A Catholic, a patriot, a good modernist: Manuel de Falla and the Francoist musical press

Moreda Rodriguez, E. (2013) A Catholic, a patriot, a good modernist: Manuel de Falla and the Francoist musical press. Hispanic Research Journal, 14(3), pp. 212-226. (doi: 10.1179/1468273713Z.00000000045)

Abstract

Although the composer Manuel de Falla left Spain for Argentina only a few months after the end of the Civil War in 1939, the Franco regime tried from the beginning to obtain its support in order to achieve a measure of legitimacy, given that Falla was, at the time, the only living Spanish composer of international standing. This article explores the way in which, during the first decade of the Franco regime, the musical press, music criticism and musicology worked to construct an image of the composer which suited the dictatorship. Thus, Falla was presented, first of all, as a true Catholic, and this allowed him to be a true Spaniard; in turn, both qualities combined turned him into a representative of what a healthy and ‘Spanish’ musical modernism could look like. I will analyze how this narrative was supported by particular readings of Falla’s works, including the Harpsichord Concerto and El retablo de maese Pedro.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Spanish music, Francoism, Manuel de Falla, music and politics, musical mysticism, Quixotism
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Moreda Rodriguez, Dr Eva
• Authors: Moreda Rodriguez, E.
• Subjects: M Music and Books on Music > ML Literature of music
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Culture and Creative Arts > Music
• Journal Name: Hispanic Research Journal
• Publisher: Maney Publishing
• ISSN: 1468-2737
• ISSN (Online): 1745-820X
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2013 W.S. Maney and Son Ltd.
• First Published: First published in Hispanic Research Journal 14(3):212-226
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher