WEEK 4: Homenaje a la Guitarra
Welcome to the Main Thread for the fourth week of our musical Journey to Spain!! This is the place to share submissions of the fourth week!
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↓ HAPPY PRACTICING, HAPPY SHARING ↓
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I wasn't able to upload the video file, because it is apparently too large. So here is the audio section only. When I was a kid, my father and I used to listen to Alicia De Larrocha play all the Granados Spanish Dances and my little sister learned the piece on piano while I sat with her on the bench.
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I'm running out of time, so today I'm going to post two pieces. They are rather similar, coming from the same book.
Rafael Marin – Peteneras
With this, I’m venturing out into a new arena (a bit). Marin was a flamenco guitarist from Sevilla. He taught in Madrid and published a flamenco method in 1902, that has apparently been very influential in the world of flamenco guitar. I am not a flamenco guitarist at all, but this Peteneras seems to sound okay with classical technique.
Peteneras is a song and dance style that alternates 6/8 and 3/4 time. The rhythm goes 1-2-3 1-2-3 1-2 1-2 1-2. It is very slow and sad, and according to superstition, brings bad luck to anyone who interprets it (but I think you are safe if you just listen to it).
Julián Arcas – Solea y ¡Ole!
Arcas (1832-1882) is perhaps the most important Spanish guitarist of the nineteenth century prior to Francisco Tárrega. Arcas collaborated with Antonio Torres in the design of his groundbreaking guitars, and was also a major influence on the young Tárrega.
Much of Arcas’ music has a strong Spanish character to it, and is often based on popular Spanish dances. This particular one is a flamenco dance called the Solea. It is a very expressive and emotional dance in 3/4. I found this piece in the flamenco method book of Rafael Marin mentioned above. The short "¡Ole!" that follows it is in double-time.
Tomorrow, I'll post another piece by Arcas.