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Nights in the Gardens of Spain

Actors Candela Gomez and Khalid Abdalla with readings from Abd Allah ibn al-Simak and Lorca to Sameer Rahim and Victoria Hislop, plus music from Manuel da Falla and Souad Massi.

The Alhambra Palace in Granada is our focus today. The city was home to one of Spain鈥檚 greatest poets, Federico Garcia Lorca, from the age of 11 through to his 20s. Field recordings made in Granada combine with music and readings connected to this captivating city, from the epigraphic poems that are written into the very walls of the Alhambra, to the medieval verse of Abd Allah ibn al-Simak, through to the verse and letters of Lorca. Actors Candela Gomez and Khalid Abdalla also read contemporary takes on Granada's Flamenco bars by Victoria Hislop, and a melancholy modern-day visit to the Alhambra from Sameer Rahim's latest novel which considers its imprint of Islamic rule.

The Spanish soundtrack includes Flamenco specially recorded in one of Granada's historic guitar workshops by singer Juan Panilla and guitarist Francisco Manuel Diaz, pieces by that great Andalusian Manuel Da Falla as well as fellow Spaniards Albeniz and Granados, and a song from the Algerian singer Souad Massi who wrote a whole album inspired by the Arab-Andalusian poets. The music melds with the sounds of Granada's fountains, cicadas and birdsong for this special edition of the programme as we transport you to Al-Andalus.

Producer: Georgia Mann. Recordings in Granada made by Robert Winter.

READINGS:
Epigraphic poem on the Basin of the Lions at the Alhambra
Epigraphic poem from the Hall of the Two Sisters at the Alhambra
Extract from a letter by Federico Garcia Lorca to Melchor Fernandez Almagro
Garcia Lorca -La Guitarra
Washington Irving - Tales of the Alhambra
Sameer Rahim - Asghar and Zahra
Garcia Lorca - Baladilla de los tres r铆os
Ibn Sa鈥檌d al-Maghribi -The Battle
Victoria Hislop - The Return
Gerald Brenan - South of Granada
Abu J鈥檉ar, Ahmad ibn Sa鈥檌d - The Procuress
Abd Allah ibn al-Simak - The Garden
Extract from a letter by Federico Garcia Lorca to Benjamin Palencia
Garcia Lorca - Arbol茅, Arbol茅
Th茅ophile Gautier - The Last Sigh of the Moor
Garcia Lorca - Little Tales of the Wind
Epigraphic poem Comares' Gate at the Alhambra
Garcia Lorca - Holy Week in Granada

1 hour, 14 minutes

Last on

Wed 22 Dec 2021 18:15
大象传媒 Radio 3

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:01

    Lior Elmaleh

    Invocacion Qamti be-Ishon-Layla (Canta de los Cantares. Inspirado en Cantar 3, 1 -4)

    • Alia Vox AVSA9915.

  • Anon

    Epigraphic poem from The Alhambra, Poem on the basin of the Lions read by Khalid Abdallah

  • 00:04

    Manuel de Falla

    Extract from Nights in the Gardens of Spain (i. En el Generalife)

    Performer: Steven Osborne. Orchestra: 大象传媒 Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Ludovic Morlot.
    • Hyperion CDA68148.

  • Anon

    Epigraphic poem from The Alhambra, Poem in the Hall of the Two Sisters read by Candela Gomez

  • Federico Garc铆a Lorca

    Extract from a letter to Melchor Fernandez Almagro, read by Candela Gomez

  • 00:08

    Francisco T谩rrega

    Recuerdos de la Alhambra for guitar

    Performer: Andres Segovia (guitar).
    • DG 4716972.

  • Federico Garc铆a Lorca

    La Guitarra, read by Candela Gomez and Khalid Abdallah

  • 00:13

    Juan Panilla (voice), Francisco Manuel Diaz (guitar)

    La Guitarra

    • 大象传媒 Recording made in Granada.

  • Washington Irving

    Extract from Tales of the Alhambra, read by Candela Gomez

  • 00:17

    Isaac Alb茅niz

    Suite espanola, Op. 47: Granada

    Performer: Alicia de Larrocha.
    • Decca 478 0388.

  • Sameer Rahim

    Extract from Asghar and Zahra, read by Khalid Abdallah

  • 00:23

    In莽iraf Dil

    Li Ayyi Sabab

    Performer: Amina Alaoui (vocalist), Ahmed Piro Et Son Orchestre.
    • Auvidis Ethnic ? B 6806.
  • 00:26

    Isaac Alb茅niz

    Iberia - book 3 for piano, no.1; El Albaicin

    Performer: Alicia de Larrocha.
    • Decca 4178872.

  • Federico Garcia Lorca

    Baladilla de los tres r铆os, read by Candela Gomez

  • 00:30

    Anon

    Extract from Taqsim instrumental & Danza morisca

    Performer: Moslem Rahal (ney), Waed Bouhassoun (oud), Driss El Maloumi (oud), Hakan Gungor (kanun), Yurdal Tokcan (oud), Haig Sarikouyoumdjian (duduk), Erez Shmuel Mounk (percussion), Jordi Savall (Director).
    • Alia Vox, ASA9915.

  • Ibn Sa:id al-Maghribi

    The Battle, read by Khalid Abdallah

  • Victoria Hislop

    Extract from The Return, read by Candela Gomez

  • 00:33

    Juan Panilla (voice), Francisco Manuel Diaz (guitar)

    Unknown

    • 大象传媒 Recording made in Granada.
  • 00:35

    Manuel de Falla

    El Sombrero de tres picos - suite no. 2, Dance of the miller (Farruca)

    Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: Jes煤s L贸pez Cobos.
    • Decca, 411928-2.

  • Gerald Brenan

    Extract from South of Granada, read by Khalid Abdallah

  • 00:39

    Manuel de Falla

    Extract from Seven Popular Spanish Songs

    Singer: Victoria de los 脕ngeles. Performer: Gonzalo Soriano.
    • EMI, CZS5693052.

  • Abu J'far, Ahmad ibn Sa'id

    The Procuress, read by Candela Gomez

  • 00:43

    Souad Massi

    Saaiche

    Performer: Souad Massi (voice).
    • From El-mutakallimun (Masters of the Word), Wrasse.
    • 10.

  • Abd Allah ibn al-Simak

    The Garden, read by Candela Gomez

  • 00:47

    Enrique Granados

    Andaluza - Spanish Dance no.5

    Performer: Judith Hall. Performer: Tim Walker.
    • Collins 10132.

  • Federico Garcia Lorca

    Extract from a letter to Benjamin Palencia, read by Khalid Abdallah

  • 00:52

    Pablo de Sarasate

    Playera (Spanish Dance, Op. 23 No. 1)

    Performer: Brodsky Quartet.
    • Chandos CHAN10708.

  • Federico Garcia Lorca

    Arbol茅, Arbol茅, read by Candela Gomez

  • Th茅ophile Gautier

    The Last Sigh of the Moor, read by Khalid Abdallah

  • 00:59

    Claude Debussy

    Extract from Images, L. 118a: II. Iberia - Les parfums de la nuit

    Orchestra: Orchestre national de France. Conductor: Emmanuel Krivine.
    • Warner, GBPFW1800061.

  • Federico Garcia Lorca

    Extract from Little Tales of the Wind, read by Candela Gomez

  • Anon

    Epigraphic poem from The Alhambra, Poem on Comares: Gate, read by Khalid Abdallah

  • 01:07

    Juan Garc铆a de Z茅spedes

    Ay que me abraso - guaracha

    Ensemble: Hesp猫rion XXI. Choir: La Capella Reial de Catalunya. Conductor: Jordi Savall.
    • Alia Vox, AV9834.

  • Federico Garcia Lorca

    Extract from Holy Week in Granada, read by Khalid Abdallah

  • 01:11

    Tomas Barrera/Rafael Calleja/Victoria de los Angeles

    Adios Granada

    Performer: Victoria de los Angeles (soprano).
    • EMI CDM566938 2.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 29 Sep 2019 17:30
    大象传媒 Radio 3
  • Wed 22 Dec 2021 18:15
    大象传媒 Radio 3

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