La Guitarra Poética (Stephen Marchonda, Guitar)

Enrique Granados (1867-1916) explored the Romantic nature of Spain, writing virtuosic piano pieces that celebrate regional dances and styles of that country’s folk idioms. Guitar virtuoso Stephen Marchionada has transcribed the composer’s Danzas espanolas (Spanish Dances, Op. 37) so that the Catalan rhythms and energy of flamenco and Andalusian colors exhibit their poetic and sensuous spirit. Though Granados spent most of his life in Barcelona, hisSpanish Dances, Op. 37 were conceived in Paris, somewhat influenced by contemporary composers Ravel and Debussy. The 1893-94 Eight Poetic Waltzes reveal the influence of Romantic composers Schumann and Chopin, both of whom found music responsive to elements from literature. The two pieces, La Maja de Goya and El Mirar de la Maja, derive from Granados’ fascination with the paintings of Francisco Goya, whose depictions of the “colorful woman,” who is both brazen and desirable, appealed to the composer’s desire to portray in music a personage of Romantic danger, perhaps carrying a dagger hidden beneath her skirt. These two items wereoriginally two songs from a cycle called Tonadillas.