42 Results for : improviser
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The Organ Music Vol.5
Eirik Raude (Percussion) - Jan Fredrik Christiansen (Trompete) // Petr Eben is one of the foremost composers from the Czech Republic. Also known as an organist, he primarily performed his own works, but was also highly sought-after as an improviser on both the piano and the organ. His works for organ are among his most popular.- Shop: odax
- Price: 16.26 EUR excl. shipping
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Miller & O'Keefe: Willful Devices
Willful Devices (the duo) is a collaboration between composer/computer musician Scott Miller and performer/improviser Pat O'Keefe. The Twin Cities based duo's name refers to the fact that both musicians are manipulating devices, be it a clarinet or a computer, in order to generate sonic material. Anyone who works with these tools knows that, sometimes, despite your best efforts, these devices are not fully under your control, and seem to have a mind of their own. Scott and Pat accept this fact, and even celebrate it, because within this unpredictability lies the potential for unimagined sonic discoveries. Much of the development of their music takes place during that unique time we all know as play. The results are vital, playful, dynamic, sincere, and a product of the connection between Scott and Pat and their unique musical identities. Willful Devices (the CD) documents their celebration of the unexpected and unpredictable. It is a collection of composed, interactive electronics works (Chimeric Night), structured improvs (haiku, interrupted) and free improvs (Lattice XVIIb). The overall vibe of the recording can be summed up in the program notes to Arcata: 'Scott makes decisions, Pat makes decisions, the computer makes decisions. There are consequences.'- Shop: odax
- Price: 25.19 EUR excl. shipping
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Naima
"...chamber jazz has found it's queen in Meg Okura." - Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz "Okura has made a bold statement with Naima, ensuring her place among the top names playing chamber jazz."- Jon Neudorf, Sea of Tranquility "A confident collection of chamber jazz that is wide in scope and deep in feeling...features outstanding solos by Okura." "Meg Okura offers a clear sense of vision of her world of music. Okura's Naima goes to many places, speaks in many voices, and is often rich with surprises and admirable in it's aspirations." - Mark Hayes, EJazz News "...(Meg Okura ) is equally comfortable playing classical chamber music, rock and everything in between." - Stephen Holden, The New York Times "Ms. Okura's vibrant, Eastern-influenced, jazzy score and the playing of her musicians were the most sophisticated parts of the work" - Roslyn Sulcas, The New York Times "... (some of) the best jazz New York has to offer." - Elliot Simon, All About Jazz '... mixes a classically trained mastery of strings, piano and drums with quick-witted compositional twist performed with high energy.' - Jennifer Odell, Down Beat Magazine "The group delivers exactly what it's name promises... The group found a common ground in '60s-style modality, occasionally reminiscent of John Coltrane and McCoy Tyner's Eastern explorations." - Will Friedwald, The New York Sun "...elegantly intertwine(s) elements of classical, jazz and world folk into a new sound...by presenting precisely played ethnically inspired Playing everything from Paganini to Coltrane, violin virtuoso Meg Okura puts a certain sparkle into jazz. Formerly a classically trained concert violinist, the composer and jazz violinist has revolutionized the world of chamber jazz by artfully entwining her already colorful and moving pieces with inspirations from various cultures and countries to create a purely enchanting experience. Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, the multi-faceted artist cultivated her musical talent at the Toho Gakuen School of Music at the age of five. Meg's artistic ability later led to her position as concertmaster and soloist of Asian Youth Orchestra, and eventually her United States debut with the late Alexander Schneider's New York String Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in her teenage years. She furthered her education at the Julliard School, earning both bachelors and masters degree in the study of classical violin. Soon, persuaded by her Juilliard professors' belief in her exceptional talent, Meg began to pursue a transition from the classical violin to something even more challenging-jazz. Studying jazz harmony and improvisation, Meg dedicated herself to mastering the tradition of jazz and soon, with her switch of genres and evolution into what she explains as "a more complete musician", Meg began to advance her career as a jazz violinist. Touring with artists such as 13-time Grammy winner Michael Brecker and Steve Swallow, and recording with jazz artists Dianne Reeves, Lee Konitz, and Sam Newsome, Meg has performed at prominent venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, the Lincoln Center, and London's Barbican Centre. In addition, she has collaborated and performed with Oscar nominee actor and Columbia recording artist Terrence Howard, as well as been featured in three Cirque du Soleil shows, exhibiting her remarkable talent as an improviser on the violin. In 2005, however, Meg embarked on a journey unlike one she had ever endured, challenging herself as both a violinist and composer, and starting her own group. Inspired by her experience in the various countries that comprise Asia, Meg composed and recorded a compilation of music that would soon lead to the birth of her latest project, the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble. The works she composed comprised the seven-person ensemble's self-titled debut album, which won the group notoriety as a finalist for "Best Album" in the 2006 Independent Musicians Awards, and have made the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble the rare gem of the jazz world. "Composing is the most natural thing for me to do-it's as though music just comes to me. Sometimes I can be composing complicated music in my dreams and thanks to my perfect pitch, I can hear music in my head and know exactly what notes I am hearing and can write them down," says Meg. The ensemble, which "mixes a classically trained mastery of strings, piano and drums with (a) quick-witted compositional twist" (Down Beat Magazine, Jennifer Odell), played to sold-out concerts in Japan in 2008 and has also performed at the NYC Winter Jazz Festival, Knitting Factory, and the Kaplan Penthouse at Lincoln Center. Now, Meg's Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble presents their second album, "Naima", named as a tribute to jazz icon John Coltrane, highlighting Meg's unique new arrangement of the classic. "The first album was the music that came naturally to me without any objective. This album is...more Asian, more jazz, and more chamber music. Touring Asia as a teen was really a life-changing experience, making music with musicians representing nine different Asian countries, working closely together and traveling together. I draw upon my memories of Asia and try to access my feelings toward the people, the culture, and the nature and sceneries of Asia (for inspiration)," Meg says. Featuring rare instruments the shinobue (Japanese bamboo flute) and the erhu (a two-stringed Chinese violin), which Meg plays in addition to the violin, the album is a "collection of original works that represent and symbolize the name of (the) group." The ensemble "...elegantly intertwine(s) elements of classical, jazz and world folk into a new sound...by presenting precisely played ethnically inspired original compositions in an exciting modern jazz context" (All About Jazz, Elliot Simon). This unique approach to music has earned her numerous grants and awards as a composer, making her to be one of today's leading voices in the world chamber jazz. Yet, Meg also offers two familiar tunes including the title cut "Naima." "The modal quality of Coltrane's 'Naima' echoes with the music of French Impressionist period," she says. In this unique new version, she creates fluidity in texture and colors by writing arpeggios moving towards different directions while slowly shifting the chords to encompass stillness within movements. "It's an Impressionist violin concerto meets modern Jazz with a hint of Japanese mode", Meg says. The other familiar piece on the album "Carpice", on the other hand, is a Latin jazz piece based on a theme from the famous Caprice No. 24 by the Italian composer and violinist, Nicolo Paganini. It features virtuosic cadenzas by Meg Okura herself and pianist Mamiko Kitaura. The album ends with a 25-minute through-composed suite entitled "Lu Chai"--music inspired by a poem of the same title by Wang Wei, a great poet from the Chinese Tang Dynasty. "To play chamber jazz, most, if not all of the players in the group must be jazz improvisers," Meg says. The suite showcases variety of solos including one by the veteran jazz flutist, Anne Drummond, as well as solos on instruments not typically associated with jazz, such as the cello and even the erhu. Today, Meg resides in New York City with her husband, soprano saxophonist Sam Newsome, and says she is living her life, fulfilling her dreams and relishing every day in new understandings and identity. "I take to heart the new challenges of being a composer, jazz violinist, Asian American, artist and wife, while at the same time, constantly reminding myself of the responsibility to do my absolute best to achieve foremost excellence in the arts..." Meg Okura (violin, erhu), Anne Drummond (flute), Jun Kubo (flute, shinobue), Rubin Kodheli (cello), Mamiko Kitaura (piano), Jennifer Vincent (bass), Willard Dyson (drums), Satoshi Takeishi (percussion), Dave Eggar (cello)- Shop: odax
- Price: 25.15 EUR excl. shipping
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New World
What is Svara? Svara is a poly-musical ensemble. Our goal is an innovative foray into unexplored musical spaces. We are 4 musicians who have experienced deep training in a variety of very traditional music forms (including western traditions), from renowned and insightful teachers. We each bring musical ideas and experience from all over the world: India, Bali, Brazil, Europe (Eastern and Western), America. Rock, jazz, classical, contemporary creative music. We have tried to channel that training, that exposure into what we hope is an organic expression, one that incorporates what we have learned from our wonderful teachers into a unique music. We are acoustic. There are no electric instruments on this recording, no synthesizers, nothing against them! It's just not what we bring to our musical experience. All of our music incorporates improvisation - some pieces are almost completely improvised, others have an 'open' section for spontaneous exploration. As closely as possible, this recording represents the way we really play. David Trasoff has studied sarode performance under Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, India's 'Living National Treasure,' since 1973. Acclaimed for his performance in both the United States and India, David has appeared in concert in arts centers, universities, conservatories and festivals in the United States, Europe, and Asia. He served as Director of the Indian Music Ensemble at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has taught at the California Institute of the Arts and Pomona College. David has composed and performed music for film, theater and dance projects, including an award-winning Los Angeles production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the acclaimed Indian art film Leela. Robert Jacobson, a guitarist, composer, and improviser based in Los Angeles, holds degrees in guitar performance from USC and the California Institute of the Arts. He has studied under the direction of Scott Tennant, Miroslav Tadic, Vinny Golia, Pat Kelly, Joe Diorio, and Frank Potenza. His music reflects his training in classical guitar, jazz, free improvisation, and Balinese gamelan. He was featured soloist on the soundtrack to What Matters Most. In 2004 he released a CD of original compositions titled Coldwater on his new record label, Banana Bread Records. John Graves has studied composition with Boulanger pupil Joel Feigin, classical bass with Nico Abondolo. And North Indian classical music with David Trasoff and at the Ali Akbar Khan College of Music. In 1998 John moved back to his native Los Angeles where he delved more deeply into jazz improvisation with Harold Land, Billy Higgins, Roberto Miranda and Kenny Burrell. John has worked as a composer, bassist and producer in such diverse areas as pop, Arabic, gospel, hip-hop, Western swing, film music and reggae. Randy Gloss, a founding member of the renowned percussion group Hands On'Semble, has performed throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Randy has collaborated with a wide array of highly esteemed musicians, including Swapan Chaudhuri, Adam Rudolph, Aashish Khan, Miroslav Tadic, Vladko Stefanovski, David Rosenboom, and Glen Velez. He has been involved in numerous projects fusing world music with new music and jazz, and has contributed percussion for film soundtracks by composers Danny Elfman and Gary Chang. Randy teaches at the California Institute of the Arts.- Shop: odax
- Price: 25.46 EUR excl. shipping
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Pas Aa Pas
'Pas á Pas... music woven together one percussive step at a time.' - Eitetsu Hayashi Chris & Shoko Percussion Duo is a Tokyo-based international percussion duo that is widely recognized for it's musical achievements and captivating audiences with it's exciting and creative performances of percussion music. Christopher Hardy and Shoko Araya, brought together at The University of Michigan, formed their percussion duo in 1989. Their work has led them on concert tours throughout The United States, Great Britain, Asia and Japan. They have been featured performers at The Edinburgh Music Festival, Lincoln Center and at major music festivals in Japan. Together, Chris & Shoko have produced and performed numerous percussion scores for theater and dance including the music for events commemorating "The 1200th Year of Kyoto's Founding" and "America & Japan, 50 Years of Peace Since the End of W.W. II", both command performances for the Emperor and Empress of Japan. In addition to their active individual careers, they have also composed and performed stage adaptations of Yukio Mishima's "Dojoji" (funded by the Japanese Ministry of Culture) and So Kitamura's "Kaguya Hime" and "Otogi Zoshi". Chris & Shoko can be heard on the Victor, JVC, Columbia, Denon, Polydor, EMI, Equilibrium and Sony labels. Born in Japan, Shoko Araya is a highly acclaimed marimba artist, percussion performer, composer and educator. Upon graduation from The Kunitachi College of Music, she received the Takeoka Prize and was also awarded the 2nd prize in the Japan Wind and Percussion Concours. Selected for a scholarship through the Asian Culture Council for further study in The United States, Araya then went on to receive a Masters Degree in Percussion from The University of Michigan. She performs extensively on an international level and is not only an outstanding classical performer but also a naturally gifted improviser. Araya has performed with such legendary artists such as Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, The Chieftains, Eitetsu Hayashi, X Japan, John Neptune, Reichi "Chabo" Nakaido, Mickey Yoshino, Kazumi Watanabe, and Spitz. She has been featured as a marimba soloist at the Patras International Festival in Greece and the Taipei International Percussion Convention in Taiwan. Her teachers include Tomoyuki Okada, Michael Udow and Yoshihisa Mizuno. In addition to being on the percussion faculty at The Kunitachi College of Music and Showa Conservatory of Music, Araya is a highly regarded consultant and composer for music school texts published by Ongaku No Tomo. Christopher Hardy, an American based in Tokyo since 1989, is a highly praised percussionist, composer, educator and recording artist. Hardy has a background in Western percussion from the University of Michigan and is a hand drum specialist whose primary focus is on Middle Eastern and North African percussion. He also performs and records in Renaissance, jazz, world music and other creative musical settings, and has synthesized this variety of influences to create a unique and individual voice. His solo CD Touch, released under the Victor label, was voted "Best Popular Album of 2002" in Japan and has been released on DVD as well. In addition to leading his modern world music group, Tokyo Groove Alliance, Hardy has performed or recorded with artists such as Hamza El Din, John Neptune, Kazumi Watanabe, Yosuke Yamashita, Hidetaro Honjoh, Eitetsu Hayashi, Kazuhiko Kato, Kim Duk-Soo, Hideo Kanze (Noh performer), Onoe Shoroku (Kabuki), Shuntaro Tanikawa (poet), and has worked with composers Lou Harrison, Elliot Carter, Kaoru Wada, Ohiro Minato and George Crumb. Hardy has studied percussion with Michael Udow, jazz vibraphone with Ted Piltzecker and Arabic music with Hamza El Din. In addition to being on the percussion faculty at the Senzoku College of Music in Tokyo, he also presents lectures, master classes, workshops and school concerts.- Shop: odax
- Price: 30.61 EUR excl. shipping
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Compositions & Improvisation
Steve Zocchi is a pianist, a composer, an improviser and performer. The compositons on this CD (tracks 1-6) were composed over a ten year time span and carefully created note by note. They reflect a life-time of studying and performing classical music. The improvisations (tracks7-10) are much more free, as the notes were not set in stone first. Steve has been studying piano for over 32 years and teaching for 20. He has performed countless solo piano recitals which have included original compositions and improvisations as well as the works of the great masters. A lover of Bach's music, Steve's compositions are informed by a study of counterpoint. The two waltzes (tracks 1 and 2) are largely inspired by Chopin though the harmonic vocabulary reaches into the 20th century. 'Slow Goodbye' and 'Scherzo Serio' are the oldest of the compositions and meant to be listened to as a set. The former expresses the deep sadness of true loss, while the latter is a juxtaposition of humor and rage. 'Meghan's Theme' was originally a birthday gift for Steve's wife and it is an expression of love. 'Etude Scherzando/Grave' is a very difficult piece in the style of the late Romantics. The manuscripts for all of these compositions are available. Contact Steve Zocchi with the information found on the CD wallet. As for the improvisations, the titles are somewhat descriptive. 'Ashes and Dust' is a Bills Evans-Style Ballad reflecting emotions associated with mortality. This was written after Steve had a near-death health crisis in 2011. 'Out of My Hands' is just that...completely out of control. Inspired by Thelonius Monk, it is a crazy and funny exploration of jazz freedom that is firmly grounded in virtuosity and technical prowess. 'Blues for Nothing' is a New Orleans style Blues with a little funk mixed in. 'Gratitude' is a spiritual improvisation which is meant to express exactly what it says. Please enjoy this debut recording by Steve Zocchi, Pianist.- Shop: odax
- Price: 24.46 EUR excl. shipping
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Anemone
Gianna Abondolo, cellist, leads a dynamic career performing regularly as soloist, chamber musician, improviser, and composer. A former member of the L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra and graduate of the Juilliard School she has performed extensively in festivals such as Other Minds, Marlboro, and Tanglewood, among others and as soloist with the San Francisco and Contra Costa Chamber Orchestras, Old First Concerts Series, Hertz Hall Concert Series at UC Berkeley, and Mills College Contemporary Music Series. Her recording of Karen Tanaka's musical score for the dance video "Of Time and the Spirit", directed by Tonia Shimin, won critical acclaim in Santa Barbara's 2008 International Film Festival and will be shown this fall at The Reel Dance Film Festival in Victoria, BC, and Gray's Reef Film Festival in Savannah, Georgia. Her own compositions have been commissioned and performed at the Oakland Dance Festival, New York's Cunningham Space, Jacob's Pillow, Santa Barbara Dance Theater, and for the San Francisco Old First Concerts series, UC Santa Clara New Music Festival, and "Strings" Showcase Concert Series in Berkeley, CA. Currently she resides in Richmond, CA, where she is on the faculty at Mills College. Anemone came to life through the artistic collaboration of cellist/composer Gianna Abondolo and choreographer Christopher Pilafian. Named for the delicate windflower, the piece follows the transformation of a woman who finds the strength to liberate herself from the limiting ties of social norms. Anemone was commissioned by renowned dancer Nancy Colahan and premiered by Ms. Colahan and Gianna Abondolo in 1998 at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex at CSULA.- Shop: odax
- Price: 13.81 EUR excl. shipping
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Canciones Argentinas
LINDA FISHER TEASLEY Versatile Soprano Linda Fisher Teasley is constantly expanding her repertoire of musical styles and experiences. Classically trained at the Universities of Maryland and North Carolina, Dr. Teasley has infused her singing with elements of world, jazz and folk music. Her diverse appearances range from work with various opera companies to Carnegie Hall, the Los Angeles World Music Festival, The Kennedy Center, Blossom Music Festival in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Washington Folk Festival. Dr. Teasley has appeared with the Cincinnati Pops, The National Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops, and on numerous nationally televised events. Dr. Teasley has several recordings to her credit, most recently Word-Beat's The Soul Dances and Global Standard Time with her husband percussionist Tom Teasley. These recordings have received international attention in both radio and print media. About her performance on Global Standard Time, Larry Nai of Jazziz Magazine said, " Linda Teasley's wordless vocal on Luiz Bonfa's 'Manha de Carnival' revives the haunting sound of late-'60's European film music." Dr. Teasley has appeared on numerous recordings with the United States Navy band from which she retired after 20 years of service. A dedicated teacher, Dr. Teasley has been on the faculties of Georgetown University, University of North Carolina and Northern Virginia Community College. She is currently on the faculty of the Mitchellville Community School of the Arts where she is also Artist Director. Carlos César Rodríguez Pianist A musician of exceptional brilliance and versatility, Carlos César Rodríguez has gained recognition as a virtuoso pianist who not only generates unusual excitement in the Hispanic and Spanish repertoire but also displays an extraordinary flair for Mozart, the romantics and the avant-garde scores. He has recorded for Omicron and Brioso labels and has won the highest critical acclaim for his CD of Spanish music, España en el corazón, distributed by Brioso Recordings. An expert on early instruments as well, enjoying entree to the Smithsonian Institution's rare collection, he was chosen by the Smithsonian to perform in it's 150th anniversary of the piano as part of the museum's Piano 300th exhibit. He has won acclaim moreover as music director of Mozart operas and Zarzuelas (Spanish operas), and as composer / arranger / improviser of ballets, Spanish dance scores, and Latin-Jazz/Pop compositions. As chamber music artist he has become a regular member of the Garth Newel Chamber Music Festival. As collaborative artist Mr. Rodriguez has worked with Jessye Norman, Denyce Graves and Placido Domingo. As concert-artist he has been in tour in Europe and performed concerti and solo recitals throughout the Americas.- Shop: odax
- Price: 28.91 EUR excl. shipping
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Slice of Pie
Rick is probably best known as an actor with roles on shows like Saving Grace, 24, Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and The Drew Carey Show. Currently he can be seen as Todd on the Spike TV show, Factory. But one of his favorite things to do is story telling and Slice of Pie is his first CD. It is a live recording of his favorite funny and touching original stories, based on interesting characters Rick grew up with in rural central Illinois. His one man show, Pigboy, was his first effort as a story writer/performer. Pigboy toured the mid-west with extended runs in Chicago and Los Angeles. It was chosen by HBO for the Aspen Comedy Festival, where it received glowing reviews from The New York Times, L.A. Times, and Chicago Tribune. Rick continues to write stories and essays for the on-line magazine, Mad As Hell Club. But it is acting that pays the bills. Rick started in Chicago where he did commercials and worked as an improviser with the famous Second City. After hitting the road with the National Touring Company, he went on to the Main Stage, where he co-wrote and performed two shows, John, Paul, Sartre, and Ringo and Catch 27. It was also at The Second City where met his wife, Laura Hall (Whose Line Is It Anyway). In the last couple of years Rick has enjoyed return visits to Chicago to perform at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in Second City's Romeo and Juliet Musical and the main stage production of A Flea in Her Ear. Rick has been in numerous commercials, including his recent AT&T spot, where he can be seen searching for his daughter at lover's leap.- Shop: odax
- Price: 20.56 EUR excl. shipping
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Velena
The French guitarist Roland Dyens is a uniquely gifted composer and improviser, who was born in Tunisia and strongly influenced by the music of Brazil. Since the Portuguese word saudade translates as a 'longing for one's homeland,' these three works may serve as homages to Dyens's three greatest terrestial influences. The first Saudade is filled with elements of early twentieth-century French music: richly voiced major-ninth chords, punctuated bass lines, and it maintains a graceful balance between twentieth-century tonalities and more traditional phrasing and expressive gestures. The second Saudade is unabashedly Brazilian, and is expertly constructed on the framework of a standard Brazilian choro, or chorinho. The final Saudade is intriguingly dark and fiery, with a flavor that evokes the music of North Africa, and instruments such as the ud and the rebab. It's introduction, labeled 'Rituel,' is an abstract expression of the sonorities that are to emerge and meld into the charming dance rhythm that serves as the primary motif of the piece. The energy builds and intensifies in the section titled 'Fête et Final,' before returning to a beautiful resetting of the main theme at a slower, reflective pace. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: A highly skilled guitarist, singer, and luthier, Luigi legnani who wrote many works for guitar. His Opus 1 is a theme and variations, with a slow introduction, and ends with a pensive larghetto, a capricious moderato, and a climactic finale. Although this work has not been frequently performed or recorded, it features all of the character and cohesion of Legnani's later works. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Felix Mendelssohn composed no music for the guitar, but his Songs Without Words fit the personality of the instrument extremely well, matching the expressive tones of the guitar. The third movement of Mendelssohn's String Quartet Number 1, Opus 12, titled 'Canzonetta,' provides material for a challenging arrangement that captures the excitement and clean lines of Mendelssohn's style. It was originally arranged by Francisco Tárrega, then altered by Andrés Segovia, and the arrangement recorded here borrows from both, while also reflecting the sleek character of the scalar violin passages. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Leo Brouwer is a prolific composer and guitarist, and his works are frequently performed and recorded. In his Sonata for solo guitar, Brouwer presents a masterfully constructed dialog featuring musical elements that shaped and influenced his own musical style. The first movement, 'Fandangos y Boleros,' provides the setting for this complex discussion, and utilizes a variety of input-from rhythmic dance motives to an interaction between Antonio Soler and Ludwig van Beethoven. It is in this first movement that Brouwer most fully illuminates these elements that influenced his compositional style, and it is his unique style that allows these elements to meld into a sum that is strengthened and transformed by it's parts. The second movement is a straightforward homage to Alexander Scriabin, and the final movement, 'La Toccata de Pasquini,' is where Brouwer allows his voice to speak above all others, unleashing a flurry of arpeggios in a climactic completion of the Sonata. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Agustin Castillavila is an accomplished composer and guitarist from the Jerez region of Spain, and his compositions encompass a wide variety of characteristics and settings. His Suite Veleña is dedicated to Jeff Copeland, and this is the world premiere recording of the suite. The first movement begins under the tempo descriptor "Misterioso," and introduces focused vibrations of simple opposites: the deep growl of the guitar's lowest string along with the crystalline chime of high-pitched harmonics. Thicker textures emerge, as well as short breaths of scalar passages, dancing on a variety of rhythms. The second movement compresses this energy as taught thirds and speedy triplets fly forward, almost out of control, towards an aggressive flurry of rasgueados that briefly interrupt their path. Once their wits are about them, the third movement takes over, and immediately wrestles to take them away once more. A humorous scherzo, this section of the suite continues to juxtapose thick textures against thin lines, and contains a beautiful interlude, reminiscent of a gondolier's barcarolla, resting in the middle of the chaos. As the suite continually expands and condenses thematic material, the final result is the 'Danza,' where all of the suite's elements are free to celebrate the harmony and order of their union. The motion is swift and relentless, free of hesitation and untethered by restraints. Motives morph, and tensions are released as the entire suite swells to it's final and unwavering climax.- Shop: odax
- Price: 23.13 EUR excl. shipping
