TGIF, Jun 26, 5:30pm

Bryan Hutchinson plays de Falla, Granados, and Chopin at our Friday concert. Sanctuary doors open at 5:15 pm, and the concert begins at 5:30. The concert is free with donations accepted.

Program

Four Spanish Pieces (1908) — Manuel de Falla (1876-1946)
Aragonesa
Cubana
Montanesa (Paysage)
Andaluza

“Quejas o la Maja y el Ruisenor” (1911) from “Goyescas”, Op 11 (Laments or The Maiden and The Nightingale) — Enrique Granados (1867-1916)

“Fantaisie” – f minor, Op 49 (1841) — Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

Program Notes

Falla – Spanish composer. Cuatro piezas españolas, is piano suite dedicated to Isaac Albéniz. As Falla’s piano output was relatively small, this is considered a significant work. The suite reflects characteristic Spanish musical idioms and regional styles, often suggesting guitars and dancers.

Granados – Spanish composer. “The Nightingale” is #4 in his “Goyescas” suite, inspired by the painter Goya. It starts with the queja (plaint or sad cry) of the maiden. Near the end there are bird-like trills representing the nightingale, a powerful mythological symbol that represents love, longing, artistic inspiration, and the duality of joy and sorrow, in it’s melancholic song.

This year (2026) is notable in that Falla was born 150 years ago, died 80 years ago of cardiac arrest, while Granados died from drowning (with his wife) 110 years ago, due to a WWI German navy torpedo attack in the English Channel.

Chopin – Polish/French composer. The mystery of his Fantaisie is the form; a puzzle breaking bonds of traditional structure into creative drama, outbursts of passion and temperament, in a single-movement work. After completing this composition, Chopin wrote “The sky is bright, but my heart is afflicted by sorrow”. This contrast seems to be found in the Fantaisie as well.

Biography

Bryan is from northern New Mexico, which provided a wonderful and diverse childhood. He studied piano, band, and choir, as a child. He holds a Masters Degree in Piano Performance from Michigan State University, a Bachelors of Piano from NMSU, with additional study at ENMU and UNM. He completed piano pedagogy requirements, and has loved teaching many students over many decades, of all ages and levels.

He has performed in the USA, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. He has accompanied choirs, orchestras, chamber ensembles, many recitals, ballet, opera, as well as serving as a church pianist for 10 years.

In 2019, he happily moved to Santa Fe, taking a long route back home to northern NM, via many other cities and states.