Isaac Albéniz
Asturias

About Asturias

Artistic renaissance of the iberic regional music heritage

In the 19th century, Spain re-discovered its own rich, and various musical traditions. Isaac Albéniz, the Catalonian, gained his inspiration evidently from these folkloristic sources, and his Suite Española (originally for piano) is probably the first testimony of this artistic renaissance of the iberic regional music heritage. The eight pieces of this youth composition (Albéniz was 20 years old) are dedicated to cities, and regions, as well as to popular dances or other evocating situations. It was premiered by the composer himself on January 24, 1886.

Asturias corresponds to Prelude no. 1 from Cantos de España (Songs from Spain), which is a more appropriate title for the work. This thoroughly Andalusian piece somehow evokes Chopin, despite its purely guitaristic conception. It has always been a favourite among the great performers of this very Spanish instrument, through Andres Segovia’s immortal transcription for guitar. The key of G minor denotes an evocative atmosphere which unfolds in «Allegro ma non troppo» in 3/4 time.