MANUEL DE FALLA

My thanks go to George Pollen for the photograph.

1876 --- 1946

One of the composers who stand as one of the first of Spanish music is Manuel De Falla, who was born in Cadiz in 1876. He is perhaps one of Spain's most important composers of this century. One of his first great works was a two act prize winning opera "La Vidabreve", this appeared about a year before that of "Iberia",, but this was done in a more restrained way with less feeling.

His next works included four spanish pieces for the piano completed in 1909 and then Siete Canciones in 1912 and it is with these and other works that established De Falla name as a composer.
He did not really reach his full maturity until he had completed his work of Nights in the Gardens of Spainin 1916 and then he followed this up with two ballets El Amor Brujo and The Three Cornered Hat in 1919.
It was two years after its operatic debut that De falla reworked the piece for Diaghilev as a ballet which was choreography by Massine. One of his last works was El Retablo de Maese Pedro in 1923, which was a one act opera for three voices and a small Orchestra based on a chapter from Don Quixote and a Harpsichord Concerto for small Orchestra completed in 1928, which opened new horizons and where undoubtedly masterpieces of Spanish Musical style, which have now become international in stature.

Very nearly all of De Falla's works achieved a polished precision and each responds to the demands of its genre, exploiting to the full the instrumental means employed.

Take for example his Concerto and Retablo both achieved great power through fullness of tone, even if the instrumentals are on a small scale.
One of De Falla most ambitious work for chorus, soloists and orchestra was Atlantida but was left unfinished, but it is different from his other works is that it lacks De Falla normal characteristic polish.

Last Updated on 13th November 1999
By Reg

And now for the Music

I like to thank Tony Matthews for donating & sequencing te following piece, TONY, email him to let him know what you think.

(2297)"Ritual Fire Dance" beautifully done. Sequenced by Tony Matthews.

The following music was expertly created by MARK, email him to let him know what you think.

(701) "Ritual Fire Dance" El Amor Brujo. Large file please click here for pkunzip.exe. Beautifully sequence by Mark Anthony Williams

I like to thank Victor Waldo for the following piano music.

(635) "The Miller's Dance" and is from his suite "El Sombrero de tres picos" ("The Three-Cornered Hat")Info kindly supplied by Karina Liley. Seq by ?

(636)"Allegro from Seuidille" (Info kindley supplied by George Pollen). Sequenced by Steve Hopkins

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