PABLO CASALS AS COMPOSER: SELECTED SACRED CHORAL WORKS

Matthew E. Rauert (Dr. Andrew White) Music and Performing Arts, University of Nebraska at Kearney, 925 West 25th St., Kearney, NE 68849

Pablo Casals (1876-1973) was perhaps best known as one of the world's most renowned cellists. His accomplishments spanned the globe as a great innovator of cello technique. He was a famous conductor as well, but his compositions have been under-researched by academia. The purpose of this research was to unearth the sacred choral works of Casals, to examine them, evaluate them in terms of musical value, and to place them in the context of Casals's life. Casals's sacred choral works could be divided into two different groups: one, the group of pieces composed earlier in Casals' life, before the end of the Second World War, and two, his oratorio, El Pessebre. Each group has a story tied to it, one that could be found by examining both the scores to the pieces and the literature that can be found that places the works on a timeline of Casals's life. This research answers two questions regarding these sacred choral works of Pablo Casals. First, why each of the sacred choral works were written, and, second, and perhaps more importantly, why it is that only one or two of Casals's sacred choral works are ever performed by today's musicians. This work shows that the answers to these questions are centered first on Casals's efforts to come to the aid of those around him and, second, the fact that many works of composers of the twentieth century are swallowed up by their contemporaries. Ultimately, this research proves that Casals should not be remembered for only his cello performances, but his compositions and efforts as a humanitarian as well.

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