Suite española op.47
Suite española op. 47 is a suite by the Spanish composer Isaac Albéniz (1860–1909) from 1886. It pays homage to famous regions and cities of his homeland: Granada , Cataluña , Seville , Cádiz , Asturias , Aragón , Castilla and Cuba . The first edition contained only the titles Granada , Cataluña , Seville and Cuba , the remaining titles were published later, sometimes under different names. In summary, all eight titles were published by Hofmeister Verlag in 1912. Hofmeister also gave the numbering Opus 47 , which, however, is not chronologically indicative of Albéniz's works, as these were randomly assigned by Albéniz and the publisher.
The work differs in character and complexity from Albéniz's piano cycle Iberia (1905-08).
The full name of the title contains the name of the region, with the musical form of the piece in brackets.
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Granada (serenade)
The suite opens with this Serenata in F major , Allegretto , 3/8 time .
Cataluña (Courante)
Cataluña , the composer's homeland, is the shortest piece in the suite and features a short dance in G minor . The B part of the piece is in C major .
Seville (Sevillanas)
G major , Allegretto , 3/4 time. Individual quarters are divided into dotted lines or broken down into triplets . The shift into the median in E flat major with a simultaneous expansion of the piano movement has a harmonious effect . A copla (nostalgic cantilena in the center) in C minor provides the calm contrast.
Cadiz (Saeta)
The port city of Cádiz is a Saeta (span .: arrow) in D flat major , Allegretto, ma non troppo dedicated 3/4-time. The Canto is in C sharp minor .
Asturias (Leyenda)
The former kingdom of Asturias is given a Leyenda (legend) in a rapid Allegro in G minor . Like a toccata , both hands alternate with only one tone in continuous sixteenth notes , which is occasionally octaved. The short middle section is determined by the dominant D major and also strikes at the beginning of the measure with octaves and chords . The piece begins with a recapitulation .
Aragon (Fantasia)
The other former kingdom of Aragón is a fantasy . It is composed in a two-bar phrased 6/8 time.
Castilla (Seguidilla)
Castile is dedicated to a Seguidilla in F sharp major , Allegro , 3/4 time. The middle section, which first plays in F sharp minor , then in C major, does not have its own melody, but instead wraps that of the A frame in a new setting (four-part, on organ point "F sharp") or increases it through passionate repetition and shortening until The recapitulation of Part A on distinctive accompanying syncopation (F sharp major) is reached via a fortissimo passage.
Cuba (Notturno)
Cuba , under Spanish rule until the Spanish-American War in 1898, concludes the suite. The former colony is given a notturno in the style of a habanera .
Performers
A reference recording of the original piano version of the suite exists by Alicia de Larrocha .
Transcriptions
For guitar
The suite española is a popular piece for guitarists due to its easy transcription facility . The first arrangements for guitar were played by Albéniz contemporaries Francisco Tárrega and Miguel Llobet , followed by a very successful version by Andrés Segovia around 1924 . Later, John Williams , Pepe Romero , Manuel Barrueco and Julian Bream recorded their own interpretations.
For orchestra
There is also a transcription for orchestra by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos , recorded by the New Philharmonia Orchestra under Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos. In his transcription, Frühbeck de Burgos replaced "Cuba" with "Córdoba" from the "Cantos de España" (op. 232 by Albéniz).
Trivia
The piece Asturias is probably the most famous of the suite because of its high recognition value and drama and is often used as background music (e.g. in Right in the Night by Jam & Spoon ).
Web links
- Suite española : Sheet music and audio files in the International Music Score Library Project
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- ^ Stanley Yates: "Albeniz's Leyenda," accessed February 7, 2013
- ↑ see Decca SXL 6355 (cover text)