Classical Music | Piano Music

Recorded on 07/10/1991, uploaded on 02/12/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Cordoba comes from a set of pieces by Albeniz called "Songs of Spain," each one describing a different Spanish province. The slow introduction to this beautiful piece describes the stillness of a Spanish night. One moment in particular strikes me because it comes extremely close to the sound of Russian Orthodox choir music. This is apparently coincidental, although there are definitely some links between Spanish and Russian music (starting with two Spanish Overtures by Glinka). The faster part of Cordoba is like a melancholic serenade accompanied by guitar. Its victorious major key culmination is interrupted at its peak. The piece never gets all that fast, however, because Spanish music always contains a feeling of dignity and melancholy.

Dmitry Paperno

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