Albeniz...

[tadhg]

anyone here played any of Isaac Albeniz's pieces? Was wondering, what would be his best work? I really like the Spanish Classical sound, would be an interesting change to chopin etc

[shasta]

Excellent choice, Tadhg!  Here's a recent link on spanish piano music for you to browse:

http://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,7718.0.html

I personally would recommend Isaac Albeniz's Recuerdos de Viaje (Op.71, 7 pieces), his Espana Op.165 (6 pieces), or his Suite Espanola.

If Albeniz's stuff looks a little too tricky:

-Try Granados's Danzas Espanolas to really get a wonderful taste of Spain - - - particularly dance No.5 (Andaluza) and No.7 (Valenciano o Calesera).  <--- these 2 are amongst the more famous spanish piano pieces, so I'm sure you've heard them before.

-Try Lecuona's Andalusia Suite (he's Cuban).  I'm sure you've heard the Malaguena from this set.

The "other" Albeniz (Mateo Albeniz) is very good too, and very different from the above guys - - - Mateo sounds much more like a spanish Mozart, if you'd like something more "classical" in sound and structure. 

Enjoy!

[lostinidlewonder]

I think his Iberia Suite Bk1 and 2 is his best work for the piano IMO.

[Galician]

I´m spanish, and I don´t like most of Albeniz´s works, I play some parts of the suite Iberia, I think it is one of the best works in Spain in the early 1900... Granados also was a composer dedicated to the piano, in his Goyescas you can find very very popular spanish themes, ... but they are very difficult, I play them, and... it´s too much work....

Un saludo!

[pianowelsh]

Love spanish piano composers. Agreed they make avery nice alternative to Chopin - equally they pair up tnicely with Chopin. I believe it was Granados who was called the spanish Chopin. I slightly prefer Granados to Albeniz Iberia is 'out of this world'  in every respect. If your looking for a way into albeniz he has a nice Tango in Dmajor which is quite famous and quite straightforward.

[Skeptopotamus]

The Iberia Suite is probably the most common, and some movements are quite pretty (not to mention bitchass tough to play), but on the whole i think it gets repetitive.  The Triana and Evocacion are probably the highlights.

[jacobspauly]

Try Granada from the Suite Espanola. Very nice and easy and a poplular transcription for spanish guitar players.