Manuel de Falla's music perfectly reflected the full-blooded passion and intellectual aspirations of early 20th century Spanish culture. His personal life seemed to echo the spirit of his times and the broad range of his music. From his sensual treatment of Andalusian folk themes to the neoclassical compositions of his later years, de Falla always brought a fierce level of intensity to everything he undertook. This book explores de Falla's life in music in a highly original way. A compelling mix of intimate correspondence, original criticism, rare manuscripts and revealing photographs, it forms a biographical mosaic rich in musical detail and personal insights. A uniquely candid portrait of one of the 20th century's greatest composers. Approved by the Spanish Ministry of Culture. Ed. Gonzolo Armero and Jorge de Persia.

Harper aims to provide readers with a deeper, more accurate understanding of Falla's creative process by drawing from a complete array of rare, authentic sources including Falla's own personal library, valuable sketch material, and the more than 20,000 pieces of correspondence maintained in Granada, Spain by the Manuel de Falla Archive. The book is arranged in three sections. The first part of the book, organized according to Falla's geographical stays, attempts to clarify certain aspects of Falla's life that have to date been ambiguous or unknown. The second section engages various prominent aspects of Falla's character, such as his relationship with his European contemporaries. In this second section, significant collaborations with prestigious Falla specialists - Louis Jambou, Michael Christofordis, and Chris Collins - have greatly enhanced the dimension of the topics addressed. The book's final section attempts to introduce readers to the most recent information available. It is generously illustrated with manuscript examples and is organized according to the stylistic classifications of the Manuel de Falla Archive's Musical Director, which greatly assist in clarifying the development of Falla's creative process. A chronologically-arranged photo section rounds out this offering that will be of great significance to music students and teachers, as well as those with an interest in Spanish culture.

Michael Christoforidis is widely recognized as a leading expert on one of Spain's most important composers, Manuel de Falla. This volume brings together both new chapters and revised versions of previously published work, some of which is made available here in English for the first time. The introductory chapter provides a biographical outline of the composer and characterisations of both Falla and his music during his lifetime. The sections that follow explore different facets of Falla’s mature works and musical identity. Part II traces the evolution of his flamenco-inspired Spanish style through contacts with Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel and Igor Stravinsky, while Part III explores the impact of post-World War I modernities on Falla’s musical nationalism. The final part reflects on aspects of Falla’s music and the politics of Spain in the 1930s and 1940s. Situating his discussion of these aspects of Falla's music within a broader context, including currents in literature and the visual arts, Christoforidis provides a distinctive and original contribution to the study of Falla as well as to the wider fields of musical modernism, exoticism, and music and politics.

This biography offers a fresh understanding of the life and work of Spanish composer Manuel de Falla (1876-1946), recognized as the greatest composer in the Spanish cultural renaissance that extended from the latter part of the 19th century until the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936. The biography incorporates recent research on Falla, draws on untapped sources in the Falla archives, reevaluates Falla's work in terms of current issues in musicology, and considers Falla's accomplishments in their historical and cultural contexts.

Drawing extensively on primary sources, this study in three parts provides a detailed biography, examines the most prominent aspects of Falla's character as they pertained to his relationships with other composers and his own music, and sheds light on his creative process as a composer through examination of many of his works with reference to original scores and correspondence, many of which are published here for the first time. A chronological photo section rounds out this offering of great significance for music teachers and students as well as those with an interest in Spanish culture.