Fandango, Spanish Dance, Op 5, No 3 for flute quintet

The publication of Granados’s 12 Spanish Dances coincided with the 1892 Barcelona Olympics. One of the main attractions during those Olympics was an exhibit of paintings of Spanish villages that illustrated the diverse architectural styles and cultures of the country. Granados had a similar concept in mind for his Dances by creating a cycle of keyboard vignettes depicting Spanish life. The Fandango alternates between a lively dance and a song-like melody, being traditionally performed by a couple and accompanied by castanets and guitar. The grand finale that begins in measure 50 is reminiscent of a Jaleo, in which spectators shout and clap loudly to encourage the dancers’ exhilarating ending. This quintet arrangement may be performed with five C flutes, but is much more exciting with the addition of a piccolo, an alto flute, a bass flute and even a contrabass flute.

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