Customer Reviews

Isaac Albï¿1/2niz: Portrait of a Romantic

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Aaron Clark is admirably unwilling to speculate as so many much earlier biographies of Albeniz have been about the more hazy periods in his life. He is particularly good on understanding the hyperbole and publicity-friendly porkies Albeniz was given to in the context of his character. Where he is at his best is in the analysis and history of the music/forms it uses. I wish he would write a work which concentrates on analysis of the music itself as well - I'd buy that too. It is also a very entertaining read, and has many very sensible conclusions especially about Albeniz's earlier life, which is surrounded by myth! This is an essential book for anyone interested in Spanish Nationalist Romantic Music. Does this man have an email address? Ben Coulthard

I discovered Albeniz through the 2006 movie Iberia which features the music of Albeniz. I decided to try playing it on the piano. It has captured me in a way I could never have expected. I am not a young person and thought I knew the repertoire, but there is no finer music for the piano than the Iberia suite. I strongly encourage every good pianist to discover this music! Learning about the man has been as much of a joy as integrating his music into my being, for that is what has happened. He's quite a character. This book is admirable and like the other reviewer I too would like more on the music itself. However, I think the other reviewer is much to limited in whom he recommends Albeniz too. Albeniiz' piano music belongs to all the ages -- it is as good as anything ever composed, and better than most. If Albeniz were not a "Spanish" composer, he would be much better heard, and his music would be much easier to find. So do not think you have to be interested in "Nationalist Spanish Music" to be interested in Albeniz. His music is as universal as Chopin's or Beethoven's. Albeniz needs to be liberated from pigeonholing because he belongs in the universal pantheon.