Let's Play: Spanish Music!

If you missed the FANTASTIC livestream with Magdalena Stern Baczewska this past Saturday, be sure to check it out! She walked us through several centuries of Spanish music, its developments, rhythmic styles, melodic content, and much more - Quite a comprehensive event!

 

Replay:

A Journey into the world of Spanish Music (with Magdalena Baczewska)

 

So we decided it would be fun to host a "Mini Challenge" where for the next two weeks we choose a piece to work on and post our progress here!

 

If you need some suggestions about music to play, check out the livestream or this list that I have compiled! Repertoire below is considered to be on the easier side, due to the nature of this shorter challenge!

 

Repertoire Suggestions

 

Editor's Choice:

Sebastian Yradier: El Arreglito (The unknown inspiration for the famous Habanera from the opera, Carmen, by Bizet!)

Advice: Play the piano part, since it pretty much doubles the vocal part the entire time, feel free to add notes from the vocal line into piano part in the final bars!

 

Albeniz: Asturias (Leyenda)

Intermediate level piece, but one of the most famous and satisfying to play!

 

Federico Mompou:

A lesser known, but magical composer born in Barcelona! Two options below:

Impresiones intimas

Pessebres

 

Manuel De Falla: Asturiana

A haunting and gorgeous piece by this famous composer!

 

Granados 6 expressive studies

Most of his music is very difficult but these short works can prove quite interesting!

 

Hello Everyone!

If you would like to be featured on our Mini Challenge WATCH PARTY please submit a video of you playing your selected piece by May 15th!

 

Watch Party MAY 24th at 11am PT!

https://app.tonebase.co/piano/live/player/pno-watch-party-spanish-music-2023 

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    • Judith
    • Judith
    • 10 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    All

    I truly did want to play, unfortunately I fell and broke my wrist.  very frustrating, but I am hoping it will heal quickly.  Looking for music for right hand only for a while 🙂 I'll be back in a bit.  Time to watch and learn from you all.

    Like 1
      • Juan Carlos Olite
      • Philosophy teacher and piano lover
      • Juan_Carlos
      • 10 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Judith Sorry to hear it! Don't rush to play again. Wishing you a total recovery!

      Like
      • Michelle R
      • Michelle_Russell
      • 10 mths ago
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      Judith Oh, Judith! I hope you recover quickly. Take care.

      Like
    • Marc M
    • Amateur piano enthusiast
    • Marc_M
    • 10 mths ago
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    I wasn't able to record this in time for the initial watch party, but since it's been delayed, I gave it another try!

    Joaquín Turina: La Murciana Guapa, from Mujeres Espanolas Op. 73

    I learned this piece some 10 years ago. Re-learning it was relatively quick, although there are a couple technical issues I still need to iron out.

    Like 8
    • Marc M stunning! Bravo! Such a beautiful piece, and such sensitive and colorful playing. I don't believe there has been an "initial watch party" for the Spanish challenge yet, has there? Thanks for sharing. 

      Like
      • Marc M
      • Amateur piano enthusiast
      • Marc_M
      • 10 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Alexander Weymann Thank you! Turina is interesting...distinctly Spanish with a lot of Debussy-like gestures in many of his pieces. His piano writing can be pretty awkward to play, though.

      The watch party was postponed for some day next week. I don't think Dominic has set the specific date yet.

      EDIT: Thanks to Natalie for pointing out new date is May 22 at 2 PM EDT.

      Like 2
    • Marc M the date has been fixed in the "Live calendar". Here's the link for the watch party, I hope the link works:

       

      https://piano-community.tonebase.co/t/60h46s6/watch-party-exploring-spanish-music

       

      Thanks for sharing your video Marc, I have never heard anything from Turina. This piece is beautiful, and lovely playing, Marc!

      Like 1
      • Marc M
      • Amateur piano enthusiast
      • Marc_M
      • 10 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Natalie Peh Cool, thanks Natalie!

      Like 1
    • Marc What a beautiful piece, Marc! Good thing the watch party was delayed then. Great playing! 

      Like 1
    • Marc M very nice piece, flows really well and lots of Spanish flavour too 😎

      Like 1
      • Juan Carlos Olite
      • Philosophy teacher and piano lover
      • Juan_Carlos
      • 10 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Marc M Sounds beautiful, Marc! I like your freedom with the tempo.

      Like 1
      • Marc M
      • Amateur piano enthusiast
      • Marc_M
      • 10 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Juan Carlos Olite Derek McConville Sindre Skarelven Thank you!

      Like
  • Hola amigos Tonebase!

    Thank you so much for the inspiration.  I thoroughly enjoyed learning this piece!

    E Granados, 0. Preludio and IV. Marcha Oriental from Sies Piezas Sobre Cantos Populares Espanola (Six pieces on Spanish folk songs) 

    Like 6
    • Natalie Peh Beautiful playing Natalie! Very interesting pieces. You picked very nicely contrasting ones.  So glad you were able to record in time for the challenge 😊

      Like 1
    • Vidhya Bashyam thanks, Vidhya! I started by playing the Preludio and then it was calling out for something else to follow, so I chose the piece in the series that I could next most likely learn in time. Nothing to do with selecting it for cotrast, but happy it turned out that way 😆

      Like 1
      • Juan Carlos Olite
      • Philosophy teacher and piano lover
      • Juan_Carlos
      • 10 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Natalie Peh Beautiful choice and playing for the Spanish challenge, Natalie! I love Granados piano music, both romantic and popular and always a pleasure to play.

      Like 2
    • Juan Carlos Olite thanks, Juan Carlos! Before these pieces, I've only ever played Granados' Valse Poetico no 6, but I've enjoyed learning these pieces so much, I'm sure to look up his other piano pieces now!

      Like 1
    • Natalie Peh love the mysterious, haunting atmosphere of these pieces - which you bring out very well.

      Like 1
    • Alexander Weymann thanks,  Alexander! Glad you liked it!

      Like
    • Natalie Peh This is beautiful, Natalie! I’m taking notice of these pieces. Learning about so much great music here! 

      Like 1
    • Sindre Skarelven thanks, Sindre! Absolutely, I agree. It has been such a joy listening to all the wonderful pieces in the challenge, and so many ideas for pieces to play in the future.

      Like
    • Natalie Peh  Brava Natalie, nice playing! Have not heard these before from Granados, and I especially like the March Oriental. He also has another Oriental, no 2 from 12 Spanish Dances. I’m imtrigued what/where ‘Oriental’ means to the Spaniards of that time…

      Like 1
    • Ching Lee Goh thanks, Ching Lee! I didn’t know about Oriental from the Spanish dances, and may try to learn that too. I was also wondering about the oriental inspiration for this piece and trying to find hints in the music, perhaps in the bass line and also the rhythm?
       

      Just for the fun of it, I checked on what Google Bard had to say about this-

       

      The oriental influence in Marcha Oriental by Granados is evident in the use of exotic instruments, such as the sitar and the tabla, as well as the use of pentatonic scales. The piece also has a strong rhythmic feel, which is characteristic of many oriental music traditions.

      Granados was a well-traveled man, and he was exposed to a wide variety of musical influences throughout his life. He was particularly interested in oriental music, and he often incorporated elements of it into his own compositions. Marcha Oriental is one of the most well-known examples of Granados's orientalism.

      The piece was written in 1901, and it was inspired by Granados's travels to the Middle East. The title, "Marcha Oriental," literally means "Eastern March." The piece is in a fast tempo, and it has a strong rhythmic feel. The melody is simple and catchy, and it is accompanied by a variety of exotic instruments, such as the sitar and the tabla.

      Marcha Oriental is a beautiful and evocative piece of music. It is a testament to Granados's musical talent and his ability to capture the spirit of another culture. The piece is a must-listen for any fan of classical music.

      Here are some additional details about the oriental influence in Marcha Oriental:

      • The use of exotic instruments, such as the sitar and the tabla, is a clear indication of the oriental influence in the piece. These instruments are not typically used in Western music, and their inclusion in Marcha Oriental helps to create a sense of exoticism and otherworldliness.
      • The use of pentatonic scales is another characteristic of oriental music that is evident in Marcha Oriental. Pentatonic scales are scales that consist of five notes, and they are often used in folk music from all over the world. The use of pentatonic scales in Marcha Oriental helps to give the piece a sense of mystery and intrigue.
      • The strong rhythmic feel of Marcha Oriental is also characteristic of oriental music. Oriental music often has a strong beat, and this is reflected in the rhythmic pulse of Marcha Oriental. The strong rhythm helps to create a sense of energy and excitement in the piece.

      Overall, Marcha Oriental is a beautiful and evocative piece of music that is influenced by oriental music. The piece is a must-listen for any fan of classical music.

      Like 1
    • Natalie Peh the sitar and tabla are obviously wrong! But the Middle Eastern or Arabic influence is probably correct - i think more pronounced in the other Oriental. I think of the piece as a slow and seductive belly dance :)  Spain was once occupied by the Moors so perhaps that's how middle eastern inspired music ended up being part of 'Spanish dance' and 'Spanish folk song' suites ( apart from it's influence on flamenco).  My 2 cents!

      Like 1
    • Ching Lee Goh you are right! Sitar and tabla are not middle eastern at all! Maybe oud is more likely, though I have no idea what an oud sounds like! :)

      Like
    • Natalie Peh Oud is like a lute, and I can relate to that in the Oriental No 2. So much to uncover in Spanish music! 

      Like 1
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