What does the concept “Spanish music” mean to the international audience?

Dr. Carol Hess asks her readers this question in the introduction of her first published book, which took years of researching and teaching the answer.

Hess is an Associate Professor of Music at the University. She teaches several classes, including composition, music history and music literature. The combination is referred to as “musicology.”

Recently, Hess published her third book, “Sacred Passions: The Life and Music of Manuel de Falla.”

This was Hess’ second book based on de Falla, the famous Spanish composer, who intrigued her, mainly, because he was a deeply religious man whose music is extremely sensual.

“The two extremes are very interesting,” Hess said.

Since she graduated college in 1994, Hess left sunny California and began her work in Bowling Green. She is now a specialist in 19th and 20th century Spanish and Latin American music. Hess has received research grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Committee for Cultural Cooperation between American Universities and Spain’s Ministry of Culture.

Hess’ dedication to her work has resulted in many awards. She was the first recipient of the American Musicdogical Society’s Robert Motherwell Book Award and was one of three finalists for the 2003 Royal Philharmonic Society Award.

Hess said she is most proud of her 2001 ASCAP — Deems Taylor Award for her first book, “Manuel de Falla and Modernism in Spain 1898 – 1936.”

Emily Thompson, senior, has had Hess as a teacher for music history and chamber and symphonic literature.

“Dr. Hess is very thought provoking,” Thompson said. “She is very interested in talking about ideas and hearing student’s thoughts.”

Thompson shares Hess fascination of people in music history and is one of many of Hess’ students, who leaves her classes well aware of Spanish and Latin American Music from the 19th and 20th century.

“Sacred Passions” is now available through the Oxford University Press.