Joly Braga Santos: the composer's manuscripts

[Maria Clara Assunção]

February 17, by 16:00, will take place at the National Library of Portugal the gift of portuguese conductor and composer Joly Braga Santos' manuscripts. Born in Lisbon on 14 May 1924, José Manuel Joly Braga Santos showed a early musical talent and began to study violin at six years. He studied composition with Luis de Freitas Branco from who received a technical and stylistic influence in the first phase of their musical production. At 24 years went to Italy to improve conducting studies with Herman Scherchen (Venice, 1948). Later, he studied in the experimental studio of Gravesano with Antonino Votto (1957-1958) and did further studies in composition with Virgilio Mortari (Rome, 1959-1960). From the end of the 50s his work also shows influence of European experiences.
It was also Professor of Composition and Analysis Techniques in the National Conservatory of Lisbon, directed the Orchestra of the National Broadcasting and regularly published music criticism.
As the symphony is the genre that best express his creative talent, size, quality and diversity of their musical work puts him among the major portuguese composers of the 20th century.
He died at his home in Lisbon on 18 July 1988.

The documentary collection now donated consists of more than 100 works in manuscript version, consisting of instrumental symphonic and chamber music, music for piano, for voice and piano, for choir, music for ballet, opera and radio soundtracks for drama and documentary. It contains books of notes, about 500 species of printed items (books, music, programs, concerts, etc.). And some handwritten copies of works of other authors (some with dedication) like Fernando Lopes Graça and Alberto Ginastera, among others.

Although the work of Joly Braga Santos has a national and worldwide projection bigger than the majority of Portuguese composers of the 20th century, the donation of this collection to the National Library of Portugal gives musicians and researchers the possibility of contacting directly with the manuscripts of the composer, exploring less well known aspects of his music production as well as their method of work and their creative process.

This musical documentation will be completed in the future with documentation of biographical nature, specially the correspondence with Portuguese musicians with whom he maintained a relationship of mutual admiration like Fernando Lopes Graça, Luís de Freitas Branco and Álvaro Cassuto.