Francesc

Francesc Civil Castellví

Molins de Rei , 1895
Girona , 1990

Composer

Composer, pianist and organist

He was introduced to music in his family circle and later at the Escolania de Montserrat with Manuel M. Guzmán. From 1908 to 1917 he studied in France, mainly at Schola Cantorum (Paris) under Vincent d'Indy (1913-1917). From 1917 to 1924 he lived in Figueres as an organist, pianist and teacher, and he became interested in sardanes. In 1925, he became interim organist of the cathedral of Girona until he was appointed organist in 1954. In the 1930s, he wrote music criticism for many publications in Girona, and in 1936 he founded the Escola Municipal (which would become the conservatory later on), where he taught until 1965. He also conducted choirs and worked accompanying films at the cinema. His output includes vocal (sacred and harmonization of songs), keyboard, chamber and symphonic music, as well as sardanes. His style combines postromantic lyricism close to Franck with Impressionism, and with a great work on counterpoint and virtuosity on the keyboard. He also documented music activity in the bishopric of Girona.