Marcel Casellas was born in Esplugues del Llobregat in 1954. He studied counterbass, tuba, harmony and counterpoint in the “Conservatori Superior de Música de Barcelona”. He also took courses in jazz and 20th century music with Enric Herrera Albert Guinovart respectively.
FUSION MUSICAL ACTIVITIES: POP, JAZZ, TRADITIONAL AND MEDITERRANEAN MUSIC:
He develops different musical activities around pop fusion, jazz, traditional and Mediterranean music. With the creation of such diverse shows and groups such as “La nit del House Aborígen” for band, cobla , and DJ's, “La Cobla dels Sons essencials” extended cobla , with which he performs “Les tibles i la Mediterrània, i Jordi Molina i la Cobla dels sons essencials”.
With the group “Estramp Jaç” he performed root’ jazz, recording an album.
The band '”Marcel Casellas i la Principal de la Nit” in which electronic music and rhythmic Catalan sounds are combined in a highly natural style has recorded 3 albums.
He is also a founding member of the folk rock music group “Mesclat” , with which he has recorded three albums.
He is the creator and conductor of the “l'Orquestra del Sons Essencials”, made up of 20 members, with sounds that are diverse yet closely associated , such as cobla, ministrers and band.
Marcel Casellas also founded the “Casellas Sextet Folk” and the “Transardània” group. He has performed with groups and in festivals through out Catalonia. Furthermore he is responsible for the artistic production of many traditional music albums: “De calaix, A manta, Els Groullers, Mirna”.
Performance, arrangement and/or production of several albums of traditional groups: “Cosins del Sac, Rahmonra, La portàtil FM, Ministrers de la Principal del metro”.
TEACHING ACTIVITIES:
Teacher at the “ESMUC”. Creator and Director of “l’Aula de Música Tradicional i Popular” (Catalan Goverment Department of Culture) for 10 years (1992-2003). Musical Director of the five first editions of the FESTCAT (Traditional Music Summer School). He created and directed the show “Sons de la Terra”, programmed in the Barcelona Auditorium, in which 30 members performed.
Composer and conductor of different pieces, such as “Vides de Picasso, l’Ànima de la Muntanya”.
He was the Director of music in “Festa de l’Aula”, in its 4 editions in the “Palau de la Musica Catalana”, in which “Cobla mediterrània, la Banda Municipal de Barcelona, la Barcelona Big Latin Band i l’Ensemble de música lleugera” participated.
Composer of “La Rambla del Colors “ Cantata, performed by children.
OTHER DIVERSE MUSICAL ACTIVITIES:
He has also worked in cinema soundtracks, composing the soundtrack for films and theatre plays. In chamber music, he has composed pieces and full works. He has occasionally conducted ‘prestigious’ orchestras such as the National Theatre in Barcelona, the Metropol Theatre in Tarragona and the “Seu Vella” in Lleida as well as conducting the “Banda Municipal de Barcelona”.
In song music, he has arranged and/or produced music for groups such as: “Mirna, Miquel Pujadó, Francec Ribera “Titot” Rosa Zaragoza, Anton Abat, Pere Codó,
Marina Rossell, Joan Isaac”. He has also featured either live or in recording with “Guillermina Mota, Ramon Muntaner, Lluís Llach.
Marcel Casellas has also written dance music. Many of these songs are performed regularly by dance or folk orchestras.
He has also composed local traditional dance music : “Ball de nans d’esplugues, Ball de Gegants d’esplugues, Entrada a plaça dels Castellers, Ball pla de Sant Esteve de Palautordera, Ball del roser de Llanars, Ball de Gegants del Baix Llobregat, Toc de la Cavalcada de Reis de Girona, Farandola de Sant Celoni, Ball de l’aniversari dels gegants de l’Agrupació gegantera de Catalunya, La cucafera de Tarragona, La Festa major de Santa magdalena, Festa de les Bruixes de Sant Feliu Sasserres”.
He has written ‘Sardanas’ for dance, concerts and for Catalan ballet.
Marcel Casellas has received many awards in recognition for his considerable career.
