(b Algemesi, 1644; d Valencia, 29 April 1712). Spanish composer. Organist at Valencia Cathedral from 1644, he represents the high point in the Iberian organ tradition begun by Cabezón. Most of his organ pieces are tientos, often a series of imitative sections on different themes employing elaborate counter-point and using the upper and lower manuals independently to give a solo character to one hand. He excelled at an unornamented form featuring sharp dissonance with unusual melodic intervals and harmonies. Eight sacred choral works also survive.

The Concise Grove Dictionary of Music. Copyright © 1994 by Oxford University Press, Inc.. All rights reserved.