Festival In Valencia (+midi)

In the days leading up to 19th March, St Joseph's Day, Los Valencianos prepare to celebrate the end of Winter in one of Spain's wildest festivals -"Las Fallas" - the festival of fire. Huge dolls or "ninots" are paraded through the streets with marching bands and Spanish Ladies in traditional dress. On the final night "La Cremá" the young men, with the usual Spanish disregard for health and safety, poke holes in the papier mache shells and fill the dolls with fireworks before they are all set alight in a scene described as Disneyland meets Armageddon :-)

I doubt that British organist Charles Smitton ever visited Las Fallas. It would have been difficult during the war years and the Franco dictatorship. But his 1953 composition perfectly describes the scene. I have only heard one recording of this piece - by the composer himself at the 3/9 Compton of the Gaumont Birmingham from a BBC broadcast in the 1950's and was struck by its vigour.

¡¡Y ahora ha llegado la hora para festejar!!