Casals – Song of the Birds

^{Pablo Casals (1876-1973)}

^{Song of the Birds (1939)}

^{Pablo Casals was one of the most important musicians of the 20th century, as widely known during his long lifetime for his unrivaled musicianship as for his outspoken political convictions. Casals’ Song of the Birds uses as its basis a Catalan Christmas song that Casals arranged after leaving Spain in 1939 to protest the accession of Francisco Franco’s regime. The song itself tells of four birds – an eagle, lark, finch, and sparrow – coming to serenade the infant Jesus in the manger; Casals often performed it as an encore at his concerts.}

^{Of it, Casals said that he hoped that “these sounds may be like a gentle echo of the nostalgia we all feel for Catalonia. These sentiments must make us all work together…with the hope for a tomorrow of peace, when Catalonia will again be Catalonia.”}

^{© Jonathan Blumhofer}

^{Reproduction Rights: This program note may be reproduced free of charge in concert programs with a credit to the author.}