Classical Music | Piano Music

Recorded on 05/22/2007, uploaded on 01/19/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Cuatro Piezas Españolas            Manuel de Falla

Aragonesa; Cubana; Montanesa; Andaluza 

In 1907, after years of study in composition and piano in Madrid, Falla-then twenty-nine years old-left Madrid for Paris. He carried with him the first two pieces, plus some of the third, which would make up his set of Four Spanish Pieces.

Dedicated to Isaac Albeniz, whom he met in Paris, Falla's intention with these works was to express "in music the soul and the atmosphere of each of the regions indicated in the respective titles."  Aragonesa is a highly stylized folk dance found in most regions of Spain, but is especially typical in Aragon, in the Northeast.  Although Cuba had recently gained independence from Spain, its 400 years as a Spanish colony certainly justifies Falla's inclusion of a languorous and sunny Cubana. The alternation of 3/4 and 6/8 time evokes the seductive tones of the guarjira, a local dance.  

Montanesa is a delicate impressionistic canvass in which the mountains of Northern Spain are painted in misty hues.  It is a peaceful nocturne, with an exuberant middle section, and includes quotations of two folk songs from the Asturias region.  Finally, Andaluza is the most popular piece of the set, and the only one inspired by the syncopated rhythms, colourful guitar figurations, and sorrowful melodies of the gypsy flamenco music found throughout this southern region of Spain.  The first half of this work is based on two flamenco song/dance types, the malaguena and bulerias, of which the thematic elements combine at the climax.  Finally, the music disappears nostalgically, leaving us with only an elusive glimpse of its deeper mysteries.     Jason Cutmore

Courtesy of International Music Foundation.