Ferrer: Music 2

Jose Ferrer

Click the title for playback and sheet music:

Sheet Music

The University of the Spanish city Salamanca is one of the oldest in Europe and used to draw many students from abroad.

By the sound of the piece, Ferrer had the student life in Salamanca in mind rather than the scientific subjects that are taught there. The piece starts with a Tango that is almost lots in its triplets. After this little heating-up, a Waltz brings the fun. The drunken return to the student pension after the party is expressed by a little marching in Tambora style.

Sheet Music

Belle is a typical example of the French guitar salon music at the end of the nineteenth century. It that time the Gavotte was no longer a stylised movement of a baroque suite, it just was the peasant dance that it used to be.

That’s clearly audible, the binary measure gives the music something rustic. An Introduction brings you in the mood for the Gavotte that consists of a repeated lead theme and some bridging segments. The Finale provides the (last) opportunity for some virtuosity. A pleasant and entertaining piece that is worth the effort.

Sheet Music

El Ramillete means “a bunch of flowers”. Ferrer composed more presents like this, witness his other piece Gerbe des Fleurs, :-)) a bunch of flowers as well! Anyway, this bunch contains ten pieces. They are not very difficult and provide a nice introduction to the classical/romantic style, also for beginners.

Allegretto is the first piece. If you start playing, you think that you are playing a technical Etude, but after some puzzling you will be able to bring forward a melody. Numbers two and three are Valses, play them in a brisk and joyful tempo, but take care of the dynamics.

Number four, Pastorela, is a quieter piece. Play it broadly and make variations in the sound. Piece five, again a Valse, requires a dancing and joyful approach. Number six, a Marcha, requires march tempo, the position changes in the second section require attention.

Piece number seven is a Mazurka, a dance form that became popular after Chopin and thus landed in guitar music too. Piece eight, an Allegretto, is a bit trickier to play, but once you found the right accents, it becomes an attractive piece.

Onwards to number nine, the most pleasant waltz from this bunch of flowers. A bit trickier, that’s true, but the change of key between E minor and E major provides a pleasant difference and the silent temptation to play Da Capo after the E major section.

El Ramillete concludes with a Mazurka that includes a key change as well.

Sheet Music

This quiet piece in 6/8 meter is not the simplest one from his repertoire. The piece features some interesting chord changes that require practice. The same applies for some excursions to the higher positions. Result, however, is a sympathetic piece of romantic music.

Sheet Music

Ferrer dedicated quite a number of his pieces to other people, like in this case his friend, the D. Apeles Mestres. Apeles Mestres was a Catalan writer that had contact with many composers of the Spanish School (Granados, Albeniz and others).

Horas Apacibles means Peaceful Hours, which is quite obvious in the collection that consists of Allegretto, Valse (3x), Andante (2x), Mazurka, Minué and Nocturno. The pieces require more practice that the ones from for instance Ramillete and Veladas Intimas. They are worthwhile, however, if you want to present a nice impressions of popular musical forms in Ferrer’s romantic music.

Sheet Music

Veladas Intimas means Intimate Evenings. I guess that has little to do with amorous activities, I think it relates to a nice evening with friends, chatting and playing music. The collection has four pieces that are suitable for beginners: Allegretto, Minué, Vals and Nocturno. Note that “beginners” does not mean that you don’t have to practice at all!

Sheet Music

Some time ago I was writing stories with some guitar background music on my phones. I came across a charming little piece called Danza de los Nayades by Jose Ferrer Esteve de Fujadas that I like to share with you.

Ferrer dedicated most of his compositions to the ladies, just like this case, the piece is dedicated to his pupil Thérèsita Wurgler. The lady has disappeared in the mist of time, yet this charming memento has survived the ages.

Naiades are water nymphs from Greek Mythology that were responsible for the purity of the freshwater wells. According to the stories they regularly dance in the moonlight, which yield the romantic background image of this piece.

The piece itself consists of an Introduction and a Mazurka, that at its turn is built-up from two corner sections in E minor that flank the E major middle section. The piece offers ample opportunity to play with colors and the little elegant ornaments. Technically it is not super-demanding and you have a nice piece as the result of your efforts. Attention to the fingering and make it yourself easy!

Sheet Music

Serenata Espanol is a stylized piece of Spanish with a pretty French dressing. The piece starts with a slow introduction of the chord material and proceeds with a joyful dance-like theme. After a middle section with some playing around, the theme returns and dissolves in a coda with some brisk chords to finish the piece

It’s not the simplest piece to play, you will have to study and practice to finish the theme and middle section in the correct tempo. Mind the positions, a well-chosen position provides a nice sound. As with many pieces from this period, the ornaments require attention, but no emphasis. Final result is a rewarding piece that will do well on stage.

Sheet Music

A small Etude with a suitable theme for a bit of humour in the phrasing. E-minor does suggest a certain sadness, I would omit that aspect here. Play the piece to the point in the theme and somewhat broader in the middle section.

Sheet Music

In this small Etude a moderate and solemn tempo is required, take care to play the melody on top of the arpeggio clearly. The piece has an obvious Spanish character. If desired, repeat the section of measure 17 – 31 for a bit of contrast.