José
Evangelista, born, Valencia, Spain, 1943, was enrolled, University of Valencia,
while simultaneously attending Valencia Conservatory of Music, studying
harmony and composition with Vincent Asencio. He received a Diploma in
Composition, 1967, the same year he graduated L.Sc. (Physics), University
of Valencia. Later work in computers led him to immigrate to Canada, 1969,
working as a systems analyst, Ministry of Transport, Ottawa. Settling in
Montreal, 1970, he abandoned his scientific career and initiated composition
studies with André Prévost and Bruce Mather. Graduating,
McGill University, M. Music, 1973, and D. Music, 1984, José Evangelista,
since 1979, has been Professor of Music, Université de Montréal.
Dr. Evangelista pursues an artistic path exploring ways to make music based
exclusively on melody. He has developed heterophonic writing, both for
instruments and orchestra, in which the melodic line generates echoes of
itself and creates an illusion of polyphony. At the Université de
Montréal, 1979, Professor Evangelista created the Balinese Gamelan
Workshop, 1987. Composer-in-residence, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, 1993-95,
José Evangelista has received numerous commissions, among others,
from Groupe vocal de France, Itineraire (Paris), the Kronas Quartet (San
Francisco), the SMCQ and the CBC. His music has been performed in Canada,
the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia by groups such as Ensemble Modern
(Frankfurt), Nieuw Ensemble (Amsterdam), Music Projects (London), and the
Nouvel Ensemble Moderne (Montreal). [Photo, courtesy Professor José
Evangelista]