- [Male Narrator] Funding for this program was provided by the Gertrude C. Ford Foundation as part of the Gertrude C. Ford Arts Series.

[harpsichord music] Tonight's concert was recorded in the throne room of the Majesty of Spain Exhibit in Jackson, Mississippi.

The musicians are noted harpsichordist John Paul and Shawn Leopard.

The music of Antonio de Cabazon, the grandfather of Spanish music reflects a mysticism presented with complex harmonies.

Now his “Cancion Religiosa”.

[harpsichord music] We now turn to the music of Manuel de Falla, the most important Spanish composer of the 20th century.

This next piece is from “La Vida Breve”, de Falla’s award-winning one-act opera of 1904.

Using themes of his own, inspired by the spirit of Spanish folk music, he wrote this remarkable piece: “Spanish Dance”.

[harpsichord music] Enrique Granados, one of the leaders of the Spanish school of romantic piano music, studied in Barcelona with Felipe Pedrell, the leading advocate of Spanish musical nationalism.

Now, his lyric and passionate Spanish dance “Andaluza”.

[harpsichord music] José Gallés, a little known 18th century Spanish Baroque composer, wrote “Sonata in E Minor”.

It was transcribed for two harpsichords from a piece written for a single instrument.

[harpsichord music] And now, the second Spanish dance of the evening by Enrique Granados, replete with Moorish idioms, which were a major influence on the culture of Spain.

It is the intensely evocative “Oriental”.

[harpsichord music] Both of the harpsichords in tonight's concert were built by Anden Houben, a distinguished American instrument maker from Alabama.

The double harpsichord is strung in iron and brass, but in this case it has been muted to alter its sound to more closely match the smaller instrument.

The smaller lute harpsichord, known as a   lautenwerck, has a sound similar to that of a guitar.

Isaac Albéniz, like de Falla and Granados, was influenced by Felipe Pedrell to develop a Spanish style that became characteristic of his compositions.

Now Isaac Albéniz's “Asturias”.

[harpsichord music] This is Sam Sherrill.

Thanks for joining us.

Funding for this program was provided by the Gertrude C. Ford Foundation as part of the Gertrude C. Ford Art Series.