Dec 17 2007
Asturias by Albeniz
Finally, here is a performance of Albeniz “Asturias”, or Leyenda, within the spirit of the original concept.
This piece has been, for me, totally ruined by guitarists. A major problem is, due to the endearing nature of the piece, many amateur guitarists tackle the piece too early in their studies. They see the piece as a technical masterpiece, and “if only” they can master this one, not only will their friends be in awe, but their technique will be elevated to the Heavens. The result more often than not, is a hacked, butchered rendition of the piece, never mind the quality, feel the width. Yes, I myself fell into this category. After all, it takes one to know one….
Not only amateur guitarists are to blame. Even many guitar greats treat this piece as a virtuoso workout, giving little or no credence to the music or Albeniz intentions. So many forget the piece is a DANCE. Here is Wulfin Lieske playing the piece, accompanied by a Flamenco dancer. Finally for me, the enigma of Asturias Leyenda is solved, I can see the piece, albeit only the first part, in it’s true colours…
Hallo Mark!
Video is lovely, but at home, it had generated a interesting discussion, about if there is o not a “flamenco” intention in this work.
After living two years in wonderful Asturias, nicest place of Spain populated by the most enchanting people, we learn that is a country plenty of legends. Listening Segovia’s playing, magic and mystery feelings come quickly. But in an “Asturian way”, something completely different from Andalucia and its oriental flavors.
In other, I found a flamenco root in central slowly section. Is nice to see that anyone can had a different feel about the same music, but, What feel Albéniz about Asturias? How many times was he there?
Ah! I found it very funny read that Catalonia was a “exotic place”, perhaps it is, in any sense….
Hello Montse, great to see you here!
There may well not be a Flamenco intention of Albeniz as such, but I’m sure it IS a dance of sorts. Albeniz music being so steeped in the Spanish idiom, it’s perhaps natural for someone like myself, to associate Spanish dance with Flamenco, even if there are also other dance elements.
I heard Asturias is a region of legends, hence also the term “Leyenda” for the piece..I even heard Parkening’s theory that the piece is a type of recreation of a battle which took place on the plains of Asturias! With the middle part expressing a lull in the battle, and the ending the futility and tragedy of war. Yet more fuel for the Asturias Leyenda!
I appreciate the Segovia interpretation, when he was in his prime, his was NOT the interpretation which I refered to by those who “butchered” the piece..I think I was refering to those who are enticed by the beauty of the music into taking it on too early in their studies, like I myself was!
Catalonia sounds exotic to me also, but people from that region might well think of where I live also as “excotic”!
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Hello Everybody. I watched the video and the guitar and the dance liked it very much.
It has amazing green landscapes , very nice prerromanic art and very nice people. The regional dish is the famous fabada which have white beans and meat. The regional drink is the Sidra, famous apple little alcohol drink. Yes certainly have their legends but it seems that was not the main Albeniz inspiration. My former father in law was from luarca, asturias. 
as a contradiction, it was the first place of Spain where they expelled Arabs with the leadership of Don Pelayo, their main in the VIII Century.
About the flamenco Discussion , Asturias is definitvely a flamenco root piece. Anybody who knows a little flamenco can count the first part in 12 fast beats alike to a bulería or in the 6 half count s of a bulería. The central part is also an arabic inspired song. This piece was first published as Preludio of the Cantos de España suite and it has a definitive andalutian inspiration. Later it was inserted as asturias in the suite Española No 1 but it has nothing to do with asturias and much less with the music of asturias.
Asturias is of course a very beautiful region of spain (yes not everything is flamenco in spain.
Just to finish ,I would like to recommed the Walter Aaron Clark book “Isaac Albeniz Portrait of a Romantic” by Walter Aaron Clark. It is a great book for anyone interested on the subject.
Well thank you and greetings from Mexico City
Eloisa
Thank you very much Eloisa, for the great information on Asturias! It’s something guitarists should take notice of in ther interpretations.
You make the local recipes sound so inviting