The guitarist, Gaspar Sanz, collected hundreds of pieces in his Instrucción de Música sobre la Guitarra Española which appeared in three volumes (1674, 1675, 1697). These two dances are based on pieces from the instruction manual which probably date from before 1674.

Españoleta is a slow, haunting dance from Spain. Careful dynamic control is required for full effect. It leads without break into the second dance.

Canarios is a lively jig with lots of jumping and foot stomping, perhaps from the Canary Islands. Care must be taken in passages where rhythm grouping changes to put stresses on the correct notes (e.g., letter K). The rhythmic shifts have been written as time signature changes only for the players involved. Conducting the passages in one to a bar will avoid confusion.

In addition, there are bars with what appear to be conflicting types of accents (e.g., bar 111) but these are deliberate and should be carefully observed.

A large string section is required to handle all the divisi but only double winds and brass are needed, with two percussion players.

Score (oversized): 42 pages. Parts: 97 pages