Presents
Isaac Albeniz
Mallorca, Op.202 for String Quartet
Mallorca, like most of Albeniz's works were for the piano, although he did write some operas. Surprisingly, his most popular works, the Suite Española Nos. 1 and 2, and the Suites España and Iberia, all for the piano are have become better known in transcriptions for the classical guitar. Similarly, Asturias, Granada, Sevilla, Cadiz, Cataluña, Cordoba, the Tango in D. and several other pieces are more familiar from performances by guitarists. Albeniz wrote Mallorca in 1890 while living in London. It was dedicated to a Miss Ellie Lowenfeld, daughter of Henry Lowenfield, who had offered Albeniz a lucrative contract to perform in England and who also arranged for the publication of his works. Mallorca is a Balearic island in the Mediterranean belonging to Spain. Albeniz chose a Barcarolle to conveythe sounds of the sea, with its calm and measured rhythm describing the gentle waters which bathe its shores.
Sadly, Albeniz wrote no chamber music, however, arrangements of several of the above mentioned works, such as Mallorca, are every bit as effective, if not more so, for an ensemble such as the string quartet as they are for the guitar. It is in this spirit that we present our arrangement of Mallorca for string quartet.
Isaac Albeniz (1860-1909) was born in the Spanish town of Camprodon in the province of Catalonia. However, he never thought of himself as Catalonian and never spoke the language. He considered himself Spanish and although raised a Catholic believed himself to be of Jewish and Moorish descent as so many in Andalusia and Catalonia were. He began to study the piano at an early age and it was quickly discovered that he was a child prodigy of the highest order. He studied piano with a series of famous teachers and pianists, including Antoine Marmortel, Reinecke and Franz Liszt. He enjoyed a career as soloist, but also as a conductor and composer. Albéniz's influence on Spanish music was profound. His activities as conductor, performer and composer significantly raised the profile of Spanish music abroad and encouraged Spanish music and musicians in his own country.
Parts: $12.95
Parts & Score: $16.95
