Manuel de Falla

[Holly]

Today in history: 23 November 1876

Manuel de Falla y Matheu (November 23, 1876 – November 14, 1946) was born in Cádiz.

Manuel de Falla's early teachers in music were his mother and grandfather and at age 20 he moved to Madrid to further his music studies. While there, he became interested in native Andalusian music, particularly Andalusian flamenco (specifically cante jondo), the influence of which can be strongly felt in many of his works. As an example I am posting the 1st Dance from La Vida Breve (The Short Life) where you can witness Lucero Tena playing the castañuelas.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knFB004ySIc&feature=related"]M. Falla. La vida breve. Danza Española nº 1. Lucero Tena - YouTube[/ame]

Being in sympathy with the republican cause, Manual de Falla moved to Argentina following Francisco Franco's victory in the Civil War. Franco's government offered him a large pension if he would return to Spain, but he refused. A year after his death, on Franco's orders, in 1947 his remains were brought back to Spain and entombed in the cathedral at Cádiz.

[Spectabilis]

Thanks for that. Isn't she amazing?

[Holly]

Thanks for that. Isn't she amazing?

Lucero Tena was a flamenco dancer in her youth and although she now concentrates on the castanets, you can see from her body language that the dancing soul is still in her.