Song of the Week: "La Maja Dolorosa No. 1" (Granados)

Song of the Week

Enrique Granados (1867-1916)
La Maja Dolorosa No. 1 (The Forlorn Maiden)

The Music

    The first of three songs entitled "La Maja Dolorosa," this week's song comes from Granados' 12 Tonadillas en estilo antiguo, a set inspired by paintings of Francisco Goya (1746-1828). It's a shame that Granados did not write more art songs, since the Tonadillas are some of the finest examples of that genre to come from Spain. This song is particularly notable for the stark and dramatic atmosphere created by the piano's enigmatic harmonies.

The Performance

    There are not many performances of Granados' vocal music, but I figure any rendition by Teresa Berganza is going to be a solid choice.


The Text

Fernando Periquet (1873-1940)

Spanish
¡Oh muerte cruel!
¿Por qué tú, a traición,
mi majo arrebataste a mi pasión?
¡No quiero vivir sin él,
porque es morir, porque es morir
así vivir!

No es posible ya
sentir más dolor:
en lágrimas deshecha ya mi alma está.
¡Oh Dios, torna mi amor,
porque es morir, porque es morir
así vivir!

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