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Pedro Amaral was born in Lisbon in 1972. After studying in Portugal, he moved to Paris in order to study composition with Emmanuel Nunes. He undertook theoretical studies at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, completing a master’s thesis on Stockhausen’s Gruppen in 1998, and a doctoral thesis on the same composer’s Momente and the problem of musical form in serial music in 2003. He also spent three periods working at IRCAM. His work Transmutations, for piano and electronics in real time, represented Portugal at the International Rostrum of Composers (UNESCO) and also the Portuguese Section of the International Society for Contemporary Music, at the World Music Days in Japan (2001). In the same year, Oporto Capital of Culture commissioned the work Organa, for instrumental group and live electronics ad libitum. At the invitation of Peter Eötvös, he was composer-in-residence at the Herrenhaus in Edenkoven, Germany, between February and July 2001. He has been awarded a residency at the Villa Medici by the Académie de France in Rome for 2004 / 2005.
EXTERNAL LINK
Pedro Amaral
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Instruments: Conductor |
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Biography
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Born in Lisbon (Portugal) in 1972, Pedro Amaral is one of the most active European composers of the young generation.
Studies
He started his studies in composition as a private student of F. Lopes-Graça, in 1986. His general music apprenticeship was made mainly at the Gregorian Institute and the Superior Lisbon Conservatoire (1991/94) where he graduated in composition at Prof. Christopher Bochmann's class .
Pedro Amaral moved then to Paris, to study at the Paris Superior Conservatoire (CNSM) with Emmanuel Nunes. Four years later, he graduated with the "First Prize in Composition", awarded by unanimous vote of the jury.
Later on, he studied conducting with Peter Eötvös (Eötvös Institute, 2000) and Emilio Pomarico (Milan Scuola Civica, 2001).
Theoretical works
In parallel with his practical apprenticeship, Pedro Amaral proceeded with university studies at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, in Paris, obtaining a Masters degree in contemporary musicology with a thesis on K. Stockhausen's "Gruppen" (1998) and, later on, in 2003, a Ph.D. with a thesis on "Momente" and the problematic of musical form in serial music. About this huge analysis, K. Stockhausen commented, in Le Monde de la Musique (September 2003): "It is an excellent work that taught me a lot of things" - he then invited Pedro Amaral to become his assistant in some specific projects.
Pedro Amaral develops now a permanent activity in musicology, writing articles, giving speeches, presenting workshops and master-classes.
The Ircam connection
During his first stay at the French institute IRCAM, in 1998/99, he composed "Transmutations", for piano and live electronics, which was first performed in Paris, in 1999. The work was also chosen to represent Portugal at the UNESCO International Composers Tribune, where it was broadcasted by radio stations all over the world. At the end of 2001 the same piece represented the Portuguese section of ISCM at the World Music Days Festival in Japan. Still in the same year, the city of Porto, European Capital of Culture 2001, commissioned him "Organa", for ensemble and live electronics ad libitum, which was also developed at IRCAM's studios. In 2003/2004, Pedro Amaral came for the third time to IRCAM as "compositeur en recherche". He then composed the long "Script", for percussion and live electronics.
Commissions
Amaral's works have been commissioned by the Gulbenkian Foundation, the French Ministry of Culture, the Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), the Macao International Music festival, the Musica Viva Festival, the Grame (Lyon), the city of "Porto - European Capital of Culture 2001", the city of Matosinhos, the Casa da Música...
Residences
Pedro Amaral has been "composer in residence" at the Herrenhaus Edenkoben, Germany, Villa Medici, in Rome, and at the Lenzi Palace in Florence, Italy.
Performers
His music is a regular presence at the most important Festivals, being performed by soloists such as C. Desjardins, P. Gallois, P. Carneiro, A. Corazziari, A.L. Gastaldi, J.M. Cottet, Y.Shibuya, J. Gottlieb..., under his own conducting as well as under the conducting of Peter Eötvös, Mark Foster, Muhai Tang, Lucas Pfaff, Renato Rivolta, Johannes Kalitzke, Franck Ollu, Etienne Siebens, Michael Zilm and many others.
Orchestras and ensembles
As composer and/or conductor, Pedro Amaral works regularly with Gulbenkian Orchestra, Youth Symphony Orchestra, Portuguese Symphony Orchestra, São Paulo City Symphony Orchestra (Brazil), Ensemble InterContemporain, London Sinfonietta, Prometheus Ensemble (Brussels), Ensemble Futures Musiques (Paris), Les Percussions de Strasbourg, Ensemble Ebruitez-vous! (Rennes), Ensemble Alternance (Paris), Quatuor Parisii (Paris), Ensemble Recherche (Freiburg), Ensemble Aventure (Freiburg), musikFabrik (Cologne), Piano Possibile (Munich), Art Respirant (Tokyo), Remix Ensemble (Porto), Grupo de Música Contemporânea de Lisboa, Ensemble SeicentoNovecento, Voces Coelestes Choir... He is from 2008/09, the chief conductor of the National Conservatoire Orchestra.
EXTERNAL LINK
Pedro Amaral |
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Portuguese Repertoire of the 20th and 21st Century
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Portuguese Repertoire of the 20th and 21st Century |
Title |
Composer |
Musical category |
Instrumentation (general) |
Date |
Duration |
Notes |
Aranea |
Almeida, Patrícia Sucena |
Chamber music (2-8 instruments) |
Instrumentation (general)
|
2006 |
9' 00" |
Notes |
Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Viola, Violoncello and Piano |
|
|
Spirales |
Amaral, Pedro |
Chamber music (+ than 8 instruments) |
Instrumentation (general)
|
1998 |
10' 00" |
Notes |
|
|
Os Jogadores de Xadrez |
Amaral, Pedro |
Vocal Group/Choir (a cappella) |
Instrumentation (general)
|
2000 |
12' 00" |
Notes |
|
|
Organa |
Amaral, Pedro |
Chamber music (2-8 instruments) |
Instrumentation (general)
|
2001 |
15' 00" |
Notes |
|
|
Densités |
Amaral, Pedro |
Chamber music (2-8 instruments) |
Instrumentation (general)
|
2005 |
23' 00" |
Notes |
Clarinet, Trumpet, Piano, Violin and Cello |
|
|
Paraphrase (Densités II) |
Amaral, Pedro |
Chamber music (+ than 8 instruments) |
Instrumentation (general)
|
2006 |
17' 00" |
Notes |
|
|
Fragmentos para a ópera de câmara O Sonho |
Amaral, Pedro |
Opera |
Instrumentation (general)
|
2007 |
|
Notes |
|
|
Derrière Son Double |
Azguime, Miguel |
Chamber music (2-8 instruments) |
Instrumentation (general)
|
2001 |
19' 16" |
Notes |
Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Viola, Violoncello, Piano and Live Electronics |
|
|
Alentour Allant Même |
Azguime, Miguel |
Chamber music (+ than 8 instruments) |
Instrumentation (general)
|
2006 |
15' 30" |
Notes |
Instrumental Ensemble and Live Electronics |
|
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Music for Two Pianos, Book I |
Bochmann, Christopher |
Chamber music (2-8 instruments) |
Instrumentation (general)
|
1998 |
10' 00" |
Notes |
|
|
Camões |
Carvalho, Sara |
Opera |
Instrumentation (general)
|
2006 |
|
Notes |
|
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Carta do Achamento |
Gabirro, Bruno |
Opera |
Instrumentation (general)
|
2006 |
24' 30" |
Notes |
Light Soprano, Tenor, Baritone and Orchestra |
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|
oito poemas breves de valter hugo mãe |
Lapa, Fernando C. |
Chamber music (2-8 instruments) |
Instrumentation (general)
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2002 |
12' 00" |
Notes |
|
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Gestos-Circus-Círculos |
Lima, Cândido |
Chamber music (2-8 instruments) |
Instrumentation (general)
|
2001 |
11' 00" |
Notes |
Ensemble and Live Electronics |
|
|
Orfeu |
Lobo, Fernando M. |
Opera |
Instrumentation (general)
|
2006 |
|
Notes |
|
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A Floresta em Dodona |
Lopes, Ângela |
Opera |
Instrumentation (general)
|
2006 |
15' 00" |
Notes |
|
|
Antígona |
Lopes Cardoso, Luís |
Opera |
Instrumentation (general)
|
2006 |
13' 00" |
Notes |
|
|
Pyr |
Lopes, José Júlio |
Orchestra |
Instrumentation (general)
|
|
|
Notes |
|
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Itinerario de Luz |
Macías, Enrique X. |
Chamber music (2-8 instruments) |
Instrumentation (general)
|
1995 |
19' 00" |
Notes |
Ensemble and Live Electronics |
|
|
Fulgor |
Madureira, João |
Orchestra |
Instrumentation (general)
|
2004 |
13' 00" |
Notes |
|
|
Estudo para Jerusalém |
Mendonça, Vasco |
Opera |
Instrumentation (general)
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2006 |
13' 00" |
Notes |
|
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Concerto Campestre |
Monteiro, Francisco |
Chamber music (2-8 instruments) |
Instrumentation (general) |
2004 |
|
Notes |
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Ruf |
Nunes, Emmanuel |
Orchestra |
Instrumentation (general)
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1977 |
36' 00" |
Notes |
Orchestra and Electroacoustics |
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|
Timshel |
Oliveira, João Pedro |
Chamber music (2-8 instruments) |
Instrumentation (general)
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2007 |
15' 00" |
Notes |
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A morte de João Espergueiro e sua contestação aturada |
Patriarca, Eduardo Luís |
Opera |
Instrumentation (general)
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2006 |
15' 00" |
Notes |
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Prólogos |
Pires, Filipe |
Chamber music (2-8 instruments) |
Instrumentation (general)
|
2004 |
11' 00" |
Notes |
Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, Piano and Electroacoustics |
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To a world free from beliefs |
Rocha, Pedro M. |
Chamber music (2-8 instruments) |
Instrumentation (general)
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2007 |
20' 00" |
Notes |
Quintett and pre-treated sounds |
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El Vaso Reluciente |
Rosa, Clotilde |
Chamber music (2-8 instruments) |
Instrumentation (general)
|
2003 |
|
Notes |
Voice and Instrumental Ensemble |
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Transparências |
Rosa, Clotilde |
Chamber music (2-8 instruments) |
Instrumentation (general)
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2005 |
|
Notes |
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Paralelus II |
Silva, Duarte Dinis |
Chamber music (2-8 instruments) |
Instrumentation (general)
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2008 |
|
Notes |
5 Instruments and Electronics |
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O Gelo |
Soldado, Luís |
Opera |
Instrumentation (general)
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2006 |
13' 00" |
Notes |
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Other repertoire
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Other repertoire |
Obra |
Compositor |
Chemins IV |
Berio, Luciano |
Dérive I |
Boulez, Pierre |
Funf Sternzeichen |
Stockhausen, Karlheinz |
Hymnen mit Orchester |
Stockhausen, Karlheinz |
Le Marteau sans Maître |
Boulez, Pierre |
Mixtur 2003 |
Stockhausen, Karlheinz |
Pan |
Menezes, Flo |
Resonant Solitude |
Matsuo, Masataka |
Trans |
Stockhausen, Karlheinz |
Voi(rex) |
Leroux, Philippe |
zeroPoints |
Eötvös, Peter |
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Prizes |
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Performances (selection) |
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Documents
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Documents |
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Type (+ sub-type) |
Cover/edition title
Title
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Author of document |
Referring to |
Publisher |
Date |
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Audio
Music |
Azevedo
Bartók
Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa
Nuno Inácio, flauta | Pedro Amaral, maestro
Bela Bartók · Concerto para Orquestra (1943; rev 1945)
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Pedro Amaral
Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa
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Metropolitana
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2021
2021
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Audio
Music |
Azevedo
Bartók
Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa
Nuno Inácio, flauta | Pedro Amaral, maestro
Sérgio Azevedo · Giochi di Uccelli, Concerto para Flauta e Orchestra (2016)
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giochi di uccelli
Sérgio Azevedo
Pedro Amaral
Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa
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Metropolitana
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2021
2021
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Audio
Music |
Chagas Rosa
Dvořák
Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa
Filipe Quaresma · violoncelo | Pedro Amaral · maestro
António Chagas Rosa · Circumnavigare
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circumnavigare
António Chagas Rosa
Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa
Filipe Quaresma
Pedro Amaral
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Metropolitana
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2019
2019
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Audio
Music |
Chagas Rosa
Dvořák
Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa
Filipe Quaresma · violoncelo | Pedro Amaral · maestro
Antonín Dvorák · Sinfonia N.º 9, Op. 95, Do Novo Mundo
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Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa
Pedro Amaral
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Metropolitana
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2019
2019
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Audio
Music |
Miguel Azguime - Chamber Music
Derrière Son Double
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derriere son double
Miguel Azguime
Sond'Ar-te Electric Ensemble
Pedro Amaral
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Miso Records
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2014
2014
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Audio
Music |
Cândido Lima | Oceânides
Gestos-Circus-Círculos,
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gestos-circus-circulos
Cândido Lima
Sond'Ar-te Electric Ensemble
Pedro Amaral
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mpmp, movimento patrimonial pela música portuguesa
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2016
2009
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Audio
Music |
Eduardo Luís Patriarca
A Morte de João Espergueiro e a sua Contestação Aturada
Ópera curta
Libreto: valter hugo mãe
Hélder Bento, Bruno Pereira
Orquestra Sinfónica Juvenil
Pedro Amaral
A morte de João Espergueiro e sua contestação aturada
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a morte de joao espergueiro e sua contestacao aturada
Eduardo Luís Patriarca
Orquestra Sinfónica Juvenil
Pedro Amaral
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Edição de autor
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2006
2006
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Audio
Music |
Pedro Amaral
Works for Ensemble
London Sinfonietta, Pedro Amaral
...Textos, Paráfrases, Perspectivas...
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...textos, parafrases, perspectivas...
Pedro Amaral
Pedro Amaral
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Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian
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2007
2006
|
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Audio
Music |
Pedro Amaral
Works for Ensemble
London Sinfonietta, Pedro Amaral
Organa
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organa
Pedro Amaral
Pedro Amaral
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Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian
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2007
2006
|
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Audio
Music |
Pedro Amaral
Works for Ensemble
London Sinfonietta, Pedro Amaral
Paraphrase
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paraphrase (densites ii)
Pedro Amaral
Pedro Amaral
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Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian
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2007
2006
|
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Audio
Music |
Pedro Amaral
Works for Ensemble
London Sinfonietta, Pedro Amaral
Spirales
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spirales
Pedro Amaral
Pedro Amaral
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Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian
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2007
2006
|
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Audio
Music |
Maelstrõm
João Pedro Oliveira
Timshel
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timshel
João Pedro Oliveira
Sond'Ar-te Electric Ensemble
Pedro Amaral
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Phonedition
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2010
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Radio programmes
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Na Outra Margem 03-12-2008
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Sond'Ar-te Electric Ensemble
Pedro Amaral
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2008
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Radio programmes
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O Véu Diáfano - Emissão Especial: C. Bochmann - Corpo e Alma (I)
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Pedro Amaral |
corpo e alma
Christopher Bochmann
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2008
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Radio programmes
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O Véu Diáfano - Emissão Especial: C. Bochmann - Corpo e Alma (II)
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Pedro Amaral |
corpo e alma
Christopher Bochmann
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2008
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Radio programmes
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O Véu Diáfano - Nº 28 Três Requiem (III) - Cardoso, Bomtempo, L-Graça
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Pedro Amaral |
requiem
Fernando Lopes-Graça
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2008
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Radio programmes
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Dualidades - Nº 15 Um compositor - Duas Obras (Azguime)
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Pedro Amaral |
Miguel Azguime
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2006
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Radio programmes
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Boulez/Berio: 1925/2005 - Nº 05 Perspectivas 1: C. Bochmann
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Pedro Amaral |
Christopher Bochmann
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2005
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Radio programmes
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Boulez/Berio: 1925/2005 - Nº 14 Perspectivas 3: C.Lima
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Pedro Amaral |
Cândido Lima
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2005
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Radio programmes
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Boulez/Berio: 1925/2005 - Nº 20 Perspectivas 4: A.P. Vargas
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Pedro Amaral |
António Pinho Vargas
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2005
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Texts
Article |
Direcção de Salwa Castelo-Branco
Enciclopédia da Música em Portugal no Século XX
Nunes, Emmanuel
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Pedro Amaral |
Emmanuel Nunes
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Circulo de Leitores
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2010
2010
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Texts
Article |
Relâmpago
Revista de Poesia
nº 19 10/2006
Poesia e Música
Os Jogadores de Xadrez
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Pedro Amaral |
os jogadores de xadrez
Pedro Amaral
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Fundação Luís Miguel Nava
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2006
2006
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Texts
Article |
Sérgio Azevedo
A Invenção dos Sons
Uma Panorâmica da Composição em Portugal Hoje
Emmanuel Nunes
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Pedro Amaral Sérgio Azevedo |
Emmanuel Nunes
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Caminho
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1998
1998
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Texts
MMP Interview |
Entrevista a Pedro Amaral / Interview with Pedro Amaral
Entrevista a Pedro Amaral
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Luísa Prado e Castro Pedro Amaral |
Pedro Amaral
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Centro de Informação da Música Portuguesa
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2005
2003
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Texts
Program notes |
Emmanuel Nunes 2002 - Uma Restrospectiva
Transmutations (1999)
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Pedro Amaral |
transmutations
Pedro Amaral
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Centro Cultural de Belém
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2002
2002
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Texts
Thesis |
Espace-Temps dans "Gruppen" de Karlheinz Stockhausen
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Pedro Amaral |
tif ereth
Emmanuel Nunes
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1998
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Video
MMP Interview |
Entrevista a Pedro Amaral / Interview with Pedro Amaral
Entrevista a Pedro Amaral / Interview with Pedro Amaral
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Perseu Mandillo Pedro Amaral |
Pedro Amaral
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Centro de Informação da Música Portuguesa
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2005
2003
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