Alexandre Rey Colaço: Duas Danças Populares Espanholas (Two Spanish popular dances)

1 - Jota; 2 - Seguidilha
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------­-----------------------
Alexandre (Jorge Maria Idalécio Raimundo) Rey Colaço (1854-1928) was a leading Portuguese pianist and composer of the late 19th and early 20th century, and, although he spent some time studying in Europe, he was based in Lisbon from 1887, and was professor of piano at the conservatory there. If these dances are representative of his other work, he must have been a composer of considerable subtlety and originality - maybe a Portuguese Albeniz. The concentrated invention in these short dances almost puts one in mind of the late Beethoven bagatelles, and, without having the opportunity to hear Michael Habermann's 1980s recording, I worked on the pieces for some time before feeling that I had sufficient understanding of the idiom! The Seguidilha can be repeated in its entirety, but I have chosen to play it just once.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------­------------------------------------------------------------
Played by Phillip Sear
http://www.psear.co.uk

Category:

Music

Tags:

• piano
• classical
• Portuguese
• Portugal

[jannarta]

The Jota I know from the 60s and it was often incorporated into dance routine by ANTONIO La Musica Espanola but the Seguidiha is fresh to me ; They are as you say step changes whilst the dancers take up new positions on the floor.

Well Done.Jannarta.

[PSearPianist]

Thank you. These are very 'arty' arrangements!

[Babejuda]

Bravo! Wonderful playing. It is hard not only because of the 'dancerism' of its nature, but also because one has to work hard on "understanding of the idiom", as you said in your info.

[PSearPianist]

Thank you. I can quite believe that other performances could vary a lot from mine in tempo and expression, but I hope I followed the composer's instructions!

[TilanusCommodor]

I could really imagine this as a dance, however, I know that some composers composed 'dances' which were not made for dancing. Is this one of these compositions? Cause there seem to be a much of staccatos in it.

[PSearPianist]

You could never dance to these - the dances are really just starting points for improvisatory pieces. The composer puts in lots of small tempo changes and expressive effects.

[TilanusCommodor]

I noticed. :D

[PSearPianist]

I'm glad you enjoyed them!

[Octavin2]

awesome