Sarasate - Playera for Violin and Piano from Spanish Dances, Op. 23 (PDF Sheet Music / Digital Download)

Sarasate’s "Playera", the first half of his Spanish Dances, Op. 23, is a sultry and evocative masterpiece that captures the soulful essence of Andalusia. Built upon the rhythmic foundation of the playera—a form of flamenco song closely related to the mourning seguidilla—the piece features a deep, thrumming piano accompaniment that mimics the dark resonance of a Spanish guitar. Above this, the violin weaves a melody filled with intense pathos and rhythmic flexibility, utilizing intricate slides, rapid-fire pizzicato, and mournful cadenzas. It is a work of controlled passion, demanding that the performer balance technical precision with the raw, improvisational spirit of a traditional cantaor.

This edition is a reissue of music originally published by N. Simrock.