Euskadiko Orkestra rediscovers Vitoria-Gasteiz composer José María Sanmartín
This week, Miramon has once again been transformed into a recording studio to undertake the first symphonic recording of works by José María Sanmartín, marking the centenary of his birth and the 50th anniversary of his death. Fellow Vitoria-Gasteiz native Pablo Urbina conducts the orchestra.
Recordings are an essential part of Euskadiko Orkestra’s activity, with its discography now comprising more than 80 releases, primarily focused on Basque music. José María Sanmartín will occupy a prominent place in this catalogue, as his rediscovery represents a valuable revival of a composer who was unjustly consigned to oblivion.
Three works have been recorded as part of this project, conducted by fellow Vitoria-Gasteiz native Pablo Urbina: Suite Arabarra, an orchestral work with which he won the National Music Award in 1963; Danzas Sabbáticas, a three-movement orchestral work written one year before his death; and Cuatro piezas, originally written for string quintet and given a symphonic adaptation by composer Francisco Ibáñez Iribarria from Oion, specifically for Euskadiko Orkestra. This collection of works, written by Sanmartín at different stages of his career, will amount to around one hour of music that will become part of Álava’s musical heritage and will serve as a clear tribute from Euskadiko Orkestra to the Vitoria-Gasteiz composer.
The composer
José María Sanmartín was a pianist, organist and composer whose significant musical career had surprisingly fallen into oblivion. After completing his studies in the Álava capital with Luis Aramburu and later in Bilbao, he moved to Paris in 1953, from where he embarked on a musical journey across Europe, travelling to cities such as Berlin, Bonn, Geneva and Lyon, and receiving numerous awards and distinctions.
He studied composition under Arthur Honegger. He worked with Alfred Cortot and later continued his studies in Geneva with Marescotti and at the Technical University of Berlin with Rolof. In 1958, he was awarded a scholarship by the International Music Council of UNESCO. In 1966, he won by competitive examination a position as pianist with the Spanish Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra. He continued his career there until his premature death at the age of 50.
The tribute continues in 2027
As a continuation of the tribute Euskadiko Orkestra has sought to pay to José María Sanmartín through this recording, it is worth highlighting that at the beginning of the 2027/28 Season, the RTVE Symphony Orchestra and Euskadiko Orkestra will exchange works in their programmes. Both ensembles will perform Suite Arabarra.
Technical details
CD EDITION – MONOGRAPHIC RECORDING
José María Sanmartín Fernández de Pinedo
(Vitoria-Gasteiz, 1927 – Madrid, 1977)
Title: José María Sanmartín
Promoter: Euskadiko Orkestra
Participants: Euskadiko Orkestra, Pablo Urbina (conductor)
Record label: Sonora Estudios, Vitoria
Recording: 31 August–4 September 2026
Recording venue: Euskadiko Orkestra headquarters, Miramon
Concerts: Exchange with the RTVE Symphony Orchestra in 2027
Works:
- Suite Arabarra – Courtly and secular dances [19’]
- Contrapás
- Gavota
- Contradanza
- Minuetto-Paspié
- Burlesca
- Pastoril
- Contrapás-Pasacalle
- Danzas Sabbáticas [24’]
- Aker-Dantza
- Illargi-Betea
- Sorgiñ-Dantza
- Cuatro piezas [13’]
- Minueto
- Alleluia
- Divino espejo
- Nochebuena
