Manuel de Falla (1876-1946) – マヌエル・デ・ファリャ 【ピアニスト、作曲家】

In English

Manuel de Falla (1876-1946) – Manuel de Falla [pianist and composer].

Manuel de Falla: master of Spanish music.

Father José María Falla was born Manuel María de los Dolores Castellónia in Cádiz. Mother was Maria Jesús Mateu.

It is said that he learnt music from his mother, local musicians and others. She showed early talent for piano and composition.

In her later years, she fled to Argentina to avoid the Franco regime.

Childhood.

In 1876, Falla was born into a wealthy merchant family in the southern Spanish port city of Cadiz.

He grew up surrounded by music from an early age and began piano lessons with his mother at the age of four.

He made his concert debut at the age of nine and also began studying music theory.

He had an extraordinary passion for the piano, and there is an anecdote that during a cholera epidemic he practiced hard from morning till night in a hotel where he had taken refuge, and was inundated with complaints from the people around him.

To the Conservatory of Madrid

Around 1900, the family moved to Madrid.

Falla studied piano and composition at the Conservatorio de Madrid.

His strong desire to give Spanish music international recognition led him to complete the opera A Fleeting Life in 1905.

The work won first prize at the Royal Academy of Arts competition, but the supremacy of Italian opera at the Royal Opera House prevented it from being performed.

Departure to France

The experience of his country’s operas not being performed in Spain had a profound impact on Falla.

This event led to his decision to leave for France in order to promote Spanish music throughout the world.

Life.

Youth and musical education

In 1889, he studied piano with Alejandro Otero and harmony and counterpoint with Enrique Broecker.

At the age of 15, he showed an interest in literature as well as music, founding a literary journal.

In 1897, he published his first work, the Cello and Piano piece.

In 1899 he won first prize in the piano competition at the Conservatory, and from then on he took the name ‘Manuel de Falla’.

To the Conservatory of Madrid

In 1900, he moved with his family to Madrid and enrolled at the Conservatorio de Madrid.

He was influenced by Andalusian music and flamenco by Pedrell.

He was active in opera in 1902 and took part in a composition competition in 1903.

Opera ‘A Fragile Life’ and departure for Paris.

In 1905, his opera A Fragile Life won the Royal Academy’s Opera Prize.

However, it could not be performed in Spain and he decided to go to France.

He stayed in Paris from 1907 to 1914, where he developed contacts with Ducasse, Ravel and others.

Success in Paris and return home

With the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, he returned to Spain.

On his return, he produced some of his best-known works, including Night in a Spanish Garden, Love is a Magician and The Triangular Hat.

Spanish Civil War and exile

After the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, she fled to Argentina after her close friend Lorca was shot dead.

He refused to return to his native Spain and spent his entire life in Argentina.

Condolences to Debussy

When his close friend Debussy died in 1918, Falla composed the Hymn to the Epitaph of Claude Debussy to mourn his death.

Despite Debussy’s advice before his death that he should not write music for guitar if he wanted to succeed as a Spanish composer, Falla dared to express his condolences as a Spaniard by using the guitar.

Manuel de Falla: collaboration with Picasso and the ballet The Triangular Hat

Falla’s exchanges with Picasso and other artists of the time inspired each other and gave rise to new art forms.

In 1917, Falla presented a pantomime play, The Ojisan and the Miller’s Wife.

This work later caught the attention of Sergei Diaghilev of the Ballets Russes and was transformed into the ballet The Triangular Hat.

It was a sumptuous collaboration, with Diaghilev producing, Falla composing and Pablo Picasso designing the stage and costumes.

The London premiere in 1919 was a great success and spread Faria’s fame around the world.

The ballet The Triangular Hat is a masterpiece of modern sublimation of traditional Spanish music and dance, and is still loved around the world today.

The soul of Andalusia in music

Falla had a deep interest in the traditional music of Andalusia in southern Spain, particularly flamenco.

Many of his works reflect the passionate and vibrant flamenco elements strongly.

Opera ‘A Fragile Life’.

One of his best-known early works is the one-act opera A Fragile Life.

This work, which combines traditional Spanish music with a story, made Falla’s talents known to the world.

Parisian career and encounter with Dukas

From 1907 to 1914, Falla lived in Paris.

With the support of Dukas, he was active in the Parisian music scene, including the production of A Fragile Life at the Opéra Comique.

From Paris to Spain and to a new creation

Returned to Spain at the outbreak of the First World War.

In his native country, he produced some of his most famous works, including Night in a Spanish Garden and the ballets Love is a Magician and The Triangular Hat.

From 1921, he moved to Granada, where he lived in seclusion and created works such as The Puppet Show of Master Pedro and The Clavusan Concerto.

In these works, the influence of Stravinsky can be seen and the flamenco elements are more subdued than in his earlier works.

Later years and death

In 1946, Falla ended his life in Córdoba.

His body was initially buried in Cordoba, but the following year the Franco regime moved it to Spain, where it was given a state funeral and laid to rest in Cadiz Cathedral.

After Falla’s death, his portrait was used on the 100 peseta note issued in Spain from 1970 in honour of his achievements.

Falla was one of the most important composers who introduced Spanish music to the world.

His music is passionate, vibrant and captivating to listen to.

His works are still performed and loved by people all over the world.

Versatile world of works

His works range from the operas A Fragile Life and The Puppet Theatre of Master Pedro to the ballets The Triangular Hat and Love is a Magician, as well as chamber music and songs.

His music is strongly influenced by traditional Spanish music, especially flamenco from Andalusia.

At the same time, his experience in Paris shows the influence of French Impressionism and Russian music.

He has created his own musical world, blending the traditional with the contemporary.

Selected works

Opera: A Fragile Life, The Puppet Theatre of Master Pedro

Ballet: The Triangular Hat, Love is a Magician

Orchestral works: ‘Nights in a Spanish Garden’, ‘The Triangular Hat’ Suite, ‘Love is a Magician’ Suite

Chamber music: String quartet selections, piano pieces, etc.

Songs: arrangements of Spanish folk songs, etc.