Jorge Grundman. The Official Site of the Music Writer

Let Me Introduce Myself

First of all, I would like to humbly say I am sorry because there is nothing new in the music I write and, moreover, it was not even my intention. This might be the reason why I prefer to say that I consider myself a writer of music more than a composer. I just try to tell stories through the music narrative. I do this in the simplest, almost naive way possible. However, if there is something that leads me when I start writing a piece, it is to avoid communicating something tiring and boring. I want people to find my music sentimental and moving and also, as far as possible, to fancy listening to it again. I am talking about being accessible to the listener and the performers. In other words, I do not write for composers.

In fact, I think these values are pretty hidden in much of the music that is written nowadays. It seems that it is important to know the date in which a piece was written or how it should be understood before listening to it. Let me take an example: if Beethoven had never written his Symphony Nº 6, known as “Pastoral”, and someone would write it these days… Would not we have the same right to be moved and enjoy it? Why? Why would not it contribute anything new? Would it not be understood just by itself?

I think that music, as all arts, should not have sell-by date or the need of an explanation to communicate emotions. And, please, do not misinterpret me. I could not dream of comparing the faintest of my hemidemisemiquavers to the work of Beethoven. I wish I could write a quaver rest as well as he did.

But let me insist, just in case I did not express myself well: I do not mean that we should not investigate, advance and contribute something new in music, but I think it is possible that both lines of writing coexist. I do not think, then, that Verdi´s maxim “…Torniamo all antico, e sara un progreso…” (“If we come back to the old, it will be a progress”) could be applied to my work. I feel sorry if somebody approaches my scores and hopes to find a different kind of music. That was not my intention. I only try to tell stories. Or rather, I try to write music for them.

American Record Guide

"...To be clear, his music is undeniably beautiful. If you are the kind of person who abhors dissonance and finds inspiration in endless consonance, this is for you.”

Nathan Faro

Gramophone

"... Grundman’s writing for string quartet is expert and resourceful..."

Richard Whitehouse

AllMusic

"... Grundman deserves credit for avoiding the prevalent models of conservative religious music..."

James Manheim

MusicWeb International

"... His writing is intensely tonal, and expressive - I particularly like the string writing in Capitulo XX (track 6 – the vocalise) though there are times when I sense that he has listened closely to someone like Steve Reich - the final scene of Capitulo XIX seems to me to be reminiscent of Changing Trains ..."

Jonathan Woolf

Audiophile Audition

"... music is for him pure emotion, and on the basis of the works on this disc, heart-on-sleeve emotion as well ..."

John Sunier

The Barry S. Brook for Music Research and Documentation

"... The celestial opening section of his fantasie, “Who Remembers Beauty When Sadness Knocks at Your Door?”, which Eduardo Frías performs ..., whispers a suggestion of early 20th century French composers, such as Satie or Debussy..."

Classics Today

"... The idiom is unashamedly sentimental and cinematic in the same way that, say, Malcolm Arnold is in the slow movement of his Fifth symphony, and the scoring for strings and piano is very effective....and it repays repeated listening. Very appealing indeed...”

David Hurwitz

Fanfare Magazine

"... In short, Grundman will doubtless take his place among the pantheon of notable Spanish composers from Albéniz to Benguerel, and his CD will be a most worthwhile addition to the library of any music lover who would enjoy restful and beautiful music..."

David de Boor

American Record Guide

"... this is one of the most moving musical presentations of this subject I know, and should be of great interest to anyone interested in Christian sacred music… I was completely taken aback by this. Don’t miss this....”

Allen Guimbel

The Arts Desk

"... as with the likes of Arvo Pärt, writing readily accessible music needn’t involve any dumbing down. Fifty-five minutes of stately, major-key radiance pass in the blink of an eye. I’ve listened to this disc three times so far, and I’ll be returning to it again..."

Graham Rickson

Flute Works

Performed by Gili Schwarzman
Guy Braunstein. Navarra Symphony Orchestra
Eduardo Frías. Torleif Theéen

Flute Works is the my third full-length monographic work at Sony Classical, featuring a selection of my flute works, all of which have been recorded in world premiere.

Leading flutist Gili Schwarzman, pianist Eduardo Frías and cellist Torleif Thedéen are featured in this rich program. In the Concert for Flute and String Orchestra Op.31, Gili Schwarzman is impeccably conducted by Guy Braunstein with the Navarra Symphony Orcherstra.

This work has been awarded with the Melómano de Oro award and Record of the Month by Ritmo magazine.

Sony Classical. Sony 0196587484729

Piano & Cello Concertos

Performed by Pedro Halffter. Navarra Symphony Orchestra.
Eduardo Frías, piano and Iagoba Fanlo, cello.

This is the second monographic CD dedicated to Jorge Grundman on the prestigious Sony Classical label. It contains the first three world premiere recordings of three orchestral works by the composer. The Orquesta Sinfónica de Navarra under the baton of the prestigious conductor and composer Pedro Halffter, accompanies pianist Eduardo Frías and cellist Iagoba Fanlo in the recording.

This work has been awarded with the Melómano de Oro award and Record of the Month by Ritmo magazine.

Sony Classical. Sony 0194399501924

A Mortuis Resurgere

Performed by Brodsky Quartet and Susana Cordón

A recording that shows my unique compositional voice to create music which, above all, communicates with remarkable directness.

The simplicity and strength of my artistic vision, intended to reach the widest audience possible, is clear in A Mortuis Resurgere, a work here receiving its premiere recording. Scored for soprano and string quartet, A Mortuis Resurgere sets passages from chapters XIX and XX of St John's Gospel telling the story of the resurrection of Christ.

This work has been awarded with the American Record Guide Director's Choice, Melómano de Oro award and Record of the Month by Ritmo magazine.

Chandos Records. CHSA 5138

Piano Works

Performed by Eduardo Frías.

This is the recording debut on the prestigious Sony Classical label of Madrid born pianist Eduardo Frías with the First World Recording of Spanish composer Jorge Grundman's integral for piano (1961-).

The worldwide launch of the CD included the presentation of the CD in places as important as the Carnegie Hall in New York or the Foz Palace in Lisbon.

This work has been awarded with the Melómano de Oro award and Record of the Month by Ritmo magazine.

Sony Classical. Sony 88985432042

Jorge Grundman

"The Composer Who Lets your Feelings Flow"

... Fanfare Magazine ...

Let Me Introduce Myself