Joaquín Turina

Danzas Fantasticas, op. 22

The best-known work by Spanish composer Joaquín Turina (1882-1949), DANZAS FANTÁSTICAS (Fantasy Dances or Fantastic Dances), Op. 22 was written in 1919 between August 11 and 29, first for piano, then orchestrated later, although the orchestral version premiered first at the Teatro Price in Madrid on February 13, 1920, by the Orquesta Filarmónica de Madrid, Bartolomé Pérez Casas conducting. The piano version was finally premiered by Turina on June 15, 1920, at the Málaga Sociedad Filarmónica. Inspired by the novel LA ORGÍA by José Más, quotations from the novel were printed on the score before each of the three dances. Movements: I. Exaltación (a jota from Aragon); II. Ensueño (a Basque zortziko in 5/8 time); III. Orgía (an Andalusian farruca).