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Miles Davis Jazz Concert Poster : MPC 2005

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Miles Davis - Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio)

 

Concierto de Aranjuez

 

The Concierto de Aranjuez is a composition for classical guitar and orchestra

by the Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo.

Written in 1939, it is probably Rodrigo's best-known work,

its success establishing his reputation as one of the foremost post-war Spanish composers.

 

 

 

Inspiration

 

The Concierto de Aranjuez was inspired by and written for the gardens at Palacio Real de Aranjuez,

the spring resort (or palace) and gardens originally built by Philip II in the last half of the 16^th century,

and later rebuilt in the middle of the 18^th century by Ferdinand VI.

The work attempts to transport the listener to the sounds of nature in both another place and time.

 

According to the composer, the first movement is "animated by a rhythmic spirit and vigour

without either of the two themes... interrupting its relentless pace",

the second movement "represents a dialogue between guitar

and solo instruments (cor anglais, bassoon, oboe, horn etc.)",

and the last movement "recalls a courtly dance in

which the combination of duple and triple time maintains a taut tempo right to the closing bar".

He described the concerto itself as capturing "the fragrance of magnolias,

the singing of birds and the gushing of fountains" in the gardens of Aranjuez.

 

Some say that the second movement was inspired by the bombing of Guernica which happened in 1937.

In her autobiography, the composer's wife Victoria maintains that it was an evocation of the happy days of their honeymoon,

and a response to Rodrigo's devastation at the miscarriage of their first baby.

Rodrigo dedicated the Concierto de Aranjuez to Regino Sainz de la Maza.

Rodrigo, having been blind since age three, was a pianist and did not play the guitar,

yet he still captured the spirit of diversity of the guitar in Spain.

 

 

 

Interpretations

 

A number of musicians have since reinterpreted the work,

including jazz legend Miles Davis in the company of arranger Gil Evans.

On the album Sketches of Spain (1960), Davis says:

"That melody is so strong that the softer you play it, the stronger it gets,

and the stronger you play it, the weaker it gets".

Violinist Ikuko Kawai's version, "Aranjuez", is an upbeat, faster update to the work.

Clarinettist Jean-Christian Michel's transcription of "Aranjuez" has sold some 1,500,000 copies.

Guitarist Buckethead covered Sketches of Spain on the album Electric Tears as a tribute to Miles Davis.

The introduction and middle section of Chick Corea's "Spain" are based on the Adagio.

Bassist Buster Williams performs a solo bass transcription of the second movement of Concierto de Aranjuez

on his album Griot Liberté (2006).

 

Until asked to perform and interpret Concierto de Aranjuez in 1991,

the Spanish flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia was not proficient at reading musical notation.

De Lucía claimed in Paco de Lucia-Light and Shade: A Portrait,

that he gave greater emphasis to rhythmical accuracy in his interpretation of the Concierto

at the expense of the perfect tone preferred by classical guitarists.

Joaquín Rodrigo later declared that no one had ever played his composition in such a brilliant manner.

 

A major interpretation of the Concierto,

which stands strongly with Miles Davis's Sketches rendition,

is that by Jim Hall on his 1970's album, Concierto

(also featuring Chet Baker, Paul Desmond, Ron Carter, Steve Gadd, and Roland Hanna).

Hall's strong lyricism and outstanding sense of tone particularly giving the piece

(performed in full and running to over 19 minutes) an understated power.

The Concierto is, in many ways,

the centrepiece of the album which is often regarded as Jim Hall's peak.

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5u41KdKZV4

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concierto_de_Aranjuez