MANUEL FONT Y DE ANTA (1889-1936): Andalucía.

Description: Born in Seville, Font studied with Turina and during his early twenties toured the US as a pianist and conductor before settling in Madrid, where he became known as a composer of popular songs and marches. Unlike many Spanish artists who were murdered by the Fascists in the civil war, Font was done for by Communist militia members. Andalucía, a cycle of nine pieces whose titles come from the cities of the region, mostly dates from 1913-14, except for two movements composed in 1918 and 1921. They are evocations of the sounds, perfumes, lights, shadows and the mystic atmospheres of Andalucía’s secret places, capturing the essence of the Andalucían soul. The piano writing is elaborate, highly virtuosic and complex, extracting wonderful sonorities from the piano. Riccardo Schwartz (piano).