Spanish Dance No. 5 by Enrique Granados, arranged here for Levels 8 and 5, is a lively flamenco inspired piece. The melody is given to guitar one and requires upper position reading with shifts. Part three begins with the characteristic grace notes in the bass that give this piece its thick Spanish sound. Part two is typically playing off beat. This will take a little time to learn, however, once the rhythm is ingrained, ensemble should not be an overwhelming issue with this piece. The A section should be heavy and bold while the slower B section should be light and delicate.
Cultural/Historical Context: Enrique Granados, 1867-1916, was born in Spain and is primarily known for his piano compositions with a strong, traditional Spanish sound. Because he was so influenced by traditional Spanish folk music, many of his piano works are meant to mimic the sound of the guitar. Have the students listen to the Spanish Dances on piano and describe what it is about these pieces that mimics the sound of the guitar.