Isaac Albéniz and Folk Music in Spain Introduction
Isaac Manuel Francisco Albéniz is widely known as a piano guru whose music excellently portrays Spain’s spirit and culture. As a singer and a composer, he was able to meld performance and composition thus creating a fashionable music style similar to that of “Liszt” full of Spain folk idioms. His greatest inspiration was folklore, but he made a sole melodic style that stirred “Ravel” and “Debussy”. He had a great passion for national cultural music which enhanced originality in his musical career. He believed that culture should bring people together and should not be the basis of separating individuals. The transcription of some of his works for instance “Sevilla” and “Cataluna” was used …show more content…
His career in music started when he was only four years old. When he was seven, he wanted to join a music school at Conservatoire de Paris but was denied the chance even after passing the exams for he was thought to be very young. Isaac was accepted at Antoine-François Marmontel being a self-sponsored child. Jean in the article “The Musical Times” described him as an adventurous boy who made several attempts to run away from home. His music concert journey commenced at the age of nine years when he accompanied his father along with his sister for a tour in northern Spain (Clementine). As a young performer, he traveled all over the world and visited such places as London, Liverpool, Germany, and New York in most cases accompanying his father who was a customs’ personnel and was often required to travel much with his duties (Jean, …show more content…
He composed and wrote several pieces such as “Ludwig Van Beethoven” and “Johann Bach”. The powerful Spanish influence on Isaac was greatly felt in his music. He met Felipe Pedrell in 1883 who was a renowned collector, musicologist, and composer of folk music. Felipe mentored Isaac and stirred within him the desire to dig deep into the wealthy Spain’s music traditions. His first wealthy Spanish song is known as “Suite Espanola”. The song has very intricate as well as delicate melodic nature coupled with quick dynamic
Isaac Manuel Francisco Albéniz is widely known as a piano guru whose music excellently portrays Spain’s spirit and culture. As a singer and a composer, he was able to meld performance and composition thus creating a fashionable music style similar to that of “Liszt” full of Spain folk idioms. His greatest inspiration was folklore, but he made a sole melodic style that stirred “Ravel” and “Debussy”. He had a great passion for national cultural music which enhanced originality in his musical career. He believed that culture should bring people together and should not be the basis of separating individuals. The transcription of some of his works for instance “Sevilla” and “Cataluna” was used …show more content…
His career in music started when he was only four years old. When he was seven, he wanted to join a music school at Conservatoire de Paris but was denied the chance even after passing the exams for he was thought to be very young. Isaac was accepted at Antoine-François Marmontel being a self-sponsored child. Jean in the article “The Musical Times” described him as an adventurous boy who made several attempts to run away from home. His music concert journey commenced at the age of nine years when he accompanied his father along with his sister for a tour in northern Spain (Clementine). As a young performer, he traveled all over the world and visited such places as London, Liverpool, Germany, and New York in most cases accompanying his father who was a customs’ personnel and was often required to travel much with his duties (Jean, …show more content…
He composed and wrote several pieces such as “Ludwig Van Beethoven” and “Johann Bach”. The powerful Spanish influence on Isaac was greatly felt in his music. He met Felipe Pedrell in 1883 who was a renowned collector, musicologist, and composer of folk music. Felipe mentored Isaac and stirred within him the desire to dig deep into the wealthy Spain’s music traditions. His first wealthy Spanish song is known as “Suite Espanola”. The song has very intricate as well as delicate melodic nature coupled with quick dynamic