Pablo de Sarasate (sare-a-SAH-tay)

Born March 10, 1844 in Pamplona, Spain

Died in 1908

Nationality: Spanish

Period/Style: Romantic

About the composer:

A child prodigy on the violin, Pablo de Sarasate was only eight years old when he gave his first public recital. A wealthy man was in the audience that evening, and he was so impressed with the young boy’s playing that he gave Pablo’s parents money so they could take him to Madrid to study with a great violin teacher.  Word got around that he was in Madrid, and before he knew it he was a regular and favorite performer at the court of Queen Isabel II.  His violin playing was famous for its sweet tone, and he became famous as a composer and a violinist. Many of the violin concertos written by other composers around that time were written just for him! The music he wrote for violin had a Spanish flavor, and it was mostly because of him that Spanish music became known and loved in Europe.

About the music:

Zigeunerweisen (ze-GOON-err-VY-zen) (approx. 10 min)

This is a fantasy (free-form improvisation) on some gypsy songs. It begins with a long solo violin introduction, and then the orchestra joins in.  It’s full of color and fire! It’s a truly virtuosic showpiece.

Suggested activities:

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