Sebastián Iradier
Encyclopedia
Sebastián Iradier Salaverri (Salaberri) (20 January 1809 6 December 1865), a.k.a. Sebastián Yradier, was a Spanish Basque
composer.
Iradier was born in Lanciego
, in the province of Álava
. His publisher in Paris
urged him to "universalize" his name, from Iradier to Yradier. He is known primarily for his habaneras
, especially the one titled "La Paloma
", written around 1860 after a visit to Cuba
. "La Paloma" was extremely popular in both Spain
and America
(especially Mexico
), where it was responsible for the great popularity achieved by the habanera
.
A collection of 25 of Iradier's most popular songs was published in Paris in 1864, with French words, as "Fleurs d'Espagne".
Another of Iradier's compositions is "El Arreglito", an habanera used by Georges Bizet
in his opera
Carmen
as a source of inspiration. Bizet, thinking it was a folk song, inspired by the melody of "El Arreglito" and recomposed what is known today as the "Habanera"
from Carmen: the aria "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle" which is another aria from "El Arreglito". When he discovered his mistake, he added a note to the vocal score of the opera, acknowledging its source.
Iradier died in obscurity in 1865.
Basque music
The strict classification of Basque music remains a controversial issue, complicated in part by the growing diversification of such music, but by and large it is made in the Basque Country, it reflects traits related to that society/tradition and it is devised by people from the Basque...
composer.
Iradier was born in Lanciego
Lanciego
Lanciego is a town and municipality located in the province of Álava, in the Basque Country, northern Spain. The municipality of Lanciego in Rioja Alavesa consists of three towns: Lanciego, Assa and Viñaspre...
, in the province of Álava
Álava
Álava is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Álava. Its capital city is Vitoria-Gasteiz which is also the capital of the autonomous community...
. His publisher in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
urged him to "universalize" his name, from Iradier to Yradier. He is known primarily for his habaneras
Habanera (music)
The habanera is a genre of Cuban popular dance music of the 19th century. It is a creolized form which developed from the contradanza. It has a characteristic "Habanera rhythm", and is performed with sung lyrics...
, especially the one titled "La Paloma
La Paloma
This article is about the song. For the American city, see La Paloma, Texas."La Paloma" is a popular song, having been produced and reinterpreted in diverse cultures, settings, arrangements, and recordings over the last 140 years. The song was composed and written by Spanish composer Sebastián...
", written around 1860 after a visit to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. "La Paloma" was extremely popular in both Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and America
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
(especially Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
), where it was responsible for the great popularity achieved by the habanera
Habanera (music)
The habanera is a genre of Cuban popular dance music of the 19th century. It is a creolized form which developed from the contradanza. It has a characteristic "Habanera rhythm", and is performed with sung lyrics...
.
A collection of 25 of Iradier's most popular songs was published in Paris in 1864, with French words, as "Fleurs d'Espagne".
Another of Iradier's compositions is "El Arreglito", an habanera used by Georges Bizet
Georges Bizet
Georges Bizet formally Alexandre César Léopold Bizet, was a French composer, mainly of operas. In a career cut short by his early death, he achieved few successes before his final work, Carmen, became one of the most popular and frequently performed works in the entire opera repertory.During a...
in his opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
Carmen
Carmen
Carmen is a French opéra comique by Georges Bizet. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1845, itself possibly influenced by the narrative poem The Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin...
as a source of inspiration. Bizet, thinking it was a folk song, inspired by the melody of "El Arreglito" and recomposed what is known today as the "Habanera"
Habanera (aria)
In the form of habanera, there is a famous aria from the opera Carmen by Georges Bizet. It is sometimes referred to as "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle." . Its score was adapted from the habanera "El Arreglito," originally composed by the Spanish musician Sebastián Yradier...
from Carmen: the aria "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle" which is another aria from "El Arreglito". When he discovered his mistake, he added a note to the vocal score of the opera, acknowledging its source.
Iradier died in obscurity in 1865.