Siete canciones populares españolas
3 min
Recording
- No. 4, JotaMaría Barrientos, soprano; Manuel de Falla, piano · 19283:05
María Barrientos sings Jota, the fourth of the Seven Popular Spanish Songs, with the composer at the piano, in a recording made for Columbia in Paris in 1928. A long piano introduction in 3/8 precedes the voice, which sings a lover’s farewell to his girl until tomorrow.
Listening notes
- Piano introduction in 3/8
The piano begins alone, pianissimo, in 3/8 at Allegro vivo. Quick turning figures sit above repeated chords marked staccato sempre. The voice is silent through a long introduction and enters at the change to 3/4.
- Entry of the soprano
The metre changes to 3/4, Poco meno vivo. The soprano enters with the first couplet, “Dicen que no nos queremos / porque no nos ven hablar; a tu corazón y al mío / se lo pueden preguntar”.
- Recording with Falla, Paris, 1928
The pianist is the composer. Columbia recorded María Barrientos with Falla in Paris on 31 March 1928, and the Jota was issued on a French Columbia disc.
- Second couplet, “Ya me despido de ti”
After the piano returns to the opening tempo, the second couplet begins: “Ya me despido de ti”. The singer takes leave of the girl, her house and her window, and even if her mother objects, says goodbye until tomorrow.
- Final page, Tranquillo
The last page slows to Tranquillo (crotchet = 76). The soprano, marked “lontano”, sings “even if your mother does not wish it”, and the piano makes a rit. molto and drops to triple piano.