Defining The Sound of A Nation

The commercial recording that I have of Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez finally has its' turn to come down from the shelf. The performers on this disk are the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal conducted by Charles Dutoit with the solo guitar of Carlos Bonell. The disk also features these forces on Rodrigo's Fantasia Para un Gentilhombre and sandwiched between these two works is that other perennial companion piece in this repertoire, De Falla's orchestral showpiece El Sombrero de Tres Picos.It is interesting to consider how and why the Rodrigo works in particular have come to sum up the musical mood of a nation so completely, especially given the diverse nature of indigenous Spanish music from the flamenco of the south to the Galician pipes of the north west. Although the two Rodrigo works here are guitar features, there isn't any overt flamenco influence but somehow it does seem quintessentially Spanish. Whether that is because of the continual use of the music in any travelogue or documentary produced about Spain is a kind of chicken and egg what came first question. Dutoit and the Montreal band were specialists in this kind of Franco-Spanish repertoire and the playing here is idiomatic. Despite the familiarity it is good to listen closely to the memorable melodies and delicate writing of Rodrigo and Falla's music provides a fiery upbeat contrast.