Olas Gigantes; Rima LII: Bécquer, Falla and Turina: One Poem, Three Readings / Un poema, tres recepc
Abstract
Lyric Art Song in Spanish, which is poetry set to music, is a magnificent means of transmitting Spanish Culture in its highest form. The objective of my doctoral thesis, “Claves para la interpretación de la Canción Española en la obra de Manuel de Falla y Joaquín Turina/Keys to the interpretation of Spanish Art Song” is to present important information so that a lyric interpreter can enter into the vast and varied Spanish vocal repertoire that isn't included in the standard teaching in vocal conservatories around the world. The pedagogies that do exist for the Art Song repertoires that are included in core teaching (what is considered the standard repertoire; German, French, Italian and English/American song) start with a study of the poem and its reception before treating the technical aspects of the musical interpretation. There is no established Spanish Vocal Pedagogy based on this approach to the repertoire today. I present the first stone in the house that I would like to construct.
I propose a study of Manuel de Falla's and Joaquín Turina's songs which set the same poem, Olas Gigantes; Rima LII of Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer. We will start with the reception of Bécquer's poem and proceed to the two settings, considering any changes that the composers might have made to the original poem, and then analyze various musical parameters to determine whether or not each composer has enhanced the intended original message of the poet or changed it.
Keywords
Canción Española, Spanish Song, Béquer Rimas, Turina and Falla, Olas Gigantes, Rima LII, Art Song in Spanish.
