Prélude et fugue de St Thomas, for piano

The piece Prélude et fugue de St Thomas draws inspiration from Diego Velázquez’s painting of Saint Thomas, created during his early period—known as the Sevillian phase.

Two key objects appear in the painting of Saint Thomas: the book and the spear.

The book alludes to the four canonical gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These gospels are the earliest Christian texts to record the oral tradition from the religion’s inception, recounting the life and message of Jesus.

The spear, meanwhile, symbolizes the instrument of his martyrdom—a common feature in Christian iconography, where saints are frequently depicted alongside the means of their death.

Having considered the painting’s various elements—the story of Saint Thomas, the artist’s own perspective, the geographical and historical-cultural context, and the Arab cultural heritage reflected in flamenco music—we can better grasp the musical work’s artistic framework. In essence, the piece embodies a constant duality between the sacred and the profane, unfolding through the lens of Saint Thomas’ disbelief and the multicultural musical environment in which the work is situated.

Abril Riu Buron