Concierto Mágico
Encyclopedia
The Concierto Mágico is a 1997 concerto for classical guitar
and orchestra
by Catalan
composer Leonardo Balada
. This concerto was commissioned by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra
and premiered on March 13, 1998 by Jesús López-Cobos
with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
and with the virtuoso Ángel Romero
as soloist. This concerto is highly influenced by Spanish folk music.
This concerto signifies a rupture between Balada's avant-garde period and his previous guitar concertos, because folk culture is much more present than in any other of his concertos. In the first movement, the orchestra tries to simulate the sonority and the rhythm of Spanish folk culture by imitating the pulse of clapping hands, typical in Spanish gypsy music. In some fragments, the melody played by the guitar has a Flamenco background, which Balada considers to be a "deviation from the instrument's identity". The second movement, as in his Piano Concerto No. 3
, is a more obscure and mysterious movement, and all the voices in this piece are intended to create a mystic atmosphere. The third movement is a Spanish zapateado
, which uses rhythmic structures in accordance to the rest of the concerto.
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
and orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
by Catalan
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
composer Leonardo Balada
Leonardo Balada
Leonardo Balada , is a Catalan American composer, now teaching and composing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.-Life:...
. This concerto was commissioned by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
As the fifth oldest orchestra in the United States, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra has a legacy of fine music making as reflected in its performances in historic Music Hall, recordings, and international tours...
and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra
Hartford Symphony Orchestra
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Hartford, Connecticut.-External links:* - Official site*...
and premiered on March 13, 1998 by Jesús López-Cobos
Jesús López-Cobos
Jesús López-Cobos is a Spanish conductor.López-Cobos was born in Toro, Zamora, Castile-León, Spain. He studied at Complutense University of Madrid and graduated with a degree in philosophy...
with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
As the fifth oldest orchestra in the United States, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra has a legacy of fine music making as reflected in its performances in historic Music Hall, recordings, and international tours...
and with the virtuoso Ángel Romero
Ángel Romero
Ángel Romero is a Spanish classical guitarist, conductor and former member of the guitar quartet Los Romeros. He is the youngest son of Celedonio Romero, who in 1957 left Franco's Spain for the United States with his family....
as soloist. This concerto is highly influenced by Spanish folk music.
Structure
There are three movements in this concerto, titled as follows:- I. Sol
- II. Luna
- III. Duende
This concerto signifies a rupture between Balada's avant-garde period and his previous guitar concertos, because folk culture is much more present than in any other of his concertos. In the first movement, the orchestra tries to simulate the sonority and the rhythm of Spanish folk culture by imitating the pulse of clapping hands, typical in Spanish gypsy music. In some fragments, the melody played by the guitar has a Flamenco background, which Balada considers to be a "deviation from the instrument's identity". The second movement, as in his Piano Concerto No. 3
Piano Concerto No. 3 (Balada)
The Piano Concerto No. 3, also known as Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3, is a piano concerto by Catalan composer Leonardo Balada. It was finished on 1999 and the complete work was premiered on 12 February 2000 by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra and Rosa...
, is a more obscure and mysterious movement, and all the voices in this piece are intended to create a mystic atmosphere. The third movement is a Spanish zapateado
Zapateado
The zapateado is a dance of Mexican Indian origin characterized by a lively rhythm punctuated by the striking of the dancer's shoes, akin to tap dance...
, which uses rhythmic structures in accordance to the rest of the concerto.