Draft:Joaquin Antonio Del Prado
Joaquin Antonio Del Prado | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Joaquin Antonio Estella Del Prado August 1, 2007 |
| Occupation | Musician • Composer |
| Known for | Modern Freelance Composer / Conductor |
| Height | 5'4 |
| Title | Philippine Waltz Prince |
| Website | https://youtube.com/@delprado0801?si=eLIFyp6v6lwwbu7C |
Joaquin Antonio Del Prado
[edit]Joaquin Antonio Estella Del Prado (born August 1, 2007) is a Filipino and Spanish composer and conductor who was known for his title as the "Philippine Waltz Prince." In addition to waltzes, he composed multiple songs and a string quartet at the age of 16.
Biography
[edit]Joaquin Del Prado was born in Parañaque, Metro Manila, in 2007. He first started learning a little of the piano with his mom when he was 4, but after her death in 2013, Del Prado stopped completely, not until 2020, when he moved to Tagaytay and started to pick up the piano once more. He soon became a student at the Yupangco Music Academy and also became the youth's choir conductor at Saint Andrew the Apostle Church in 2022. During the same year, he composed his first composition, entitled Bailando en Luna Oscura (Del Prado Waltz no. 1 in D minor DP no. 1), which he dedicated to his Eternal Beloved. By 2023, he was noticed by the people of Barangay Valenzuela and was given the title of "Prince of Philippine Waltzes" because of his blood relations with the Filipino composer Jose A. Estella.
By the 12th of March, 2024, is when Del Prado starts working a lot more; by this time he'd publish his 3rd Cantada in E Flat Minor called "Ay Por Que, Angela," and his 6th Cantada in E Flat Major entitled "La Doncella RomantiKa" dedicated to his girlfriend.
although one of his most stressful memories in composing was on April 15, 2024, when he started composing his first string quartet. Originally, it was supposed to be called "The Family Quartet," but things escalated in his private life, and on May 14, 2024, he published the first movement of the string quartet as "The Lonely Quartet." the final movement of the quartet was finally published on June 8, 2024, but then 3 months later published the full composition from movement 1 - 4 on September 26, 2024 as an Anniversary of his composing journey.
Back in March 2024, he'd promised his Beloved to write a serenade, but his genuine being as a workaholic perfectionist kept him from publishing nor even finishing it. He explained to his friend Zack that "I don't want to give my beloved something half-assed. I want to give her the stars, the moon, and the sun. Not some crappy-looking piece of junk that can possibly sound like anything but love." It took him 7 months to finally be satisfied with the serenade and published it on October 9th, 2024, with the title "Lirio-The Lily Serenade. " he called it that, because his Beloved's favorite flowers are lilies.
On Dec. 14, 2024, he and his friend were invited to listen to a small concert gathering called Himig Pasko, which featured the Manila Symphony Jr. Orchestra, Katrina Poblador, and Jed Marcelo. That day he met the conductor and professional violinist, Maestro Jeffrey Solares. There he'd begin to form a plan to perform his first string quartet with an actual group of musicians in a concert hall.
Sadly, Del Prado's life hit a horrible downfall on November 21, 2024. He'd begin to spiral onto his works, composing more and more by the day. His frustration and sadness could be heard in his works. One of them is his Bagatelle No. 12, to which he entitled Mi Cien Adios. When it was published, he explained that "The work is a poignant piano composition that I've composed that delves into the emotional aftermath of a horrible event. It captures the bittersweet struggle of letting go while still yearning for a love that lingers in every note. The melody is a delicate interplay between longing and silence, with moments of tender remembrance juxtaposed against the weight of unspoken pain. This piece evokes the ache of missing someone deeply, the lingering sound of their voice in memory, and the quiet turmoil of saying goodbye a hundred times over, yet never truly letting go." Since then, he'd fall under a serious set of struggles and thoughts of suicide. Through his music, Del Prado seeks not only to confront his own pain but also to connect with others who may be navigating similar challenges. By laying bare his vulnerabilities, he hopes to remind others that they are not alone and that beauty and meaning can emerge even from the darkest places. Despite the shadows that threaten to consume him, he continues to channel their emotions into art, transforming his pain into something transcendent.
Notable works
[edit]Bailando en Luna Oscura
It was composed in July 2022. A waltz-like lullaby composed and dedicated to Del Prado's beloved RomantiKa. This is Del Prado's first ever composition. A week after he composed it, he got a call from his aunt explaining to him that he was indeed related to the composer Jose A. Estella. La Dama y La Blanca Flor
Composed in 2022, it is a duet for piano and violin, based on the poem La plaza tiene una torre by the Spanish poet of 1875–1939, Antonio Manchado. Del Prado then remade the piece and published it on YouTube in 2024.
La Femme en Violette ( The Woman in Violet )
This was one of Del Prado's other works. an unfinished opera based on a story written by his friend, Alana N. Takeda. The story is about a man named Alexander who falls in love with a woman named Cecilia. The love fell apart when Cecilia's abusive lover Oliver found out and decided to execute her. The opera ends with Cecilia being beheaded by the guillotine.
La Plaga Danzante
Composed on May 25, 2024, it's a frenzy dance that captures the restless dancing of the composition's program. The program of the piece is the Plague of 1518, simply known as The Dancing Plague.
El soldado borracho
A Russian military march was composed on April 2, 2024. a piece of music that pokes fun at Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Del Prado composed this military march as a learning tool and a piece of music that pokes fun at Russia's invasion.
Other Works
[edit]- A mi amada Muerte ( Del Prado Waltz no.9 in B flat Minor DP no.29 ) • Zephaniah ( Del Prado Bagatelle in B flat Major DP no.49 ) • Nacimiento del Melancólico ( Del Prado Bagatelle no.8 in C minor DP no.46 )
- Tirso, una vez mas! ( DelPrado Cancion Poetica para ser Cantada in E Flat Major, Cantada No.7 DP no.30 )
- El Maleficio ( Del Prado Cancion poetica para ser cantada in E flat Minor Cantada no.8 DP no.33 )
- La Doncella RomantiKa ( Del Prado Cancion poetica para ser cantada in E Flat Major Cantada No.5 DP no.26 ) • El Diablo Enmascarado ( Del Prado Waltz no.13 in G Minor DP no.48 )
- El Vals Prometido ( Del prado Waltz no.8 in B flat Minor DP no.27 )
- Ay! Por que, Angela? ( Del Prado Cancion poetica para ser cantada in E Flat Minor DP no. 21 Cantada no.3 ) • The Rain Before my Love ( Del Prado Waltz no.12 in B flat Major DP no.47 )
- Historia de Amor ( Del Prado Waltz no.7 in G minor DP no.20 )