Published: 2008
Total Pages: 119
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"Goyescas" is a very challenging work full of Granados's artistic devotion for searching the authentic Spanish character in a variety of ways. Numerous Spanish elements - references to Goya's works, tonadillas, Spanish dances and songs, sound of guitars and castanets, etc. - are incorporated into this work. It is, indeed, a complex art work that interrelates visual arts, poetry, and music, all with a Spanish subject. Any pianists planning to study Granados's "Goyescas" should first acquire the necessary background based on a thorough study of the music and its history. Knowledge of Granados's inspiration from Goya's works, the piece's narrative elements related with the opera "Goyescas," Spanish idioms, and the improvisatory nature of Granados's piano style, is indispensable for fully understanding, interpreting, and performing this work. However, the more important task for pianists is applying these various aspects into performance. This document will assist pianists in this endeavor, dealing with various aspects related to the interpretation of "Goyescas" that are necessary for an imaginative performance of the work. The first three chapters are about important background aspects of "Goyescas" which should be considered by the pianist for a proper interpretation of the suite. Chapter Four is an interpretive analysis for pianists dealing with each piece of "Goyescas" and discussing all aspects related to performance. The discussion includes overall structure, related paintings or etchings by Goya, comparisons with corresponding scenes from the opera, and detailed performance suggestions for each individual selection. As six pieces from "Goyescas" are discussed one by one, the corresponding painting or etching by Goya related to the piece is included as a helpful tool for performance.