An opéra comique with a tragic ending, Carmen has all of the ingredients for a compelling story: two handsome men, both vying for the heart of the same woman, two women who love the same man, along with all of the deception and betrayals that occur in such a complicated state of affairs. After a few rough years after its debut, Carmen has become a favorite of opera-goers ever since.
A lovely gypsy who works at a cigarette factory, Carmen makes her appearance known with this famous aria, the Habanera. After a hard day’s work, Carmen, along with her friends, begin flirting with soldiers who are chatting in the street outside the factory. The flirtatious Carmen answers the soldiers’ pleas for her love with the Habanera, its pulsating beat seductive, its lyrics a warning to anyone who would fall in love with such a fickle woman.
The habanera’s roots in Cuban folk music make this a piece a natural for the solo guitar. This transcription is in the key of A minor. As you play, make the rhythm pulsating, as seductive as the original.
Spot Practice Clip:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/embed/xKQs16eWofc[/youtube]This clip demonstrates a challenging passage that requires bringing out the melodic line on top of a complex rhythmic accompaniment. As you study the score, play the melody (the top line) separately to get a good sense of how it sounds and feels on your guitar. Then, play the accompaniment separately (keeping the same rhythm through the piece). Finally, put the melody and accompaniment together, practicing it slowly, then building up speed as you develop mastery.
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