The Spanish composer Manuel de Falla (1876–1946) used various types of compositional styles ranging from the romantic Spanish nationalism, the avant-garde and through to neoclassicism. However, Falla almost always kept the folkloric/flamenco elements as his most valuable resource throughout his career. This Homage was composed during the years that Falla was settling in Granada with the help of his composer friend Ángel Barrios, after having lived in Madrid and Paris.
One of the notable characteristics of the avant-garde art is the avoidance of exact or literal reference which resulted in a heavy use of metaphors, symbolism or deformation.
In this musical tribute, Falla evokes Debussy’s suggestive sensory music by quoting fragments of ‘Soirèe dans Grenade (The Evening in Granada)’ and ‘La Puerta del Vino (The Wine Gate)’. In particular, the inspiration for the latter came from a postcard of the Alhambra’s Wine Gate that Falla had sent him. The Homage closes with reference to Debussy’s ‘Soirèe dans Grenade’.