RODRIGO - Concerto de Aranjuez

Concierto de Aranjuez

Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999)

Concierto de Aranjuez is one of the most popular concerto of the 20^th century – its appeal spreading far beyond the classical music world, being adapted for jazz by Miles Davis for his 1960 Sketches of Spain album and even being played by the colliery band in the film Brassed Off where it gained the nick-name “Orange Juice” by the miners unable to pronounce its real name!

Rodrigo was born on the Mediterranean coast at Sagunto in Valencia, Spain on 22^nd November 1901 – suitably by coincidence St.Cecilia’s day, the patron saint of music. Tragically at the age of three he suffered diphtheria which resulted in him losing his sight. An uncertain future for him was only averted by his prodigious talent and love of music. Rodrigo has written:

“I believe my blindness gave me more insight with the inner world. The world in which we the blind live. While sitting on this wicker chair I am thinking that the illness, the loss of vision, was the vehicle that took me down the road to music. Otherwise, I would surely have followed in the footsteps of my family and become a merchant (even though my first wishes were very different. I was set on being a streetcar conductor).”

In 1927 Rodrigo went to Paris to study with Dukas (of Sorcerers Apprentice fame) and was coached by his fellow countryman, Manuel de Falla. He lived in France and Germany during the Spanish Civil War, only returning to his homeland in 1939 bringing with him his masterpiece, Concierto de Aranjuez which was premiered 1940 in Barcelona with guitarist Regino Sainz de la Maza. Rodrigo explained the title as:

“The Concierto de Aranjuez is named from the famous royal site on the shore of the River Tagus, not far from Madrid, along the road to Andalusia, and some perceive Goya’s shadow in the notes of its music, full of melancholic emotion. Its music seems to bring to life the essence of an 18th-century court, where aristocratic distinction blends with popular culture. In its melody the perfume of magnolias lingers, the singing of birds and the gushing of fountains...”

Although written in the mid-20^th century, the work is very much music in a Baroque form with restrained orchestration and traditional harmony in keeping with its period subject. The prominence of high woodwind and plucked stings in the orchestra gives the guitar space to clearly sound, although with more powerful orchestras in recent years, it has become the practice to amplify the guitar electronically.

Concierto de Aranjuez achieved immediate success for Rodrigo to elevate him to the foremost Spanish composer although he never again managed to repeat the success with his other ten concertos. On Rodrigo’s 90^th birthday in 1992, King Juan Carlos of Spain bestowed on him the honorary title of Marqués de los jardines de Aranjuez (Marquis of the gardens of Aranjuez) in recognition of his greatest achievement.

I. Allegro con spirito – The opening movement is based on traditional Spanish dances, such as the fandango.

II. Adagio – This is the movement which has become famous and popular in its own right and is said to be inspired by the death of the composer’s infant son. It starts with the guitar quietly strumming while the most plaintive of tunes is played by the Cor Anglais. This is based on the saeta, an Andalusian lament which is sung during Holy Week. This is sung by women as religious statues are carried through the streets with the cries being picked up by the crowds. In the same way the lament is here passed to the guitar and then the whole orchestra.

III. Allegro gentile – In the last movement there are more dance-like melodies with Baroque style counterpoint. Solos are passed around with the greatest of poise for the work to end quietly and delicately “as strong as a butterfly”.

Instrumentation (key to notation): 2+1 2/1 2 2 : 2 2 0 0 : Str

Programme Notes by Jonathan Hodgetts