Enrique Granados : Poet of the Piano

Enrique Granados (1867-1916) is one of the most compelling figures of the late-Romantic period in music. During his return voyage to Spain after the premiere of his opera Goyescas at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 1916, a German submarine torpedoed the ship on which he and his wife were sailing, and they perished in the waters of the English Channel. His death was mourned on both sides of the Atlantic as a stunning loss to the music world, for he had died at the pinnacle of his career, and his late works held the promise of greater things to come.Granados was among the leading pianists of his time, and his eloquence at the keyboard inspired critics to dub him the "poet of the piano." In Enrique Granados: Poet of the Piano, Walter Aaron Clark offers the first substantive study in English of this virtuoso pianist, composer, and music pedagogue. While providing detailed analyses of his major works for voice, piano, and the stage, Clark argues that Granados's art represented a unifying presence on the cultural landscape of Spain during a period of imperial decline, political unrest, and economic transformation. Drawing on newly discovered documents, Clark explores the cultural spheres in which Granados moved, particularly of Castile and Catalonia. Granados's best-known music was inspired by the art of Francisco Goya, especially the Goyescas suite for solo piano that became the basis for the opera. These pieces evoked the colorful and dramatic world that Goya inhabited and depicted in his art. Granados's fascination with Goya's Madrid set him apart from fellow nationalists Albéniz and Falla, who drew their principal inspiration from Andalusia. Though he was resolutely apolitical, Granados's attraction to Castile antagonized some Catalan nationalists, who resented Castilian domination. Yet Granados also made important contributions to Catalan musical theater and was a prominent figure in the modernist movement in Barcelona.Clark also explores the personal pressures that shaped Granados's music. His passionate affair with a wealthy socialite created domestic tensions, but it was also a source of inspiration for Goyescas. Persistent financial difficulties forced him to devote time to teaching at the expense of composition, though as a result Granados made considerable contributions to piano pedagogy and music education in Barcelona through the music academy he founded there.While Granados's tragic and early demise casts a pall over his life story, Clark ultimately reveals an artist of remarkable versatility and individuality and sheds new light on his enduring significance. Enrique Granados (1867-1916) Is One Of The Most Compelling Figures Of The Late Romantic Period In Music. During His Return Voyage To Spain After The Premiere Of His Opera Goyescas At New York's Metropolitan Opera In 1916, A German Submarine Torpedoed The Ship On Which He And His Wife Were Sailing, And They Perished In The Waters Of The English Channel. His Death Was Mourned On Both Sides Of The Atlantic As A Stunning Loss To The Music World, For He Had Died At The Pinnacle Of His Career, And His Late Works Held The Promise Of Greater Things To Come. Granados Was Among The Leading Pianists Of His Time, And His Eloquence At The Keyboard Inspired Critics To Dub Him The Poet Of The Piano. In Enrique Granados: Poet Of The Piano, Walter Aaron Clark Offers The First Substantive Study In English Of This Virtuoso Pianist, Composer, And Music Pedagogue.^ While Providing Detailed Analyses Of His Major Works For Voice, Piano, And The Stage, Clark Argues That Granados's Art Represented A Unifying Presence On The Cultural Landscape Of Spain During A Period Of Imperial Decline, Political Unrest, And Economic Transformation. Drawing On Newly Discovered Documents, Clark Explores The Cultural Spheres In Which Granados Moved, Particularly Of Castile And Catalonia. Granados's Best-known Music Was Inspired By The Art Of Francisco Goya, Especially The Goyescas Suite For Solo Piano That Became The Basis For The Opera. These Pieces Evoked The Colorful And Dramatic World That Goya Inhabited And Depicted In His Art. Granados's Fascination With Goya's Madrid Set Him Apart From Fellow Nationalists Albeniz And Falla, Who Drew Their Principal Inspiration From Andalusia. Though He Was Resolutely Apolitical, Granados's Attraction To Castile Antagonized Some Catalan Nationalists, Who Resented Castilian Domination.^ Yet, Granados Also Made Important Contributions To Catalan Musical Theater And Was A Prominent Figure In The Modernist Movement In Barcelona. Clark Also Explores The Personal Pressures That Shaped Granados's Music. His Passionate Affair With A Wealthy Socialite Created Domestic Tensions, But It Was Also A Source Of Inspiration For Goyescas. Persistent Financial Difficulties Forced Him To Devote Time To Teaching At The Expense Of Composition, Though As A Result Granados Made Considerable Contributions To Piano Pedagogy And Music Education In Barcelona Through The Music Academy He Founded There.--jacket. A Born Pianist -- The Emerging Composer -- Works For Piano In A Central European Style -- Teacher, Conductor, Organizer -- Modernisme Catalan -- Catalan Works With Texts By Apeles Mestres -- La Maja De Goya -- Goyescas -- A World Of Ideas -- Epilogo: The Legacy Of Granados. Walter Aaron Clark. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 241-254) And Indexes. Enrique Granados (1867-1916) is one of the most compelling figures of the late-Romantic period in music. During his return voyage to Spain after the premiere of his opera Goyescas at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 1916, a German submarine torpedoed the ship on which he and his wife were sailing, and they perished in the waters of the English Channel. His death was mourned on both sides of the Atlantic as a stunning loss to the music world, for he had died at the pinnacle of his career, and his late works held the promise of greater things to come. Granados was among the leading pianists of his time, and his eloquence at the keyboard inspired critics to dub him the "poet of the piano." In Enrique Granados: Poet of the Piano, Walter Aaron Clark offers the first substantive study in English of this virtuoso pianist, composer, and music pedagogue. While providing detailed analyses of his major works for voice, piano, and the stage, Clark argues that Granados's art represented a unifying presence on the cultural landscape of Spain during a period of imperial decline, political unrest, and economic transformation. Drawing on newly discovered documents, Clark explores the cultural spheres in which Granados moved, particularly of Castile and Catalonia. Granados's best-known music was inspired by the art of Francisco Goya, especially the Goyescas suite for solo piano that became the basis for the opera. These pieces evoked the colorful and dramatic world that Goya inhabited and depicted in his art. Granados's fascination with Goya's Madrid set him apart from fellow nationalists Alb?niz and Falla, who drew their principal inspiration from Andalusia. Though he was resolutely apolitical, Granados's attraction to Castile antagonized some Catalan nationalists, who resented Castilian domination. Yet Granados also made important contributions to Catalan musical theater and was a prominent figure in the modernist movement in Barcelona. Clark also explores the personal pressures that shaped Granados's music. His passionate affair with a wealthy socialite created domestic tensions, but it was also a source of inspiration for Goyescas. Persistent financial difficulties forced him to devote time to teaching at the expense of composition, though as a result Granados made considerable contributions to piano pedagogy and music education in Barcelona through the music academy he founded there. While Granados's tragic and early demise casts a pall over his life story, Clark ultimately reveals an artist of remarkable versatility and individuality and sheds new light on his enduring significance. Enrique Granados (1867-1916) is one of the most compelling figures of the late-Romantic period in music. During his return voyage to Spain after the premiere of his opera Goyescas at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 1916, a German submarine torpedoed the ship on which he and his wife were sailing, and they perished in the waters of the English Channel. His death was mourned on both sides of the Atlantic as a stunning loss to the music world, for he had died at the pinnacle of his career, and his late works held the promise of greater things to come. Granados was among the leading pianists of his time, and his eloquence at the keyboard inspired critics to dub him the'poet of the piano.'In Enrique Granados: Poet of the Piano, Walter Aaron Clark offers the first substantive study in English of this virtuoso pianist, composer, and music pedagogue. While providing detailed analyses of his major works for voice, piano, and the stage, Clark argues that Granados's art represented a unifying presence on the cultural landscape of Spain during a period of imperial decline, political unrest, and economic transformation. Drawing on newly discovered documents, Clark explores the cultural spheres in which Granados moved, particularly of Castile and Catalonia. Granados's best-known music was inspired by the art of Francisco Goya, especially the Goyescas suite for solo piano that became the basis for the opera. These pieces evoked the colorful and dramatic world that Goya inhabited and depicted in his art. Granados's fascination with Goya's Madrid set him apart from fellow nationalists Albéniz and Falla, who drew their principal inspiration from Andalusia. Though he was resolutely apolitical, Granados's attraction to Castile antagonized some Catalan nationalists, who resented Castilian domination. Yet Granados also made important contributions to Catalan musical theater and was a prominent figure in the modernist movement in Barcelona. Clark also explores the personal pressures that shaped Granados's music. His passionate affair with a wealthy socialite created domestic tensions, but it was also a source of inspiration for Goyescas. Persistent financial difficulties forced him to devote time to teaching at the expense of composition, though as a result Granados made considerable contributions to piano pedagogy and music education in Barcelona through the music academy he founded there. While Granados's tragic and early demise casts a pall over his life story, Clark ultimately reveals an artist of remarkable versatility and individuality and sheds new light on his enduring significance. Foreword by Alicia de Larrocha......Page 10 Contents......Page 16 Abbreviations......Page 18 Map of Spain......Page 19 Preludio: Renaissance......Page 22 1. A Born Pianist......Page 30 2. The Emerging Composer......Page 45 3. Works for Piano in a Central European Style......Page 67 4. Teacher, Conductor, Organizer......Page 104 5. Modernisme Catalan......Page 115 6. Catalan Works with Texts by Apeles Mestres......Page 123 7. La Maja de Goya......Page 149 8. Goyescas......Page 160 9. A World of Ideas......Page 185 Epílogo: The Legacy of Granados......Page 211 Appendix 1: Genealogy......Page 224 Appendix 2: List of Works......Page 226 Notes......Page 236 Bibliography......Page 280 G......Page 294 V......Page 295 General Index......Page 296 Enrique Granados (1867-1916) is best known for his music inspired by the art of Francisco Goya, especially the monumental Goyescas suite for solo piano. This biography examines Granados's life and music in the context of Spanish art, literature, and history, leading to a fuller understanding of his enduring significance. Enrique Granados (1867-1916) is best known for his music inspired by the art of Francisco Goya, especially the monumental Goyescas suite for solo piano. This biography examines Granados's life and music in the context of Spanish art, literature, and history, leading to an understanding of his enduring significance.