Albéniz: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 8

Featuring

Miguel Baselga
Isaac Albéniz

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Compositional Technique

Isaac Albéniz began integrating Spanish melodic and rhythmic traits into his compositions during the 1880s, influenced by his experience with zarzuela and studies with Catalan composer Felipe Pedrell.

Composition History

Isaac Albéniz, the composer, was a prolific improviser, composing dozens of piano works with ease and swiftness, especially during the 1880s.

Recording & Production

The Improvisation, T115 C, on this album is a transcription of one of only three phonograph cylinder recordings made by Isaac Albéniz himself in 1903, offering a rare glimpse into his creative process.

Compositional Technique

Pianist Pola Baytleman identified four key characteristics of Isaac Albéniz's musical style: Spanish dance rhythms, cante jondo (deep singing), exotic scales like the Phrygian mode, and the transfer of guitar idioms to piano.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Isaac Albéniz's early works, often called 'salon music,' were intentionally pleasant and accessible to music lovers and talented amateurs, helping him earn income and gain recognition.

Composer Biography

During the 1880s, Isaac Albéniz, the composer, juggled roles as a piano teacher, freelance pianist, and concert promoter, alongside his composition studies and family life, to support his family.

Composition History

Cataloging Isaac Albéniz's works is challenging because he paid little attention to his early compositions, often referring to them as 'little bits of rubbish,' and publishers assigned arbitrary opus numbers and varying titles.