1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:01,520 Antonio de Literes 2 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:12,830 I was born the 18th of June of 1673 in the Mallorcan town of Artá. 3 00:00:18,859 --> 00:00:25,359 When I was a child, I moved to Madrid, where with the help of the musician Juan Mazanet and Juan Martí, 4 00:00:25,839 --> 00:00:31,239 organist of the Artá Parish Church and later master of the Chapel of the Cathedral of Mallorca, 5 00:00:31,780 --> 00:00:36,820 I entered the Real Colegio de Niños Cantórticos de Madrid in the year 1686, 6 00:00:36,820 --> 00:00:39,600 which was a school for castrated children. 7 00:00:39,979 --> 00:00:44,740 that was closed in the year 1834 because of the ban of castration. 8 00:00:45,439 --> 00:00:49,399 In this institution, I received my first violin lessons, 9 00:00:49,399 --> 00:00:54,520 and I worked as a teacher between 1692 and 1694. 10 00:00:56,219 --> 00:01:08,200 The 23rd of September of 1694, I was named musician of violin of the Royal Chapel. 11 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:11,079 I held this position for the rest of my life. 12 00:01:11,079 --> 00:01:30,099 in addition to participating as a musician in the functions of the royal chapel and in court festivities i became one of the main stage music composers of the first two decades of the eighteenth century 13 00:01:30,099 --> 00:01:32,819 Of my works, these were my most important. 14 00:01:33,599 --> 00:01:37,079 Dido Yeneas, which was my most famous work, 15 00:01:37,579 --> 00:01:40,900 Júpiter y Danae, Las Zarzuelas, Todo lo vence amor, 16 00:01:41,459 --> 00:01:43,739 Con música y por amor, with Juan de Navas, 17 00:01:44,159 --> 00:01:46,900 Antes difunta que ajena, Júpiter y Sémene, 18 00:01:47,599 --> 00:01:49,480 and Celos no guardan respeto, 19 00:01:49,959 --> 00:01:52,239 and La ópera armónica al estilo italiano, 20 00:01:52,780 --> 00:01:55,420 now known nowadays as Los Elementos. 21 00:01:56,060 --> 00:01:57,719 Due to all the fame of these works, 22 00:01:57,719 --> 00:02:00,519 I worked for multiple royal families. 23 00:02:01,219 --> 00:02:07,420 On September 23, 1693, I was appointed principal violinist of the Royal Chapel. 24 00:05:46,730 --> 00:06:29,519 I was married on two occasions, in the first nuptials with Manuela Sánchez de Aguiar, 25 00:06:29,660 --> 00:06:33,079 with whom I had three children, Manuel, who died prematurely, 26 00:06:33,199 --> 00:06:36,079 José Rittero Sánchez, also a musician of the Royal Chapel 27 00:06:36,079 --> 00:06:40,160 and of the Orchestra of the Duchess of Osuna, and María de Concepción. 28 00:06:41,220 --> 00:07:02,839 In my second nuptials I married Luisa Benito Montalvo. From our union Antonio Litteles Montalvo was born, who would also be destined to play an important role in palatial music as a composer and organist of the Royal Chapel. My children liked the music a lot. I suppose it runs in a family. 29 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:22,110 In 1696 I was commissioned to compose carols for the Feast of Corpus and Lamentations for the Holy Week. 30 00:07:22,110 --> 00:07:32,110 I soon stood out in the field of zarzuela with works such as Aziz and Galatea, with a text by José de Canizares named Metamorphoses. 31 00:07:32,110 --> 00:07:37,110 It had also inspired Lulian Haende, also standing out as a composer. 32 00:07:37,110 --> 00:07:57,399 in my capacity as main violin of the royal chapel in seventeen fourteen approved the book by santiago de murcia summary of accompanying the part with the guitar 33 00:07:57,399 --> 00:08:16,250 in which he praised the harmonious variety of tones and the examples included to accompany the bass it can be said that the zenith of my career was in the 34 00:08:16,250 --> 00:08:28,110 On the occasion of a request for a salary increase in 1720, Cardinal Mendoza recognized my merits as a composer and interpreter by writing a laudatory report. 35 00:08:29,029 --> 00:08:42,710 The patriarch says that everything this musician expresses is true, and his skill so well known in composition and violin that due to these circumstances and his merit he has represented the reason for granting him a raise. 36 00:08:42,710 --> 00:08:47,710 I was given the proper salary for the best violinist in Spain. 37 00:08:47,710 --> 00:09:00,019 It can be said that the zenith of my career was in the year 1720. 38 00:09:00,019 --> 00:09:09,019 That same year I received a commission from Lisbon to compose an oratorio with an orchestra on the life of Saint Vincent, 39 00:09:09,019 --> 00:09:14,019 in order to be performed in the Cathedral Dural on January 22nd. 40 00:09:14,019 --> 00:09:25,019 That year, unwell, I wrote a Christmas carol to be sung in the Cathedral of Saint Vincent, the day before such an important premiere. 41 00:09:25,019 --> 00:09:38,090 A friend and writer Benito Geronimo Feijó described me in one of his books in 1726. 42 00:09:38,090 --> 00:09:45,090 He said that I was the only composer who would combine the strictness and majesty of the antique music with the modern music. 43 00:09:45,090 --> 00:09:54,090 The way I handled accidental points was peculiar, signs almost. Whenever I introduced them, they gave energy to the music corresponding to the meaning of the lyrics. 44 00:09:54,090 --> 00:10:05,090 Let me remind you, this was him, not me. He also said that my work possesses a high character of elevated sweetness, belonging to my nature that makes people feel tenderness. 45 00:10:05,090 --> 00:10:11,090 And last, I firmly repeat, he wrote it, not me. It doesn't matter if we were friends or not. 46 00:10:11,090 --> 00:10:20,960 I don't know, Antonio. I don't want to lie about your music. I think it's boring. 47 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:31,960 Come on, Benito. I owe you one. Besides, I'm pretty sure that I'll be popular in the future. Don't you think we should make people study about us so they get bored? 48 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:43,100 It would be nice to ruin people's lives. Can you imagine it? 30 students get in charge of listening to our names. I would hate it. Let's do it. 49 00:10:43,100 --> 00:10:50,100 Write some words that can only be understood by educated people. It will be awesome! 50 00:10:50,100 --> 00:11:09,980 By 1734 I had gained my status. I was well known, so I wasn't surprised when I was called to restore some Palatine music archives that had burned in the fire of the Alcázar of Madrid. 51 00:11:09,980 --> 00:11:16,620 of Madrid. My partner was José de Nebra and we tried to restore the music as much as we could. 52 00:11:17,580 --> 00:11:21,019 We even had to include some new music to fill in the blanks. 53 00:11:21,019 --> 00:11:23,419 I still remember the first time I met him. 54 00:11:25,980 --> 00:11:30,860 Hello, I'm José de Nebra. I'll be your partner and I'll help you with the restoration process. 55 00:11:30,860 --> 00:11:34,139 I'm a big fan of yours. Your works have left me speechless. 56 00:11:34,139 --> 00:11:42,139 Hello, José. I haven't heard of you, but I'm sure you are good enough to be with me. 57 00:11:42,139 --> 00:11:46,649 You sound self-absorbed. 58 00:11:46,649 --> 00:11:52,470 Me? No way. I love other people that aren't me. 59 00:11:52,470 --> 00:11:55,470 I don't like you. 60 00:11:55,470 --> 00:12:05,679 I don't care. In the future, students will have to write about us, and they will say that we were the best of friends. 61 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:15,570 I composed a magnificent 14 psalms and some works that were written down by José García Marcellán, 62 00:12:16,149 --> 00:12:20,669 vespers for solo voices, for all festivities, and three letter masses for all voices alone. 63 00:12:21,149 --> 00:12:27,129 In the monastery of San Lorenzo Real de Les Corial, a miserere aide is preserved with violins of my own. 64 00:12:28,009 --> 00:12:32,649 Basaltar Saldoni was so touched by my works that he said that, on some occasions, 65 00:12:32,649 --> 00:12:38,730 I surpassed the co-master of the royal chapel, José de Torres. You could say he was mad. 66 00:12:40,149 --> 00:12:44,320 How could you do this to me? 67 00:12:45,779 --> 00:12:48,700 I didn't write him to write that about you. 68 00:12:51,059 --> 00:12:53,019 Nobody will ever believe you. 69 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:57,159 Everybody with common sense knows that I write better music than you. 70 00:12:57,519 --> 00:13:00,860 If not, why do you think I'm the choir master and you aren't? 71 00:13:03,639 --> 00:13:05,240 I'm more well-known than you. 72 00:13:05,980 --> 00:13:07,639 Even Sebastian Bach knows me. 73 00:13:08,179 --> 00:13:09,879 I'm friends with his children. 74 00:13:09,879 --> 00:13:26,980 you're a monster spoiler alert i died i know a shocker i passed away on the 18th of january of 75 00:13:26,980 --> 00:13:35,080 1747 i was 73 years old so i had a pretty long life for that time i left some stuff behind like 76 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:41,700 furniture clothes and some art you know boring things however i left astral values violin which 77 00:13:41,700 --> 00:13:46,340 was made by Cremona, that is very expensive nowadays. I also had a guitar. 78 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:57,799 My life may sound perfect, but I had to live some hard moments. When my first wife died, 79 00:13:57,980 --> 00:14:04,440 I was so sad that I donated all of my furniture and clothes to poor people. However, both 80 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:09,860 my life and profession were distinguished by some triumphs, like joining the Osuna Orchestra, 81 00:14:09,860 --> 00:14:15,860 where I met José de Cañizares, with whom I later worked and produced some theatre productions. 82 00:14:16,860 --> 00:14:22,879 Above all, I was more famous because of my theatrical music. 83 00:14:22,879 --> 00:14:25,879 I worked with José de Cañizares in at least four zarzuelas. 84 00:14:25,879 --> 00:14:28,879 Overall, my life was awesome. 85 00:14:28,879 --> 00:14:32,879 I had a lot of friends, two amazing wives, and most importantly, music. 86 00:14:32,879 --> 00:14:37,879 I was glad to live in that life, and I know I was one of the lucky ones 87 00:14:37,879 --> 00:14:40,879 because not many people get to work in music. 88 00:14:40,879 --> 00:14:48,000 music. Thankfully, I made it, and I became one of the most amazing composers Spain have ever seen.