Biography
Paulo Vaz de Carvalho graduated in law from the University of Coimbra, in 1981. Between 1983 and 1984 he carried out studies of guitar in the Musikhochschule of Viena, oriented by Luize Walker. Between 1984-86 he studied in the the Aulnay-Sous-Bois Conservatory under the orientation of Raymon Gratien and did private studies with Roberto Aussel. In 1994 he finished his mastership in with a dissertation on “António da Silva Leite, Aspetos Selecionados da Vida e Obra”(Selected Aspects of His Life and Work). In 2005 he finished his doctorate on the theme “Pensamento Polifónico na Didática da Guitarra, do séc. XVII ao séc. XX”, in the University of Aveiro. He presented studies in congresses and meetings in different domains of the Performance in the University of Aveiro: “Novas Texturas Sonoras em Guitarra” (New Sonorous textures Guitar), Jorge Peixinho; Tocar l´oiseau lyre: fantasias que um título consente” (To play “L´oiseau lyre: phantasies allowed by a same topic”); “The Rules and Phantasies in the Transcription and Interpretation of Early Music in the Guitar”; “Tablatura and Scordatura, Renewing in Music”. In what concerns Organology he presented the projects “Tidal Organ”, Lira Mundi” and “Empirical observation of ressonance boxes aiming the balance between treble and bass sounds in the guitar”; “Guitarpa, experimental instrument to evaluate the sonorous effects by changing the incision angle of the strings on the resounding board”. He participated, solo or in groups, in festivals of guitar, both in Portugal and abroad. He played as a guitar solist with the orchestras Camarata Musical do Porto, Regie Sinfonia do Porto, Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa, Orquestra do Norte e Filarmónica das Beiras. In the area of Improvisation and Composition he directed recitals such as “Retratos e Paisagens”(Portraits and Sceneries”) for instrumental ensemble on poems by Miguel Torga; “De Mil Amores”, for voices and instruments; “Requiem Laico for Paquito Cardinali” for soprano, narrator and instrumental ensemble. He participated in several recordings: “Uberleben”, by Erika Pluhar; “Heart”, by Isabel Soveral; Choral Music by Fernando Lopes Graça in “Quatro Visitações a Manuel Mendes”, “Retratos e Paisagens” e “Triângulo do Atlântico”. He mastered Acting Workshops with the theatre groups “A Escola” and “Urze”, to apply his stage music. Paulo Vaz de Carvalho is presently a Professor in the areas of Guitar, Techniques and Literature of Guitar and Chamber Music in the Department of Communication and Art of the University of Aveiro.
