Overview
Introduction
Joaquín Turina was nearing his 50th year when he composed the first set of the charming piano miniatures Danzas gitanas, Op. 55, in 1930 -- the same year he was appointed to the faculty of the Madrid Conservatory. But there is nothing "middle-aged" about the Danzas gitanas, unless it be the experienced suavity of their textures and tunes: the music seems on the contrary quite young, quite vivacious.
The first of the five dances of Op. 55, Set 1, depicts a "Zambra," which is a traditional party complete with dancing and flamenco music. An eight-measure Adagio introduction sets the stage for the Allegretto quasi andantino body of the movement and its incessant gallop rhythm. No. 2 is a "Danza de la seducción"; bearing the title in mind, the reader is invited to draw his/her own conclusions about the way the lithe, sizzling melody spins around hot A major chords during the central portion. "Danza ritual," No. 3, is an Andante that shares many basic musical elements with the previous dance: again there is an opening treble melody, developing a soft harmonic cushion, a throbbing, pulsing broken-chord passage in the middle, and again the traditional three-part song form. But the feel of the music is altogether different; tempered, stoic tradition, not sweet seduction, is offered here. The first set of Danzas gitanas also features a number called "Generalife" -- a molto vivo, 3/8 time moto perpetuo that is punctuated by a crashing, hemiola-filled "polo gitano" idea.
Parts/Movements
- Zambra
- Danza de la seducción (Dance of Seduction)
- Danza ritual (Ritual Dance)
- Generalife
- Sacro-monte
