Francisco Asenjo Barbieri

A piano student of Albeniz, a vocal student of Saldoni, a clarinet student of Broca and a composition student of Carnicer, Francisco was thoroughly engulfed with the influence of Spanish music. Fortunately or not, Francisco became a "wanderlust" eeking out an existence with the use of his talents. He finally took residence in Madrid and began composing for the theatre. Barbieri's first complete opera in the Spanish vein (i.e., Zarzuela) was "Gloria y peluca" and he coninued this genre. Other operas included "Pan y toros," "Jugar con fuego," and "El barberillo de Lavapies." His most important contribution, however, was his collection (library) of historical Spanish music. His "Cancionero musical de los siglos XV y XVI" contained at least 459 transcriptions and commentaries alone. ~ Keith Johnson