70805 for PDF 11/05 - Ivory Classics

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Earl Wild Plays Spanish and French Gems Music by Albéniz, Debussy, Falla, Granados, Mompou, Moszkowski and Ravel Manuel de Falla (1876-1946) n Danza del molinero (“Miller’s Dance”) from El sombrero de tres picos (“Three Cornered Hat”) n Danza ritual del fuego (“Ritual Fire Dance”) from El amor brujo Commenting on Spanish music, and his own contributions to it in particular, Manuel de Falla once stated, “Our music must be based on the natural music of our people, on the dances and songs that do not always show close kinship… It has occasionally been asserted that we have no traditions. We have, it is true, no written traditions; but in our dance and our rhythm we possess the strongest traditions that none can obliterate. We have the ancient modes which, by virtue of their extraordinary inherent freedom, we can use as inspiration dictates.” Manuel de Falla was born in Cadiz, Manuel de Falla Spain, November 23, 1876. After preliminary studies with his mother and several local teachers, Falla entered the Madrid Conservatory. There he was profoundly influenced by two teachers, the composer Felipe Pedrell and the pianist José Tragó. He graduated from the Conservatory with highest honors and in 1905 won first prize for La Vida Breve, in a competition among Spanish composers sponsored by the Academy of Fine Arts in Madrid. He visited Paris in 1907 and was so intoxicated by its musical life that he spent the next seven years in that grand city. There – 2 –
he met Debussy, Dukas, Ravel, Fauré, Satie, Schmitt and Roussel. Upon his return to Spain in 1914 he embarked on an extensive tour, eventually settling in Granada. He composed El Amor Brujo in 1915, and one year later, the Nights in the Gardens of Spain. As a result of a commission by Serge Diaghilev, Falla composed “The Three Cornered Hat,” which became one of the most successful ballets produced by the Ballet Russe. During the Spanish Civil War, Falla, who was intensely religious, allied himself with the Franco forces. He saw in the nationalist movement a balance to the anti-religious activities that had been taking place throughout Spain. However, support eventually gave way to disenchantment, and Falla, in ailing health, chose to expatriate himself. Falla died in Alta Garcia, in the province of Córdoba, Argentina, on November 14, 1946. The Danza del molinero (“Miller’s Dance”) is one of Falla’s most enchanting and popular pieces. It is the sixth section of the ballet El sombrero de tres picos (“The Three Cornered Hat”). The story for this ballet is a simple one. A young miller’s wife attracts the lusty attentions of the local Governor, who, in order to assure the success of his advances, jails the miller. The miller’s wife entices the Governor with a seductive dance to a nearby bridge where due to his excitement he tumbles into the water. Surviving the fall he goes to the miller’s house to dry himself and taking off his clothes he makes himself at home in the miller’s bed. To revenge himself, the freed miller steals the Governor’s clothes. The Miller’s Dance is a fiery farrucca (a Spanish flamenco dance of gypsy origin). Falla’s ballet was first performed at the Alhambra Theatre in London on July 22, 1919 with choreography by Leonide Massine. The curtain, scenery, and costumes of the Russian Ballet’s production were all designed by none other than Picasso. Manuel de Falla composed El Amor Brujo in 1915 for a gypsy singer and dancer named Pastora Imperio, whose mother had told the librettist, Martínez Sierra, the story on which he built his scenario. It is the story of Candelas, a gypsy girl of passionate propensities, who was once in love with an evil but irresistible man who died a violent death. Her new lover, named Carmelo, is much more worthy of her love. But Candelas is superstitious, and every time Carmelo draws near she feels the ghostly presence of her departed lover and shrinks away in fear and trembling. Carmelo, who knew the dead man, reasons that the specter must be attacked at its weakest point. The dead man had been jealous, but he had also been unfaithful. – 3 –
Page 4 and 5: Ingeniously, then, Carmelo induces
Page 6 and 7: Claude Debussy (1862-1918) n4 Refle
Page 8 and 9: Enrique Granados (1867-1916) n7 And
Page 10 and 11: children (a daughter who died short
Page 12 and 13: very much like to be music itself.
Page 14 and 15: Earl Wild Biography Earl Wild is a
Page 16: Music by Albéniz, Debussy, Falla,

70805 for PDF 11/05 - Ivory Classics

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