Suite Catalana

The Suite Catalana (Catalan Suite) was written in 1960 and includes a Prelude evoking popular themes and five traditional dances from different parts of Catalonia.
Although the Suite can be played from a choreographical point of view, the structure of each dance is somewhat different from that of the original popular dances, since repetitions of sections have been added or deleted and the tempo has occasionally been changed. Deep down, it is a harmonisation which attempts to preserve the spirit of Catalan popular music in all its purity and simplicity.
The knowledge of Taverna-Bech of the folklore and his love of Bartokian style have enabled the author to fully express on the piano the richness of this ancestral music without compromise. We would like to highlight the harshness of the ostinati, the slow rhythm of the dances, the expressive beauty of the melodies and the constant acciaccature.
These pieces also have a didactic side to them which makes them suitable for intermediate level piano teaching, with technical difficulties including elaborate piano formulas such as hand cross-overs, arpeggiated chords and three-stave notation, to be gradually overcome by students.