Joaquin Turina - Piano Music, Volumes 1 - 7 (Jordi Masó)

When he was a small boy, one of Joaquín Turina's favorite toys was a small accordion, and music was always his favorite subject at school. He studied piano and theory in his hometown of Seville and made his debut there as a pianist at age 14. His success led him to Madrid, where he tried to get his opera La sulamita (c. 1900) and his zarzuela Fea y con gracia (1904) performed. The latter was staged to no great success, but Turina showed his music to many prominent musicians and struck up a friendship with Manuel de Falla.

After studying piano at the Madrid Conservatory with José Tragó, Turina went to Paris, where he worked with Vincent d'Indy at the Schola Cantorum from 1905 to 1914. He also took some piano lessons with Moritz Moszkowski. During his years in Paris he was encouraged by the great French composers of that time – Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Paul Dukas, and his teacher d'Indy – and wrote a few works in the French style of the day. After the premiere of his Piano Quintet, Op. 1 in 1907, Turina went to a café with Isaac Albéniz and de Falla. They convinced Turina to write in a more consciously Spanish style. As Turina put it, "[w]e were three Spaniards gathered together in that corner of Paris and it was our duty to fight bravely for the national music of our country."

One of his first truly Spanish works was La procesión del Rocío, written in France in 1912 and premiered by the Madrid Symphony the following year. This portrait of a religious festival helped establish Turina's reputation, and by the time he returned to Spain with Falla in 1914, he was already recognized as a leading Spanish composer. Turina took a post as choirmaster at the Teatro Real, a position he held until the theater closed in 1925. He continued to be very active in Spain's musical life, serving as pianist of the Quinteto de Madrid, conducting opera and orchestral performances, and writing musical criticism for El Debate and other publications. He also composed works like the two books of Mujeres Españolas for piano (1917, 1932), a series of portraits of Spanish women, and La oración del torero (The Bullfighter's Prayer, 1925). In 1920 he wrote two of his most popular pieces, the Danzas Fantásticas for orchestra or piano, and the Sinfonía Sevillana, which won first prize in a competition for a musical picture of life in Seville.

In 1930 he was appointed professor of composition at the Madrid Conservatory. He and his family suffered a certain amount of persecution by the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War, but Turina was able to carry on with his musical activities both during and after the war. He founded the General Music Commission of the Ministry of Education, of which he served as commissioner in 1941. He became a member of the Spanish Academy of Arts, was awarded the Grand Cross of Alfonso X the Wise, and died in early 1949 after a long struggle with cancer.

from Allmusic

Tracks CD 1:

01. Danzas fantásticas, op.22 - 1. Exaltación [0:04:55.05]
02. Danzas fantásticas, op.22 - 2. Ensueño [0:05:52.53]
03. Danzas fantásticas, op.22 - 3. Orgía [0:04:45.27]
04. Tres Danzas andaluzas, op.8 - 1. Petenera [0:03:45.14]
05. Tres Danzas andaluzas, op.8 - 2. Tango [0:03:51.41]
06. Tres Danzas andaluzas, op.8 - 3. Zapateado [0:04:15.21]
07. Danzas gitanas, op.55 - 1. Zambra [0:03:34.72]
08. Danzas gitanas, op.55 - 2. Danza de la seducción [0:02:52.56]
09. Danzas gitanas, op.55 - 3. Danza ritual [0:03:05.70]
10. Danzas gitanas, op.55 - 4. Generalife [0:01:38.68]
11. Danzas gitanas, op.55 - 5. Sacro-monte [0:01:53.37]
12. Danzas gitanas, op.84 - 1. Fiesta de las calderas [0:04:01.50]
13. Danzas gitanas, op.84 - 2. Circulos rítmicos [0:01:35.49]
14. Danzas gitanas, op.84 - 3. Invocación [0:04:31.26]
15. Danzas gitanas, op.84 - 4. Danza rítmica [0:01:23.23]
16. Danzas gitanas, op.84 - 5. Seguiriya [0:02:27.61]
17. Dos Danzas sobre temas populares españoles, op.41 - 1. Cadena de seguidillas [0:01:55.30]
18. Dos Danzas sobre temas populares españoles, op.41 - 2. El árbol de Guernica [0:02:58.49]
19. Bailete: Suite de danzas del siglo XIX, op.79 - 1. Entrada [0:01:56.66]
20. Bailete: Suite de danzas del siglo XIX, op.79 - 2. Tirana [0:02:15.59]
21. Bailete: Suite de danzas del siglo XIX, op.79 - 3. Bolero [0:02:29.15]
22. Bailete: Suite de danzas del siglo XIX, op.79 - 4. Danza de corte [0:01:44.71]
23. Bailete: Suite de danzas del siglo XIX, op.79 - 5. Fandango [0:02:35.15]

Tracks CD 2:

01. Turina - Sonata romántica, op.3 - I. Tema y variaciones [0:08:24.32]
02. Turina - Sonata romántica, op.3 - II. Scherzo - Vif et Gai [0:04:22.35]
03. Turina - Sonata romántica, op.3 - III. Final. Lent - Allegro [0:07:44.36]
04. Turina - Sonata fantasia, op.59 - I. Lento - Allegro molto moderato [0:06:02.31]
05. Turina - Sonata fantasia, op.59 - II. Coral con variaciones: Lento [0:06:31.33]
06. Turina - Rincón mágico, op.97 - I. Tema y variaciones: Andante [0:09:16.43]
07. Turina - Rincón mágico, op.97 - II. Scherzo. Allegro vivo [0:03:52.42]
08. Turina - Rincón mágico, op.97 - III. Lied. Andantino [0:05:38.20]
09. Turina - Rincón mágico, op.97 - IV. Sonata. Allegretto ritmico [0:05:13.35]
10. Turina - Concierto sin orquesta, op.88 - I. Moderato - Allegro moderato [0:05:38.20]
11. Turina - Concierto sin orquesta, op.88 - II. Molto adagio [0:05:01.71]

Tracks CD 3:

01. Sevilla, Op. 2 - I. Bajo los naranjos [0:05:30.55]
02. Sevilla, Op. 2 - II. El Jueves Santo a medianoche [0:07:44.61]
03. Sevilla, Op. 2 - III. La Feria [0:04:56.35]
04. Mujeres espanolas, Series I, Op. 17 - I. La madrilena clasica [0:04:26.52]
05. Mujeres espanolas, Series I, Op. 17 - II. La andaluza sentimental [0:08:01.71]
06. Mujeres espanolas, Series I, Op. 17 - III. La morena coqueta [0:05:21.02]
07. Mujeres espanolas, Series II, Op. 73 - I. La gitana enamorada [0:03:34.30]
08. Mujeres espanolas, Series II, Op. 73 - II. La florista [0:02:34.03]
09. Mujeres espanolas, Series II, Op. 73 - III. La senorita que baila [0:02:49.48]
10. Mujeres espanolas, Series II, Op. 73 - IV. La murciana guapa [0:02:22.25]
11. Mujeres espanolas, Series II, Op. 73 - V. Le alegre sevillana [0:02:31.29]
12. Mujeres de Sevilla, Op. 89 - I. La alfarera de Triana [0:02:11.49]
13. Mujeres de Sevilla, Op. 89 - II. La mocita del barrio [0:04:04.62]
14. Mujeres de Sevilla, Op. 89 - III. La macarena con garbo [0:01:48.15]
15. Mujeres de Sevilla, Op. 89 - IV. La cigarrera traviesa [0:02:37.39]
16. Mujeres de Sevilla, Op. 89 - V. Mantillas y peinetas [0:02:09.66]

Tracks CD 4:

01. Ninerias, Series 1, Op. 21 - I. Prelude et Fugue [0:02:58.24]
02. Ninerias, Series 1, Op. 21 - II. Ce que l'on voit sur la Giralda [0:04:24.73]
03. Ninerias, Series 1, Op. 21 - III. Defile des soldats de plomb [0:02:21.13]
04. Ninerias, Series 1, Op. 21 - IV. Berceuse [0:02:49.03]
05. Ninerias, Series 1, Op. 21 - V. Danse des poupees [0:02:52.01]
06. Ninerias, Series 1, Op. 21 - VI. [0:02:58.00]
07. Ninerias, Series 1, Op. 21 - VII. A la memoire d'un bebe [0:02:47.03]
08. Ninerias, Series 1, Op. 21 - VIII. Jeux [0:03:10.33]
09. Ninerias, Series 2, Op. 56 - I. Entree de Conchita [0:02:13.42]
10. Ninerias, Series 2, Op. 56 - II. A l'ecole [0:01:30.07]
11. Ninerias, Series 2, Op. 56 - III. Divertissement [0:00:57.02]
12. Ninerias, Series 2, Op. 56 - IV. Conchita pleure [0:02:39.46]
13. Ninerias, Series 2, Op. 56 - V. Parade [0:01:27.02]
14. Ninerias, Series 2, Op. 56 - VI. Conchita reve [0:03:31.19]
15. Ninerias, Series 2, Op. 56 - VII. Carnaval des enfants [0:01:13.45]
16. Ninerias, Series 2, Op. 56 - VIII. Course feerique [0:01:54.59]
17. Miniaturas, Op. 52 - I. Caminando [0:01:43.28]
18. Miniaturas, Op. 52 - II. Se acercan los soldados [0:01:06.16]
19. Miniaturas, Op. 52 - III. La aldea duerme [0:02:43.73]
20. Miniaturas, Op. 52 - IV. Amanecer [0:01:31.08]
21. Miniaturas, Op. 52 - V. El mercado [0:01:02.69]
22. Miniaturas, Op. 52 - VI. Duo sentimental [0:02:15.20]
23. Miniaturas, Op. 52 - VII. Fiesta [0:01:00.20]
24. Miniaturas, Op. 52 - VIII. La Vuelta [0:02:21.13]
25. Jardin de ninos, Op. 63 - I. Marche [0:01:15.13]
26. Jardin de ninos, Op. 63 - II. L'enfant s'endort [0:02:56.38]
27. Jardin de ninos, Op. 63 - III. Boite a musique [0:01:06.30]
28. Jardin de ninos, Op. 63 - IV. Cloches [0:02:42.12]
29. Jardin de ninos, Op. 63 - V. Petite danse [0:01:15.45]
30. Jardin de ninos, Op. 63 - VI. Petite fugue [0:02:42.19]
31. Jardin de ninos, Op. 63 - VII. Jeux sur la plage [0:01:04.16]
32. Jardin de ninos, Op. 63 - VIII. Final [0:01:56.42]

Tracks CD 5:

01. Cuentos de Espana, Series 1, Op. 20 - No. 1. Devant la tour du Clavero [0:03:12.43]
02. Cuentos de Espana, Series 1, Op. 20 - No. 2. Una vieille eglise a Logrono [0:04:39.18]
03. Cuentos de Espana, Series 1, Op. 20 - No. 3. Miramar (Valencia) [0:02:22.70]
04. Cuentos de Espana, Series 1, Op. 20 - No. 4. Dans les jardins de Murcia [0:02:48.04]
05. Cuentos de Espana, Series 1, Op. 20 - No. 5. Le chemin de la Alhambra [0:02:53.02]
06. Cuentos de Espana, Series 1, Op. 20 - No. 6. La Caleta (Malaga) [0:03:02.72]
07. Cuentos de Espana, Series 1, Op. 20 - No. 7. Rompeolas (Jeux des vagues) [0:05:27.68]
08. Cuentos de Espana, Series 2, Op. 47 - No. 1. Cordoue en fete [0:02:09.32]
09. Cuentos de Espana, Series 2, Op. 47 - No. 2. Chansons dans la nuit [0:03:51.23]
10. Cuentos de Espana, Series 2, Op. 47 - No. 3. Chanson mauresque [0:01:37.49]
11. Cuentos de Espana, Series 2, Op. 47 - No. 4. Les buveurs de manzanilla [0:02:06.62]
12. Cuentos de Espana, Series 2, Op. 47 - No. 5. Promenade [0:02:04.44]
13. Cuentos de Espana, Series 2, Op. 47 - No. 6. La Mosquee [0:04:14.40]
14. Cuentos de Espana, Series 2, Op. 47 - No. 7. Tournoi chevaleresque [0:02:52.07]
15. Recuerdos de la antigua Espana Op. 48 (arr. for piano) - No. 1. L'eternelle Carmen [0:03:07.46]
16. Recuerdos de la antigua Espana Op. 48 (arr. for piano) - No. 2. Habanera [0:04:16.64]
17. Recuerdos de la antigua Espana Op. 48 (arr. for piano) - No. 3. Don Juan [0:04:07.60]
18. Recuerdos de la antigua Espana Op. 48 (arr. for piano) - No. 4. Estudiantina (Pasacalle) [0:03:12.43]
19. Siluetas, Op. 70 - No. 1. L'aqueduc (Segovia) [0:04:38.23]
20. Siluetas, Op. 70 - No. 2. La tour de la Vela (Grenade) [0:02:48.46]
21. Siluetas, Op. 70 - No. 3. La Puerta del Sol (Toledo) [0:02:17.59]
22. Siluetas, Op. 70 - No. 4. La tour de l'Or (Seville) [0:02:57.19]
23. Siluetas, Op. 70 - No. 5. Le Phare de Cadix [0:02:15.17]

Tracks CD 6:

01. Ritmos, Op. 43 (version for piano) - I. Preludio [0:01:58.17]
02. Ritmos, Op. 43 (version for piano) - II. Danza lenta [0:01:53.61]
03. Ritmos, Op. 43 (version for piano) - III. Vals tragico [0:02:40.37]
04. Ritmos, Op. 43 (version for piano) - IV. Garrotin [0:02:47.17]
05. Ritmos, Op. 43 (version for piano) - V. Intermedio [0:01:23.47]
06. Ritmos, Op. 43 (version for piano) - VI. Danza exotica [0:03:04.58]
07. Fantasia sobre 5 notas, Op. 83 - I. Preludio [0:02:57.43]
08. Fantasia sobre 5 notas, Op. 83 - II. Tocata y fuga [0:03:39.53]
09. Fantasia sobre 5 notas, Op. 83 - III. Coral con variaciones [0:05:26.49]
10. Fantasia italiana, Op. 75 - I. Vision fantastica [0:05:35.32]
11. Fantasia italiana, Op. 75 - II. Driadas [0:02:19.34]
12. Fantasia italiana, Op. 75 - III. Napoles [0:03:58.21]
13. Fantasia cinematografica, Op. 103 [0:08:16.47]
14. Fantasia del reloj, Op. 94 - I. Unos minutos ante el Cristo [0:02:53.65]
15. Fantasia del reloj, Op. 94 - II. Las horas del rincon magico [0:04:07.28]
16. Fantasia del reloj, Op. 94 - III. Las horas de la manzanilla [0:02:20.39]
17. Poema fantastico, Op. 98 - I. En el hall del hotel [0:04:50.70]
18. Poema fantastico, Op. 98 - II. Viejas calles madrilenas [0:03:41.63]
19. Poema fantastico, Op. 98 - III. Encrucijada [0:02:47.03]
20. Poema fantastico, Op. 98 - IV. Tarde de cine [0:04:16.74]

Tracks CD 7:

01. Album de viaje, Op. 15 - I. Retrato [0:02:11.00]
02. Album de viaje, Op. 15 - II. El casino de Algeciras [0:04:46.71]
03. Album de viaje, Op. 15 - III. Gibraltar [0:03:46.26]
04. Album de viaje, Op. 15 - IV. Paseo nocturno [0:03:46.50]
05. Album de viaje, Op. 15 - V. Fiesta mora en Tanger [0:04:02.62]
06. Viaje maritimo, Op. 49 - I. Luz en el mar [0:04:51.62]
07. Viaje maritimo, Op. 49 - II. En fiesta [0:02:28.59]
08. Viaje maritimo, Op. 49 - III. Llegada al puerto [0:03:24.53]
09. Evocaciones, Op. 46 - I. Paisaje [0:04:22.28]
10. Evocaciones, Op. 46 - II. Mar [0:03:37.35]
11. Evocaciones, Op. 46 - III. Sardana [0:02:45.03]
12. Mallorca, Op. 44 - I. Las cuevas del Dragon [0:06:36.72]
13. Mallorca, Op. 44 - II. Noche en la bahia de Palma [0:04:43.03]
14. Mallorca, Op. 44 - III. Por la carretera en auto [0:03:57.47]
15. Tarjetas postales, Op. 58 - I. Danza vasca [0:02:02.27]
16. Tarjetas postales, Op. 58 - II. Ramblas de Barcelona [0:01:42.16]
17. Tarjetas postales, Op. 58 - III. Madrid [0:01:49.62]
18. Tarjetas postales, Op. 58 - IV. Paisaje granadino [0:03:17.24]
19. Tarjetas postales, Op. 58 - V. Romeria [0:01:55.30]