Albéniz's compositions feature rhythmic and expressive exuberance, tonal ambiguity, unexpected harmonies, and frequent alternations between major and minor keys.
Performer Biography
Guillermo González, the pianist on this recording, is a specialist in Spanish music and has published a new edition of Albéniz's Iberia, including the composer's manuscript text.
Compositional Technique
Albéniz's piano writing is unique, characterized by intense and controlled sonorities, percussive and velvety touches, and a wide palette of colors achieved through unusual chords and superimposed sound levels.
Composer Biography
Isaac Albéniz, a Spanish pianist and composer, sought international fame by performing his own compositions and those of Scarlatti in Paris in 1889.
Cultural Impact
Albéniz not only established Spanish music on an international stage but also created masterpieces that are a durable part of the piano repertoire.
Composition History
Two of Albéniz's piano works, Azulejos and Navarra, were left unfinished at his death and were later completed by his friends and pupils, Enrique Granados and Déodat de Séverac, respectively.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Albéniz's melodies are largely original; he created atmospheres and sentiments representative of Spanish people rather than borrowing directly from folklore.
