Psyché (Falla)

Psyché is a 1924 work by the Spanish composer Manuel de Falla. It is scored for voice and chamber ensemble.

The piece reflects Falla's international links. The text by Georges Jean-Aubry, who worked for Falla's London publisher, is in French. It can also be seen as part of a neoclassical phase in the composer's work, like for example the harpsichord concerto. Apart from choosing a classical subject for the text, Falla uses a musical style which references 18th-century music. Apparently, Falla imagined a performance in the 18th century in which the classical story is told in the Peinador de la Reina (Queen's Dressing Room), a location in the Alhambra.[1]

The work was composed in Granada, where the composer had settled. It was first performed in 1925 in Barcelona's Palau de la Música Catalana as part of a concert given by the Orquesta Betica de camara de Sevilla (this was an Andalusian orchestra, formed a couple of years earlier, to which the composer had links). The composer directed several of his works at the concert,[2] including Psyché which was performed by:

  • Singer: María Josepa Regnard
  • Harp: Raquel Marti
  • Flute: Miguel Perez
  • Violin: Fermin Perez
  • Viola: Fernando Romero
  • Cello: Segismundo Romero

Publication

Psyché was published by J. & W. Chester, Ltd. in 1927.

References

  1. ^ Muñoz, José Antonio (January 2026). "'Psyché', el capricho de Falla, cumple 100 años". Ideal (in Spanish). Retrieved January 4, 2026.
  2. ^ "Programa: Orquesta Betica de camara de Sevilla". Memòria Digital de Catalunya (MDC) (in Catalan). Retrieved January 29, 2026.

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