Enrique Granados Music Lives On

Born on July 27, 1867, Enrique Granados is a highly accredited Spanish Catalan pianist and composer.  It was his unique Spanish style and creativity that captivated audiences as he build up a recognizable image in the Classical music industry. Many of his piano compositions have been transcribed for the classical guitar.

Enrique was born in Lleida, Catalonia to Calixto Granados and Enriqueta Campina.  Unlike some of the other recognizable composers and musicians of classical music, Enrique did not actually pick up music at a very young age.  He began to study piano in Barcelona as a young man.  He had a few different teachers including Francisco Jurnet and Joan Baptista Pujol. 

It was in 1887 when he really became serious about music as he went to Paris to study with Charles-Wilfrid de Beriot and Felipe Pedrell.  After studying in Paris for two years, he returned to Barcelona in 1889.  Despite hard work and dedication, he did not have instant success as it was not until the late 1890s that he became recognized with the zarzuela Maria del Carmen.  This actually gained attention from King Alfonso XIII.

Skip ahead to 1911, Enrique Granados premiered his suite for piano Goyescas.  This easily became his most famous work to date as it included a set of six separate pieces that were based on paintings of Goya.  Enrique was actually a talented painter as well in the style of Francisco Goya. 

Because of the instant success he had with this series, he expanded on it and wrote an opera in 1914 based on it.  Unfortunately for Enrique, the timing could not have been any worse.  The outbreak of World War I canceled his European premiere and he had to wait for two years as it was first performed in New York City on January 28, 1916. 

The crowd in New York City took liking to his musical piece and he was even invited to perform a piano recital for President Woodrow Wilson.  In addition to this, he also made live-recorded player piano music rolls for a New-York-based Aeolian Company.  These were some of his last recordings and can actually be heard today.  One could say his trip to New York was quite successful to say the least.

It is as if bad timing always caught up to Enrique Granados.  Because of his acceptance for the recital invitation, he wound up missing his boat back to Spain.  As a result, he ended up taking a ship to England.  Tragically, the ship that he boarded to Dieppe, France was torpedoed by a German U-boat across the English Channel. 

The boat, Sussex, was hit as part of the German unrestricted submarine warfare policies during World War I.  Enrique attempted to save his wife Amparo, but was unsuccessful as she drowned in the water.  He then jumped out of his lifeboat and drowned himself. 

What is startling is the fact that Enrique Granados actually had a horrific fear of water his entire life.  His return was the first-ever series of ocean voyages in his life.  While the ship broke in two parts and only one sank, ironically his side of the ship did not sink.  Most of the passengers did survive on his side of the ship, but he and his wife were among the few that did not make it.  The couple left behind six children of their own: Eduard, who became a musician, Solita, Enric, Victor, Natalia and Francesc.

Despite the short-lived career of Enrique Granados, his music still lives on today.  The highly talented Spanish pianist will forever be remembered for his creativity and exquisite style that captivated audiences.  As mentioned above, his last recordings in New York can still be heard today as they did survive.