The eighteenth-century music scene represented one of the golden ages of Asturian and Spanish music, coinciding with a period of exceptional brilliance in the wake of the changes brought about by the ideas of the Age of Enlightenment and resulting in an unprecedented outpouring of musical activity.

As during previous centuries, the main musical centres were still the music chapels of cathedrals, collegiate churches and monasteries, where the most important composers of the time carried out their work. It was precisely at the music chapel of the cathedral of Oviedo that one of the most outstanding composers in the history of Asturian and Spanish music received his training: Ramón Garay, born in Avilés in 1761.

Despite being one of the most influential authors of his time, the majority of the great musical heritage left by Ramón Garay has been totally neglected. Recovering and studying the human and musical personality of this Asturian composer is therefore an endeavour of the utmost importance.

Dr Paulino Capdepón Verdú
University Professor
Faculty of Ciudad Real