Creation in Context | Torroba | Suite Castellana: Fandanguillo

Federico Moreno Torroba wrote Suite Castellana in 1926. It is based on a dance, but it isn't overtly happy. Instead of celebration, the explosive energy lends itself to making a great deal out of ordinary toil, a tale of people existing on the precipice of change, immersed in the unremarkable mundanity of life that has yet to be chewed up by the gears of history.

This was the time of Primo de Rivera, who strived to bring Spain back into the hands of 'true patriots', claiming that politicians had ruined Spain and that the nation could be restored by governing without them.

It was a time of the Rif War (Guerra del Rif), fought from 1921 to 1926 between the occupying colonialists of Spain and the Berber tribes of northern Morocco. A young Franco began his political journey in the theatres of war in Africa.

Performing the piece, there are images of dry terracota soil, farmers toiling, people living basically, at times precariously close to the edge of hardship, but with a regular rhythm to life. Hopefully, these simple routines were fulfilling enough.

No doubt there was time for a fiesta.

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#classicalmusic #guitar #history #spain #flamenco #sliceoflife

[davidnorton]

Nice commentary. Who is the performer?