He studied with the musician Josep Abarcat and entered the Conservatory of the Liceu opera house, probably around 1883. He met Antoni Nicolau (1858-1933), another musician, who had a big influence on his education and training.

When he finished his studies he started work as a piano teacher at the same conservatory and a few years later taught at the Barcelona Municipal School of Music. He gained recognition as a concert pianist and also as a composer of lieder and instrumental music.

He became director of the Barcelona Musical Association in 1902 and as a conductor helped to broaden the classical music repertory. In 1910 he founded the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra and became well known throughout Spain and also in Germany. After conducting his works with orchestras in Berlin, in 1914 he was appointed conductor of the Barcelona Municipal Band, which he completely remodelled and brought up to international standard. In 1917 he was made director of the Liceu Conservatory. At the end of his career, in 1942, he went to Valencia, where he founded and conducted the Municipal Orchestra.