Neoclassicism, Nationalism and Modernism in the Spanish Reception of Manuel de Falla’s Works (1915–1939): Hemerography and Archival Sources

Abstract

This article explores the use and meaning of the terms Neoclassicism, New Classicism, and Modern Classicism in the context of early 20th-century Spanish music, particularly during the Silver Age (1900–1936). Following the 1898 political crisis, this period witnessed a profound cultural transformation marked by efforts to modernize and to redefine Spain’s artistic trajectory in light of World War I. Spanish intellectuals and artists navigated between a desire for European integration and a renewed emphasis on national traditions, giving rise to the movement known as Novecentismo. The article focuses on how the idea of Neoclassicism emerged from this context, interpreted as a synthesis of European modernism and Spanish identity, often shaped by French cultural narratives. Rather than analysing Manuel de Falla’s works – El retablo de Maese Pedro and the Concerto – from a purely musicological perspective, this study examines how these compositions were framed, interpreted, and ideologically constructed through contemporary Spanish music criticism. It demonstrates how critics projected national identity and artistic modernity by positioning Spain within a peripheral yet dialogic relationship to French and broader European modernism.