Tonadas for Piano

TONADAS marks the new IBS Classical release by Spanish pianist Pablo Martínez, devoted to the 48 Tonadas for piano by Joaquín Nin-Culmell (1908-2004), one of the most distinctive yet still overlooked figures of 20th-century Spanish music. A student of Manuel de Falla and heir to the tradition of Albéniz and Granados, Nin-Culmell developed a highly personal musical language rooted in Spanish folk traditions while shaped by a refined and modern pianistic aesthetic. Structured in four books, the Tonadas form a fascinating musical journey across the diverse cultural landscapes of Spain - from Galicia and the Basque Country to Catalonia, Castile, Murcia, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. Far from being simple folk arrangements, these miniature pieces transform traditional melodies, rhythms and modes into concise, sophisticated concert works of remarkable expressive depth.