Noches en los jardines de Espana is the nearest Falla came to writing a normal concerto. He started writing it in 1909 as a set of nocturnes for solo piano; over the next few years it changed in form and was completed and premiered in 1916. It is not quite a “normal” concerto because the piano part, though important, is not as dominant as in other concertos, and there are no long solo passages or cadenzas. The writing for the piano is unusual, often imitating the sound of the guitar. Perhaps with Debussy’s La Mer in mind, Falla referred to this work as “symphonic impressions”. He went on to say “The themes are based on the rhythms, modes, cadences and ornamental figures which distinguish the popular music of Andalusia. The music has no pretensions to being descriptive – it is merely expressive. But something more than festivals and dances have inspired the evocations in sound, for melancholy and mystery also have their part.”

It is divided into three movements, and the first is the longest at about 10 minutes. The title In the Generalife refers to the gardens of the Alhambra, the beautiful summer palace of the Islamic kings of Spain in Granada. If you can find a quiet time and avoid the tourist hordes, the gardens are still stunningly beautiful today. Starting quietly, the music works up to a passionate climax before dying away peacefully.

The second and third movements run together, beginning as a quick but light dance in triple time. A more powerful theme is followed by menacing high violin notes, which lead into the third movement, faster and energetic. This has a more obvious gypsy and flamenco influence. After a rich climax, the movement subsides into a nostalgic epilogue of half remembered dreams.