Tanguillo

There is a long tradition in this country of mine (Spain) of writing pieces for the piano "thinking" in the guitar. Most of them are related to the genre of flamenco, or pre-flamenco (because it was fully developed in the 19th century).

We can find pieces of this kind in teh Baroque period (Soler: Fandango, Scarlatti: Fandango). But it is more characteristic in the romantic-nationalism period. The most famous piece is Asturias by Albéniz (which many people think it was written for the guitar, but it wasn't). But also Lecuona, Granados, Turina

You can take a look at this pieces here: https://komptools.blogspot.com/2022/07/obras-para-piano-que-se-pensaron-para.html

Having this all in mind, I took an idea from some months ago and wrote this simple piece

Please, note that the andalusian cadence (Am-G-F-E or similar) is not in A minor, and it's not phrygian (nor dominant phrygian). It's just the analusian cadence, a mode by itself.

Nice job!  You make the andalusian cadence sound fresh and interesting.  The changes in dynamics really make a difference here - I love the quiet parts.  And the piece is written in the range of a classical guitar as well.  If you wanted this piano piece to sound even more like a guitar piece you could have included some more rolled chords.  But it sounds great as is!  Thanks for sharing.

Edit:  I see on second listen that you did in fact include plenty of rolled chords.  My bad!

It would be difficult for me to dislike any piece that has that (A-, G, Fwhatever, E) so you automatically won me on that. As Peter said, the change in dynamics (as well as the rythmic nature of the piece) gives much life to it. I'm also a fan of "guitar-like" piano pieces. Indeed, I have briefly read your blog and I'll make sure to revisit it later.

Overall an interesting piece, and yes it would be somewhat of an error to "naturally" include that cadence in A minor or A harmonic/E major-phrygian because you are either excluding G# or G of the notes that conform the scale I guess.

Kind regards!

14 hours ago, Omicronrg9 said:

It would be difficult for me to dislike any piece that has that (A-, G, Fwhatever, E) so you automatically won me on that. As Peter said, the change in dynamics (as well as the rythmic nature of the piece) gives much life to it. I'm also a fan of "guitar-like" piano pieces. Indeed, I have briefly read your blog and I'll make sure to revisit it later.

Overall an interesting piece, and yes it would be somewhat of an error to "naturally" include that cadence in A minor or A harmonic/E major-phrygian because you are either excluding G# or G of the notes that conform the scale I guess.

Kind regards!

 

Yes. what makes the flamenco mode unique is that with the grade I the third is major (Emaj chord.... G#) but with the grade III (in fact bIII) that tone becomes G (with the G chord): Am - G - F - E. Besides the tonic is E, not Am (that would be some sort of A min).

Here in my country, we are used to listen to this cadence and mode.

Thanks.

There's a special place in my heart for Spanish guitar; hearing this made my day

I work at a music studio, and when I have a gap in my schedule I always grab the Spanish guitar book and run through a bunch of the pieces. I don't know what it is, but it just speaks to me. 

Your piece is awesome, you even had ringing E string notes! Well done, what a cool concept to write a guitar style piece for piano. Thanks for sharing!