Composer

:

Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Song Cycle

Compose Date

:

1951

Average_duration

:

21:41

Movement_count

:

7

Movement ....

Romancero gitano, Op. 152 is a song cycle composed by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco in 1951. The work is based on the poetry of Federico García Lorca, a Spanish poet and playwright. The premiere of the work took place in 1951 in Florence, Italy. The song cycle consists of ten movements, each of which is based on a different poem by Lorca. The movements are titled as follows: "Romance de la luna, luna," "La monja gitana," "Prendimiento de Antoñito el Camborio en el camino de Sevilla," "San Miguel," "El paseo de Buster Keaton," "Memento," "Baladilla de los tres ríos," "La casada infiel," "Los cuatro muleros," and "La guitarrilla." The music of Romancero gitano is characterized by its use of Spanish folk melodies and rhythms. Castelnuovo-Tedesco's music is highly expressive and evocative, capturing the mood and imagery of Lorca's poetry. The composer's use of harmony and orchestration is particularly effective in creating a sense of drama and tension. The first movement, "Romance de la luna, luna," is a hauntingly beautiful setting of Lorca's poem about a gypsy girl who dances in the moonlight. The music is characterized by its use of a simple, repetitive melody and a gentle, flowing accompaniment. The second movement, "La monja gitana," is a dramatic setting of Lorca's poem about a gypsy nun who is torn between her religious vows and her love for a man. The music is characterized by its use of dissonant harmonies and a driving, rhythmic accompaniment. The third movement, "Prendimiento de Antoñito el Camborio en el camino de Sevilla," is a powerful setting of Lorca's poem about the capture of a gypsy bandit. The music is characterized by its use of a driving, rhythmic ostinato and a sense of urgency and tension. Overall, Romancero gitano is a masterful work that showcases Castelnuovo-Tedesco's skill as a composer and his deep understanding of Spanish music and culture. The work remains a popular and frequently performed piece in the classical repertoire.

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