Isaac Albéniz, a Spanish composer and pianist, wrote Malagueña as part of his piano music inspired by the folk traditions of Málaga in Andalusia. Its dance-like rhythm and Andalusian melody made it a favourite in piano recitals, and it was later arranged for guitar and orchestra, which helped it reach listeners far beyond classical concert halls. Today the piece is widely recognised as a symbol of Spanish musical identity, and short excerpts circulate online as atmospheric background music for videos about Spain, dance and romance.