The 3 Amigos

Tres Amigos


Isaac Albeniz (1860 - 1909)

Albeniz is almost the 20th century Spanish version of Mozart. Child prodigy, making 4 year old public appearances, toured all around America before he returned to Europe at 14. But it seems that Albeniz, like Mendelssohn, didn't improve a whole lot. However, in his defense - his compositions changed dramatically after his studies with Felipe Pedrell. He is our first Spanish nationalist composer, using exotic scales, dance rhythms, Guitar Idioms (a very Spanishish thing), and wrote in the style of Cante Hondo, which was a deeper kind of song style.

Enrique Granados (1867 - 1916)

Not too much to say about this guy. He was much less nationalistis than either Albeniz or Falla. He studied composition with Filipe Pedrell as well. His real only big work was his "Goyescas," which was a sort of opera called a Zarzuela. Its a light opera which alternates with spoken drama and sung - much like recitative would in earliler. His music in generally retains elements of Romanticism in the early 20th century, and his solo piano stuff sounds like it could have been written by a Spanish Liszt or something. (well may not Liszt - but you get this idea).

I just had to put up this pic I found of Granados from wikipedia. He looks too much like Pedro from Napolean Dynamite.

He was killed when he boat was torpedoed in the English Channel during WWI.


Manuel (de) Falla (1876 - 1946)

Yes he also studied with Filipe Pedrell.

Also famous for his Zarzuelas but also his ballets. His Fantasie Baetica, which was dedicated to Artur Rubenstein is his most famous piece for solo piano. His compositional style is certainly the most "modern" of the 3 Amigos, and is evident in the Fantasie. His other important work for piano includes orchestra and is treated as a concerto titled (k)Nights in the Gardens of Spain (1909 - 1916).

Trivia - Falla's characature used to be on the Spainish currency before the Euro was introduced to Spain - Somehting else I discovered from wikipedia.