Starter Packs

Complete your collection with these curated titles, grouped at a special discount.

Shop Now
Piano Classics

Blasco De Nebra: Complete Piano Works

$26.99

Details

Composer
Manuel Blasco de Nebra
Artist
Pedro Piquero
Format
CD
Label
Piano Classics
Released
Apr 18, 2025
Catalog #
PCL10324
UPC
5029365103244

About

Classical Spanish sonatas in the mould of Scarlatti, infused with colour and drama by a native pianist. Born in Madrid in 1750, Manuel Blasco de Nebra died at the age of 34. He wrote around 170 keyboard works, only 30 of which survive. Some were published in his lifetime. Others are preserved in manuscript in the monasteries of Montserrat and La Encarnacion (Osuna), amounting to twenty-four sonatas and six pastorelas. The sonatas are all one- or two-movement works, quick pieces with or without a slow introduction. Pablo Piquero compares this music to innovative pop albums of our own time, 'albums that have taken a decisive step forwards, but which nobody has followed; albums with no sequels. Blasco breaks a new path in Spain, like Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach in Germany, but it has no continuity. He sets out as a precursor to the Sturm und Drang movement, a pre-Romantic, astonishingly original for his time.' Piquero made these recordings - the only complete survey of Blasco de Nebra's keyboard music in 2008-2010. They are reissued in a single set for the first time with the present issue, accompanied by an essay on the life and work of the composer by the scholar Roberto Montes. The pianist's efforts on behalf of Blasco de Nebra have elicited enthusiastic praise from international critics. The Melomano reviewer remarked: 'This young musician surpasses himself, not least in the bipartite form of each sonata, evoking a contrast between the meditative calm of the slow first movement and the gentle revelry of the second. Piquero caresses the piano with the same humility with which Manuel Blasco de Nebra imbued these intimate pieces, apparently ethereal in texture, fragile or delicate, yet well-constructed. He plays with intuitive and unpretentious subtlety, and conjures up, as if through a time-machine, the worlds of Mompou, Debussy, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Scarlatti, Beethoven or Clementi.' - Manuel Blasco de Nebra was a Spanish composer and virtuoso pianist whose keyboard music remains a hidden gem of the Classical era. Born in Seville, Blasco de Nebra was deeply influenced by the rich musical heritage of Spain, blending it's lyrical and expressive traditions with the emerging classical styles of the late 18th century. His surviving piano works, though limited in number, show a combination of technical brilliance, harmonic sophistication, and emotional depth. These compositions, primarily intended for harpsichord or fortepiano, consist of sonatas and pastorellas. They are characterized by elegant melodic lines, intricate ornamentation, and an innovative use of texture that foreshadowed Romantic tendencies. - Blasco de Nebra's music often features sudden dynamic contrasts, suspensions, and a poignant lyrical quality, reflecting the influence of Domenico Scarlatti and the Spanish folk tradition. The Sonatas are especially notable for their emotional range, moving seamlessly between introspection and exuberance. Meanwhile, the Pastorellas, with their pastoral character and light-hearted charm, offer a glimpse into his ability to create vivid and evocative atmospheres. - Although he passed away tragically young, Blasco de Nebra's work provides a valuable bridge between the Baroque and Classical eras, with a distinctively Spanish flavor. - Played with intense concentration, eloquence and charm by Spanish pianist Pedro Piquero. Born in Seville in 1976, he received his musical training in Spain with Esteban Sanchez and in the United States with Caio Pagano. The pianist Maria João Pires invited him in in 2002 to reside in the Belgais Center for Arts in Portugal. He has won several awards and the following has been written of him: «Piquero exceeds himself... a glorious blend of Glenn Gould and Carlos Kleiber» (Melomano); «this is a genuine recording landmark... The very highest quality» (El Pais). Pedro Piquero is also a Soto Zen Buddhist monk, disciple of the Japanese Master Gudo Wafu Nishijima.

Tracklist 57 tracks

  1. 1 Keyboard Sonata No. 107 in G Major (Osuna Encarnacion Monastery manuscript) 04:26
    Track
    1
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata No. 107 in G Major (Osuna Encarnacion Monastery manuscript)
    Duration
    04:26
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  2. 2 Keyboard Sonata No. 108 in E Minor (Osuna Encarnacion Monastery manuscript) 02:47
    Track
    2
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata No. 108 in E Minor (Osuna Encarnacion Monastery manuscript)
    Duration
    02:47
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  3. 3 Keyboard Sonata No. 109 in A Minor (Osuna Encarnacion Monastery manuscript) 02:22
    Track
    3
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata No. 109 in A Minor (Osuna Encarnacion Monastery manuscript)
    Duration
    02:22
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  4. 4 Keyboard Sonata No. 110 in D Major (Osuna Encarnacion Monastery manuscript) 04:06
    Track
    4
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata No. 110 in D Major (Osuna Encarnacion Monastery manuscript)
    Duration
    04:06
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  5. 5 Keyboard Sonata No. 111 in A-Flat Major (Osuna Encarnacion Monastery manuscript) 04:15
    Track
    5
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata No. 111 in A-Flat Major (Osuna Encarnacion Monastery manuscript)
    Duration
    04:15
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  6. 6 Keyboard Sonata No. 112 in C Minor (Osuna Encarnacion Monastery manuscript) 02:19
    Track
    6
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata No. 112 in C Minor (Osuna Encarnacion Monastery manuscript)
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  7. 7 I. Adagio 04:35
    Track
    7
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    04:35
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  8. 8 II. Pastorela 02:48
    Track
    8
    Title
    II. Pastorela
    Duration
    02:48
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  9. 9 III. Minuet 01:37
    Track
    9
    Title
    III. Minuet
    Duration
    01:37
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  10. 10 I. Adagio 04:07
    Track
    10
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    04:07
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  11. 11 II. Pastorela 03:07
    Track
    11
    Title
    II. Pastorela
    Duration
    03:07
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  12. 12 III. Minuet 01:03
    Track
    12
    Title
    III. Minuet
    Duration
    01:03
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  13. 13 I. Adagio 02:53
    Track
    13
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    02:53
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  14. 14 II. Pastorela 03:11
    Track
    14
    Title
    II. Pastorela
    Duration
    03:11
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  15. 15 III. Minuet 01:14
    Track
    15
    Title
    III. Minuet
    Duration
    01:14
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  16. 16 I. Adagio 03:08
    Track
    16
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    03:08
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  17. 17 II. Pastorela 03:08
    Track
    17
    Title
    II. Pastorela
    Duration
    03:08
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  18. 18 III. Minuet 01:33
    Track
    18
    Title
    III. Minuet
    Duration
    01:33
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  19. 19 I. Adagio 04:37
    Track
    19
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    04:37
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  20. 20 II. Pastorela 02:52
    Track
    20
    Title
    II. Pastorela
    Duration
    02:52
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  21. 21 III. Minuet 01:35
    Track
    21
    Title
    III. Minuet
    Duration
    01:35
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  22. 22 I. Adagio 04:38
    Track
    22
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    04:38
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  23. 23 II. Pastorela 03:18
    Track
    23
    Title
    II. Pastorela
    Duration
    03:18
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  24. 24 III. Minuet 01:06
    Track
    24
    Title
    III. Minuet
    Duration
    01:06
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  25. 25 I. Adagio 05:55
    Track
    25
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    05:55
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  26. 26 II. Allegro 03:08
    Track
    26
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    03:08
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  27. 27 I. Adagio 05:27
    Track
    27
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    05:27
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  28. 28 II. Allegro 02:53
    Track
    28
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    02:53
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  29. 29 I. Adagio 04:24
    Track
    29
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    04:24
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  30. 30 II. Allegro 02:44
    Track
    30
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    02:44
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  31. 31 I. Adagio 04:58
    Track
    31
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    04:58
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  32. 32 II. Allegro 02:11
    Track
    32
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    02:11
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  33. 33 I. Adagio 04:55
    Track
    33
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    04:55
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  34. 34 II. Allegro 02:25
    Track
    34
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    02:25
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  35. 35 I. Adagio 04:51
    Track
    35
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    04:51
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  36. 36 II. Allegro 02:01
    Track
    36
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    02:01
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  37. 37 I. Adagio 04:39
    Track
    37
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    04:39
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  38. 38 II. Allegro 02:43
    Track
    38
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    02:43
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  39. 39 I. Andante 03:19
    Track
    39
    Title
    I. Andante
    Duration
    03:19
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  40. 40 II. Allegro moderato 03:33
    Track
    40
    Title
    II. Allegro moderato
    Duration
    03:33
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  41. 41 Keyboard Sonata No. 9 in A Minor (Montserrat Monastery Archive manuscript) 03:37
    Track
    41
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata No. 9 in A Minor (Montserrat Monastery Archive manuscript)
    Duration
    03:37
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  42. 42 I. Adagio 05:20
    Track
    42
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    05:20
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  43. 43 II. Allegro 02:40
    Track
    43
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    02:40
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  44. 44 I. Adagio 05:21
    Track
    44
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    05:21
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  45. 45 II. Allegro 04:10
    Track
    45
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    04:10
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  46. 46 I. Adagio 05:42
    Track
    46
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    05:42
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  47. 47 II. Allegro 03:31
    Track
    47
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    03:31
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  48. 48 I. Adagio 05:32
    Track
    48
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    05:32
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  49. 49 II. Allegro molto 03:10
    Track
    49
    Title
    II. Allegro molto
    Duration
    03:10
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  50. 50 I. Adagio 05:20
    Track
    50
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    05:20
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  51. 51 II. Allegro molto 03:45
    Track
    51
    Title
    II. Allegro molto
    Duration
    03:45
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  52. 52 I. Adagio 05:24
    Track
    52
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    05:24
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  53. 53 II. Presto 04:08
    Track
    53
    Title
    II. Presto
    Duration
    04:08
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  54. 54 I. Adagio 05:18
    Track
    54
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    05:18
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  55. 55 II. Presto 04:00
    Track
    55
    Title
    II. Presto
    Duration
    04:00
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  56. 56 Keyboard Sonata No. 11 in A Major (Montserrat Abbey Archive manuscript) 02:46
    Track
    56
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata No. 11 in A Major (Montserrat Abbey Archive manuscript)
    Duration
    02:46
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero
  57. 57 Keyboard Sonata No. 12 in F Major (Montserrat Abbey Archive manuscript) 03:20
    Track
    57
    Title
    Keyboard Sonata No. 12 in F Major (Montserrat Abbey Archive manuscript)
    Duration
    03:20
    Composer
    Manuel Blasco de Nebra
    Performer
    Pedro Piquero