Isaac ALBÉNIZ (1860-1909)

irtuoso pianist, composer and conductor Isaac Albéniz was one of the foremost composers of the Post-Romantic era. Transcriptions of many of (Leyenda), , , , , and Tango in D, are important pieces for classical guitar, though he never composed for the instrument. His rarely-performed four-piece suite, Op 201, was composed in 1892. : There are many different playing styles to master in this tricky but effective piece. At the start, the two-bar staccato quaver passages in both hands require a light, bouncy touch; notice how the hands and fingers barely need to move. Yet just two bars later they are required to dart all over the keyboard – and in a legato fashion, too. At bar 9, make the most of the glorious bell-like LH bass note A, over which the RH chords should sing sweetly, and at bar 29, bring out the passionate LH melody. A new section appears at bar 41, and it’s the LH again that carries the melody. The opening material returns at bar 60, followed by a brief coda which brings all of the textures of the piece – both staccato and legato – to a poignant close.