Albéniz: Suite española, Op. 47, No. 3: Sevilla (Tariq Harb, guitar)

"Sevilla" is a composition by Isaac Albéniz from his Suite Española No. 1. Albéniz premiered "Sevilla" himself in a piano performance on January 24, 1886 and dedicated it to the wife of Count Morphy. Since it has been transcribed for classical guitar it has become one of the most important works of the classical guitar repertoire. It has been played and recorded by many guitarists and it is generally played in the key of G major. Although composed in sonata form, Albéniz constructs the piece loosely using the sevillana form popularized by flamenco artists. The sevillana is a colourful and exciting style of song and dance that originated in Castile and not in Seville, a variation from a style of dance known as the seguidilla. The sevillana is not flamenco, although today it is performed by flamenco artists who give it that special flamenco verve. It is performed to a strict 3/4 rhythm and is danced by pairs or groups of people, and the dance is usually choreographed to a pre-established routine, all of which goes against what the true flamenco dance entails. This style of dance is performed at fiestas of all kinds throughout Spain, but especially during the feria, when women wear the Traje Gitanas, the colourful polka-dot dresses that add a swirling character and grace to the dance. Today, the sevillana is danced at any form of get-together, whether it is the feria, a wedding, or at a family party, where all and everyone present will join in. For many, dancing the...