Isaac Albéniz: Spanish Nationalism, Piano Masterpieces, and Music History
Isaac Albéniz: Life, Travels, and Nationalist Style
Isaac Albéniz was born in 1860 in Camprodon, province of Girona. He was a child prodigy on the piano at age four and made his first concert at the Teatre Romea de Barcelona.
He spent almost all his life traveling. At eight years old, he ran away from home and dedicated himself to playing music in Castellón. At 12, he went to Andalusia, where he took a boat that led him to Buenos Aires. Afterward, he traveled to Cuba and the U.S., visiting New York and San Francisco.
Returning to Spain at 15, King Alfonso XII awarded him a scholarship to study in Brussels. He traveled to Budapest to visit Franz Liszt, a virtuoso composer admired by the young Albéniz. He conducted several tours of Europe and America.
In 1885, he settled in Madrid, where he contacted the teacher and composer Pedrell, who advised him and introduced him to the nationalist music style. He toured Spain and Europe, becoming famous and known as “El Español.”
In 1893, Albéniz settled in Paris and devoted himself to composition, contacting important composers. He created his most important works, such as Songs of Spain and the Iberia Suite (1905–1909). He died ill in 1909 in Cambo-les-Bains, a village in the French Pyrenees.
Historical Context Timeline (1860–1909)
- 1860: Albéniz Born
- 1865: Jules Verne publishes From the Earth to the Moon
- 1873: Jules Verne publishes Around the World in 80 Days
- 1874: King Alfonso XII of Spain (Restoration)
- 1876: Birth of Manuel de Falla
- 1884: Gaudí: La Sagrada Familia
- 1885: First skyscraper built in New York
- 1886: Death of Franz Liszt
- 1905: Iberia Suite begins composition
- 1908: Domènech i Montaner completes the Palau de la Música Catalana
- 1909: Albéniz Dies
Albéniz’s Artistic Legacy
Albéniz composed in all kinds of genres but specialized in piano production. He is considered one of the most important composers of Spanish nationalism because his works evoke the rhythms and melodies of Spanish folk music. The themes of his works are usually related to specific areas of Spain. His music stresses the expressive strength of its melodies.
Key Works: Asturias (Leyenda)
Asturias (Leyenda) is a piece written for piano that is part of the Suite Española, Op. 47. A suite is a work composed of different parts, where each piece often evokes a specific place in Spain (e.g., Granada, Catalonia, Aragon).
Musical Dynamics and Intensity
The intensity of sound, whether strong or weak, relates to musical dynamics, such as a crescendo (gradual increase in volume).
Electronic Instruments and Modern Music
Electronic instruments are those in which the sound is generated and amplified using electrical impulses. In the early 20th century, musicologists Curt Sachs and Eric Hornbostel expanded the categories of instrumental families to include electronic instruments.
Classification and Examples
The most common electronic instruments are synthesizers and samplers:
- The synthesizer creates sound electronically through various filters and waveforms.
- The sampler uses part of an acoustic sound recording, which it then modifies using techniques similar to synthesis.
These instruments were introduced massively in rock and pop in the 1970s and have since entered concert halls.
The Ondes Martenot
Another notable electronic instrument is the wave generator Ondes Martenot, invented in 1928 by the French engineer and musician Maurice Martenot. Its unique sounds have been featured in many movies, especially science fiction films.
Definition of Coda
A coda is a fragment, usually not too long, found at the end of a piece, which serves as a concluding section.
Mike Oldfield and Tubular Bells
Mike Oldfield (born 1953 in Great Britain) is known for his eclectic music, which draws influence from pop, ethnic music, and rock. His compositions incorporate both acoustic instruments and electronic synthesizers. His seminal work, Tubular Bells (released 1973), was famously used in the soundtrack for the film The Exorcist.