For weeks now, I have been promising the 6th grade a post on Spanish and Mexican music to reward them for all their hard work on Carmen, Carmela.
"Carmen, Carmela" (sometimes simply called "Carmen") is an early folk tune that is popular throughout Mexico. The rhythm originated from the Cuban habanera dance and became popular in Spain during the nineteenth century, inspiring numerous European composers to employ this syncopation in their works. The most well-known use of the habanera is heard in Bizet's opera "Carmen."
Many composers have used this habanera rhythm in their works, and many composers have used Bizet's opera as the basis for other works. One of my favorite adaptations is the Carmen Fantasy, arranged by Pablo de Sarasate. Here it is played in two parts by Gil Shaham:
"Carmen, Carmela" (sometimes simply called "Carmen") is an early folk tune that is popular throughout Mexico. The rhythm originated from the Cuban habanera dance and became popular in Spain during the nineteenth century, inspiring numerous European composers to employ this syncopation in their works. The most well-known use of the habanera is heard in Bizet's opera "Carmen."
Many composers have used this habanera rhythm in their works, and many composers have used Bizet's opera as the basis for other works. One of my favorite adaptations is the Carmen Fantasy, arranged by Pablo de Sarasate. Here it is played in two parts by Gil Shaham:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 2
The Carmen Fantasy is a very difficult piece and must be taken very seriously when learning. Some adaptations of Bizet's opera "Carmen" aren't always so serious...like this one. If you watch the Muppets or any old Looney Tunes, you probably know more opera than you think you do. Perhaps I'll do a post on opera later in the year.
Just like our Carmen, Carmela, some very famous pieces had simple beginnings as folk tunes. In this video, Itzhak Perlman plays a transcription for violin and piano. Kreisler, a wonderfully creative violinist from a previous generation of string playing, often took simple pieces and transformed them into "salon" or recital pieces. This song is called Danse Espagnole from "La Vida Breve" (translated: Spanish Dance from "The Short Life") by Manuel de Falla.
Here's a historic recording of Kreisler playing his own transcription of La Gitana. As much as I like listening to Kreisler, I also like watching a musician playing...so here's a more modern recording.
I personally have never been bullfighting, but I imagine it might be a scary experience. Joaquin Turina wrote a piece called Oracion Torero (translated: The Bullfighter's Prayer). What do you think this bullfighter is thining about?
A longtime favorite piece of mine is Estrellita (translated: Little Star), played here by Joshua Bell. Jascha Heifetz transcribed this piece by Manuel Ponce, and his transcription is deceivingly difficult. Jascha Heifetz was an amazing violinst -- and he knew it. Do you remember the order of sharps in a key signature? F# - C# - G# - D# - A# - E# - B#. Heifetz arranged Estrellita in the key of F# Major (6 sharps!) so that you can't use any open strings even if you wanted to!
When you think about it, France and Spain are not too far away from each other, but while the French have their own distinctive style of music, some French composers were attracted to Spanish melodies and rhythms. Here's the Havanaise by Camille Saint-Saens (you might recognize him as the composer of works such as Danse Macabre and Carnival of the Animals from Fantasia). This Havanaise is based on the same habanera rhythm that inspired Carmen, Carmela.
habanera - A Cuban dance and song, named after the capital, Havana. The music is in a moderate to slow duple metre. The habanera (not habañera) became popular in the early 19th century and was much used by French and Spanish composers; an outstanding example appears in Bizet's Carmen
syncopation - A shift of accent in a passage or composition that occurs when a normally weak beat is stressed
tango - a ballroom dance of Latin-American origin in 2⁄4 time with a basic pattern of step-step-step-step-close and characterized by long pauses and stylized body positions
Just like our Carmen, Carmela, some very famous pieces had simple beginnings as folk tunes. In this video, Itzhak Perlman plays a transcription for violin and piano. Kreisler, a wonderfully creative violinist from a previous generation of string playing, often took simple pieces and transformed them into "salon" or recital pieces. This song is called Danse Espagnole from "La Vida Breve" (translated: Spanish Dance from "The Short Life") by Manuel de Falla.
Here's a historic recording of Kreisler playing his own transcription of La Gitana. As much as I like listening to Kreisler, I also like watching a musician playing...so here's a more modern recording.
I personally have never been bullfighting, but I imagine it might be a scary experience. Joaquin Turina wrote a piece called Oracion Torero (translated: The Bullfighter's Prayer). What do you think this bullfighter is thining about?
A longtime favorite piece of mine is Estrellita (translated: Little Star), played here by Joshua Bell. Jascha Heifetz transcribed this piece by Manuel Ponce, and his transcription is deceivingly difficult. Jascha Heifetz was an amazing violinst -- and he knew it. Do you remember the order of sharps in a key signature? F# - C# - G# - D# - A# - E# - B#. Heifetz arranged Estrellita in the key of F# Major (6 sharps!) so that you can't use any open strings even if you wanted to!
When you think about it, France and Spain are not too far away from each other, but while the French have their own distinctive style of music, some French composers were attracted to Spanish melodies and rhythms. Here's the Havanaise by Camille Saint-Saens (you might recognize him as the composer of works such as Danse Macabre and Carnival of the Animals from Fantasia). This Havanaise is based on the same habanera rhythm that inspired Carmen, Carmela.
Some vocabulary related to Carmen, Carmela:
habanera - A Cuban dance and song, named after the capital, Havana. The music is in a moderate to slow duple metre. The habanera (not habañera) became popular in the early 19th century and was much used by French and Spanish composers; an outstanding example appears in Bizet's Carmen
syncopation - A shift of accent in a passage or composition that occurs when a normally weak beat is stressed
tango - a ballroom dance of Latin-American origin in 2⁄4 time with a basic pattern of step-step-step-step-close and characterized by long pauses and stylized body positions
