has organised the After Cage festival in Spain since 2014, as a member of the E7.2 collective.

He has collaborated with institutions such as Instituto Cervantes, Kunitachi College of Music, Ayuntamiento de Pamplona, Museo Universidad de Navarra, Conservatorio Superior de Aragón and Museo de Navarra, with the aim of facilitating the encounter with traditional Japanese culture and artistic creation, in particular in Spain.

For this aim, he has collaborated with artists such as composer José Manuel López-López, Takayuki Rai, Shintaro Imai… as well as with performers such as Norio Sato, Kimura Maya, Naoko Kikuchi, agrupación vocal KEA and others. 

 

TEACHING

Composition and Orchestration (Conservatorio Superior de Música de Navarra). Currently.

Composition and Orchestration (Conservatorio Superior de Música de Aragón, 2013-2023).

Electroacoustic composition (Conservatorio Superior de Música de Castilla y León, 2012-2013 and Conservatorio Superior de Música de Navarra, 2016-2020).

Sitio web :
Piezas ordenadas por año. Los trabajos mas recientes aparecen primero

Solista (Instrumento o Voz) y Medios Electrónicos Fijos


Cuerpo Abierto for bass-baritone, electroacoustic and an actor (2022)
Under Construction for acoustic guitar and electronics (2009)
Skin's Traces for frame-drum and electronics. Dediated to Rie Watanabe (2007)
El umbral de una línea For saxophones (one player: Baritone, tenor, soprano) and electronics (2006)

Instrumento Solo


De Cerca para gran piano de cola. (2022)
Sin horizonte para acordeón mesotónico (2018)

Ensamble (Instrumentos o Voces) y Medios Electrónicos Fijos


Desprendida voz para txistu, acordeón, percusión y electrónica (2022)
L'Oeil for saxophone quartet (Soprano; Tenor/Soprano; Baritone; Bass) and electronics. (2010)

Ensamble de Cámara (5 - 9 instrumentos)


El tercero es la sombra for quintet (flute, bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano) (2020)
La acústica de la chirimoya Para flauta, clarinete bajo, trompa, cello, percusión y piano. (2013)

Opera


Oteiza monodrama about Jorge Oteiza's artistic work. (2019)

Grupo de Cámara ( 2 - 4 instrumentos )


Shut Down for 25 strings koto and guitar (2019)
ScapeLand for piano and cello. (2018)
Suave Ubicuidad for flute, bass clarinet and cello (2011)

Voces e Instrumentos


Nozarashi for 16 voices and three percussionists. (2012)

Orquesta Sinfónica


Senderos de la risa For symphonic orchestra, electronics, 5 voices and wind quartet (2011)
Cuerpo Abierto for bass-baritone, electroacoustic and an actor (2022)
De Cerca para gran piano de cola. (2022)
Desprendida voz para txistu, acordeón, percusión y electrónica (2022)
El tercero es la sombra for quintet (flute, bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano) (2020)
El umbral de una línea For saxophones (one player: Baritone, tenor, soprano) and electronics (2006)
L'Oeil for saxophone quartet (Soprano; Tenor/Soprano; Baritone; Bass) and electronics. (2010)
La acústica de la chirimoya Para flauta, clarinete bajo, trompa, cello, percusión y piano. (2013)
Nozarashi for 16 voices and three percussionists. (2012)
Oteiza monodrama about Jorge Oteiza's artistic work. (2019)
ScapeLand for piano and cello. (2018)
Senderos de la risa For symphonic orchestra, electronics, 5 voices and wind quartet (2011)
Shut Down for 25 strings koto and guitar (2019)
Sin horizonte para acordeón mesotónico (2018)
Skin's Traces for frame-drum and electronics. Dediated to Rie Watanabe (2007)
Suave Ubicuidad for flute, bass clarinet and cello (2011)
Under Construction for acoustic guitar and electronics (2009)