Ali Omar El-Farouk - Asturias (Leyenda) (Isaac Albéniz)

Ali Omar El-Farouk - Asturias (Leyenda) (Isaac Albéniz)

Recorded at Dar Omar El-Farouk at Tunis Village in Fayoum, Egypt, on June 12th 2020

Guitar made by Jeremy Clark
52 Instrument Co.

Mixing and Mastering: Ali Omar El-Farouk

Cinematography: Youssef Tayeh

Video Editing: Youssef Tayeh, Ali Omar El-Farouk

Isaac Albéniz’s iconic Asturias (Leyenda) had always been one of my all-time favourite piece of music. I had listened to it many times over the years, mainly on classical guitar but also with other arrangements in different genres. Little did I know, it was originally composed for piano.

It is quite fascinating how differently the piece is played on both instruments (different keys, techniques, overall flavour,…etc.) due to the natural characteristics of each instrument, but incredibly it fits the guitar so perfectly, one would think it was written for guitar. More than that, Albéniz being a Spanish composer and pianist, he captured so well the spirit of Andalusian flamenco with this composition, regardless of which instrument it is played on. This is quite apparent in his use of the Spanish Phrygian mode, an integral mode in flamenco music. In this piece, classical and flamenco come together as close as they possibly could.

It consists of four parts. The first has the main theme that starts from the very beginning. Starting softly but gradually building up in intensity until the very end of the part. A few essential flamenco guitar techniques are used here such as rasgueos, arpeggios, pulgar, and piccado, making it a perfect fit. This theme also hints at the rhythm of bulería, a fast flamenco music form.

The second part is a welcomed change from the intensity of the previous one. Quiet, gentle, and sparse, it brings a sense of a much-cherished calmness. The melody here hints at the style of Malagueña, another traditional Andalusian music form from Málaga.

After the calm comes the storm, with the third part repeating exactly as the first one. Though in contrast, I prefer starting off the first part gently and even slower, while the third part can increase in intensity at a faster pace.

The fourth and final part brings a sense of momentary nostalgia and questioning, before resolving with the main theme one final time to end the piece.

I hope that you will enjoy listening to it, and may it bring peace to your heart. 🎵🎶

I dedicate this recording as well as the other recordings in this series of classical guitar music to Tarek Sharara who encouraged me to create these recordings.

© Ali Omar El-Farouk 2020

Видео Ali Omar El-Farouk - Asturias (Leyenda) (Isaac Albéniz) канала Ali Omar El-Farouk