Turina, Joaquín : The Best of... Turina

The Danzas Fantasticas Fantastical Dances of Joaquin Turina are the composer?s best known work originally scored for Piano but Orchestrated by the composer and performed first in 1920 in their Orchestrated version. The work is full of exalted romantic melodies Iberian flourishes and exciting instrumental writing. The work quotes passages from the novel La Org a (The Orgy) by José Más at the beginning of each of the three movements. The movements are Exaltación a jota dance in 3/8 Ensueño (Dream) a zortziko in 5/8 and Org a a farruca all regional dances of Spain.Joaquin Turina is often contrasted with Albéniz and Granados those two proponents of a Spanish nationalstyle. Turina strove to write music of a European standard in the conventional major forms and it is possible to hear the influence of Turina?s years studying in Paris as well as his native Spain combined with the composer?s own unique Voice.

Composer Joaquin Turina (1882-1949) was a native of Spain but was influenced early in his career by the impressionistic harmonies of Debussy and Ravel while studying in Paris. Upon returning to Spain he drew inspiration fromSpanish folk music with La Procession du Rocio becoming one of his best-known works. The music portrays a festival and procession that takes place in the Triana neighborhood of Seville and is filled with wonderfulidiomatic Spanish musical elements. Alfred Reed's marvelous transcription created in 1962 remains an enduring staple in the repertoire for wind bands. Dur: c. 8:30