Born in Valencia, Joaquín Rodrigo was a prolific composer, creating over 170 works. He looked for inspiration in masterworks from the past and borrowed melodies more from Castilian rather than Andalusian tradition. He drew inspiration not only from the nineteenth-century composers Albéniz, Granados, and de Falla, but also from the aristocratic mode of the eighteenth century. Rodrigo wanted, in his own words, “to stay faithful to a tradition.” For Rodrigo, this meant utilizing strong doses of tonality, neoclassicism, and folklorism to create a clearly national music.
Best known for his widely popular guitar concerto, Concierto de Aranjuez, possibly the most famous guitar concerto of the twentieth century, Rodrigo wrote an important number of pieces for violin and piano. Sonata Pimpante(‘smart’ Sonata), dedicated to the Spanish violinist and Rodrigo’s son-in-law Agustín León Ara, showcases Rodrigo’s technical knowledge of the violin’s capabilities. The composition opens in quintuplets played by the piano while the violin plays a virtuosic ‘pimpante’ melody above. Contrasting elaborated Andante moderato intersperse during the movement. The second movement of intense lyricism and timeless beauty compares to the Adagio of Concierto de Aranjuez, although a middle ‘Sevillana’ like dance is presented in the middle of the movement. The last movement, in a rondo form, is a perpetual motion of ecstatic rhythm in a frantic Zapateado like theme.Eva León
Classical Music | Violin Music
Joaquin Rodrigo
Sonata pimpante Play
Recorded on 06/28/2017, uploaded on 06/11/2018
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Born in Valencia, Joaquín Rodrigo was a prolific composer, creating over 170 works. He looked for inspiration in masterworks from the past and borrowed melodies more from Castilian rather than Andalusian tradition. He drew inspiration not only from the nineteenth-century composers Albéniz, Granados, and de Falla, but also from the aristocratic mode of the eighteenth century. Rodrigo wanted, in his own words, “to stay faithful to a tradition.” For Rodrigo, this meant utilizing strong doses of tonality, neoclassicism, and folklorism to create a clearly national music.
Best known for his widely popular guitar concerto, Concierto de Aranjuez, possibly the most famous guitar concerto of the twentieth century, Rodrigo wrote an important number of pieces for violin and piano. Sonata Pimpante(‘smart’ Sonata), dedicated to the Spanish violinist and Rodrigo’s son-in-law Agustín León Ara, showcases Rodrigo’s technical knowledge of the violin’s capabilities. The composition opens in quintuplets played by the piano while the violin plays a virtuosic ‘pimpante’ melody above. Contrasting elaborated Andante moderato intersperse during the movement. The second movement of intense lyricism and timeless beauty compares to the Adagio of Concierto de Aranjuez, although a middle ‘Sevillana’ like dance is presented in the middle of the movement. The last movement, in a rondo form, is a perpetual motion of ecstatic rhythm in a frantic Zapateado like theme. Eva León
More music by Joaquin Rodrigo
Sonata Giocosa 3
Invocación y Danza
Fantasia Para Un Gentilhombre
Adagio from Concierto de Aranjuez
Concierto de Aranjuez, 1st mov.
Performances by same musician(s)
Violin Sonata No.1, Op. 51
Asturias (Leyenda) for Solo Violin
Classical Music for the Internet Era™
Courtesy of International Music Foundation.