James Michener's book Iberia is a detailed exploration of Spain at it existed in the mid 1960s. The author takes great pains to be neutral on such subjects as the Moorish occupation, Islam, Catholicism, Franco and other controversial subjects, but he is characteristically detailed about his explorations. This is a work of non-fiction, so there is very little of the story-teller Michener in the book, but the exploration of the Iberian Peninsula and its people, industry and arts is well worth the read.
And Northern Iberia, in addition to its ruggedness, not only is extremely cold, but lies next to the ocean, and thus has acquired its characteristic of inhospitality and aversion to intercourse with other countries; consequently, it is an exceedingly wretched place to live in.
Iberia is like an ox-hide extending in length from west to east, its fore-parts toward the east, and in breadth from north to south.
The coastline adjacent to the Sacred Cape, on the west, is the beginning of the western side of Iberia as far as the mouth of the Tagus River, and, on the south, the beginning of the southern side as far as another river, the Anas, and its mouth.
The Iberia Albéniz composed for piano between 1905 and 1908 is anything but slick.
Rather, its four books of three pieces each comprise a collection of nouvelles impressions chiefly inspired by the southern province of Andalusia.
Even though Iberia can be a bit too much for the listener (and certainly for the performer), even though the pieces were conceived independently, I think it is important to listen to the whole thing live at least once in order to understand the magnitude and beauty of Albénizs achievement.
Feeds |
Contact