French Exotic Music and the Musical Construction of Spain

Presenter Information

Monica Chen, Oberlin CollegeFollow

Location

King Building 123

Document Type

Presentation

Start Date

4-27-2018 2:00 PM

End Date

4-27-2018 3:20 PM

Abstract

In the 19th and 20th centuries, French exotic music composers, such as Debussy, played an important role in the musical construction of an exoticized Spain. These exotic compositions influenced Spanish composers, such as Manuel de Falla, who created a Spain similar to the French “Spain” in his own works. To explore the idea of auto-exoticization, I will examine the first movement, “En el Generalife”, from Falla’s Noches en los jardines de España and identify passages influenced by the French conception of Spain. By focusing on this movement of Falla’s work, I will observe the ways in which exoticization ironically played a part in a Spanish composer’s conception of his own country.

Keywords:

French exotic music, Spanish auto-exoticization, music, Manuel de Falla

Notes

Session IV, Panel 11 - Modern | Europe
Moderator: Leonard Smith, Frederick B. Artz Professor of History

Major

Musical Studies

Advisor(s)

Andrew Pau, Music Theory

Project Mentor(s)

Andrew Pau, Music Theory
Kathryn Metz, Ethnomusicology

April 2018

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Apr 27th, 2:00 PM Apr 27th, 3:20 PM

French Exotic Music and the Musical Construction of Spain

King Building 123

In the 19th and 20th centuries, French exotic music composers, such as Debussy, played an important role in the musical construction of an exoticized Spain. These exotic compositions influenced Spanish composers, such as Manuel de Falla, who created a Spain similar to the French “Spain” in his own works. To explore the idea of auto-exoticization, I will examine the first movement, “En el Generalife”, from Falla’s Noches en los jardines de España and identify passages influenced by the French conception of Spain. By focusing on this movement of Falla’s work, I will observe the ways in which exoticization ironically played a part in a Spanish composer’s conception of his own country.