Leyenda Theme by Isaac Albéniz for Classical Ukulele

Leyenda Theme for Classical Ukulele

In this video, Jeff Peterson plays his arrangement of the Leyenda Theme for Classical Ukulele by Isaac Albéniz. “Leyenda,” which also goes by the names “Asturias” and “Preludio,” is a popular Spanish piano piece. However, it is most well known on the classical guitar. Many guitarists have arranged the piano original to six strings and it fits really well on the instrument.

The original piano composition first appears as “Preludio” in a collection of pieces called “Chants d’Espagne” (Op.232). It then appears in a later revision of Albéniz’s “Suite Española” (Op.47) now identified as “Asturias-Leyenda.” Leyenda in Spanish means “legend” and evokes a mysterious mood as it also hearkens to its moorish origins.

Performance Notes

This condensed version of Leyenda serves as an introduction to the technique where the thumb plays a moving melody while the open A on the 1st string is played on all the upbeats. Begin practicing this slowly, paying close attention to left-hand fingerings. The 4th finger will shift between the 5th, 6th, and 8th frets on the 2nd string. As you practice, keep your left-hand thumb positioned in the middle of the neck behind the fingerboard, allowing it to move up and down in sync with the rest of the hand.

For balance, I find it helpful to align the left-hand thumb with the 2nd finger. Keep the right side of the left palm parallel to the neck, or even closer. Maintain a C-shaped curve in your fingers, moving from the back knuckle. Avoid reaching with the pinky; instead, keep it very curved. The index finger can extend back when necessary.

In the right hand, alternate between P-M and P-I, playing the melody notes with the thumb louder than the open A notes. Experiment with dynamic and tonal shifts to bring out different textures in your playing. Moving your right hand over the fingerboard will produce a warm sound known as dolce or tasto, while positioning it closer to the bridge will create a brighter sound called ponticello.