Bessette, Louise / Regards Sur L'espagne
| Album: | Regards Sur L'espagne | Collection: | Classical | |
| Artist: | Bessette, Louise | Added: | Feb 2011 | |
| Label: | Analekta | |||
A-File Activity
| Add Date: | 2011-09-25 | Pull Date: | 2011-11-27 | Charts: | Classical/Experimental |
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| Week Ending: | Oct 2 |
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| Airplays: | 2 |
Recent Airplay
| 1. | Sep 28, 2011: | Memory Select
Andalucía (Suite Española) / Ii. Andalucía |
3. | Jul 20, 2011: | consummate classical
Nuevas Monodías Españolas |
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| 2. | Sep 27, 2011: | abra turns on the transmitter
Andalucía (Suite Española) / Vi. Malagueña, Andalucía (Suite Española) / V. Guadalquivír, Andalucía (Suite Española) / Iv. Gitanerías, Andalucía (Suite Española) / Iii. Alhambra, Andalucía (Suite Española) / Ii. Andalucía, Andalucía (Suite Española) / I. Córdoba |
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Album Review
Be Sharp
Reviewed 2011-09-12
Reviewed 2011-09-12
Montreal-born pianist Louise Bessette performs music by modern (late 19C - 1st half 20C) Spanish composers (in one case a Cuban influenced by Spanish folk music). As you might expect, much of this music is lively and spirited. Nice booklet in English and French. Solo piano.
No FCC issues.
Tracks 1-6: ** “Spanish Suite” (pieces easily separated); Impressions of Spain’s various regions.
1. * Mid-tempo. Stirring yet somewhat sad. A little like a national anthem. (3:47)
2. ** Faster. Repeated left-hand runs against right-hand waltz melody. Exuberant. (2:59)
3. * Fast fanfares bookend a slower middle, impressionistic with some modernist dissonance. (from piano to forte, then back to piano) (5:06)
4. Very fast and energetic, like flamenco. Lively melody set to stomping left-hand chords. (2:03)
5. ** Mostly fast. Strongly expressive and regional as if Chopin were Spanish. (5:01)
6. * Mixed fast and slow passages. Very grand & romantic. The famous “Malagueña” melody, often heard on guitar; never gets old. (4:22)
7. ** Mostly slow and gentle. Lovely impressionism. No obvious Spanish theme. (4:24)
8. * Called “tango” but clearly a concert piece. Mid-tempo but varies. Parts are gentle, others are fiery. Evocative of dancing, rather than dance music per se. (5:26)
Tracks 9-13: Suite of short “gypsy dances”
9. Slow, quiet intro, then mid-fast, moderately loud. Hard banging. Not pleasant. (4:05)
10. Soft, impressionistic, ballet-like. Ambiguous time signature. (3:28)
11. Also impressionistic. A bit heavier than 10, but lighter than 9. (2:34)
12. ** Very fast and lively. Full of exciting chord sequences and cadenzas. (1:35)
13. * Fast and exciting. Gallops along. Very complex syncopation between two hands. (1:56)
14. Mid-tempo mostly, but quite slow in spots. Rather dark and somber. Very modern. (8:27)
15 Twenty-one fast, tricky passages separated by pauses. Like an exercise book. (12:54)
No FCC issues.
Tracks 1-6: ** “Spanish Suite” (pieces easily separated); Impressions of Spain’s various regions.
1. * Mid-tempo. Stirring yet somewhat sad. A little like a national anthem. (3:47)
2. ** Faster. Repeated left-hand runs against right-hand waltz melody. Exuberant. (2:59)
3. * Fast fanfares bookend a slower middle, impressionistic with some modernist dissonance. (from piano to forte, then back to piano) (5:06)
4. Very fast and energetic, like flamenco. Lively melody set to stomping left-hand chords. (2:03)
5. ** Mostly fast. Strongly expressive and regional as if Chopin were Spanish. (5:01)
6. * Mixed fast and slow passages. Very grand & romantic. The famous “Malagueña” melody, often heard on guitar; never gets old. (4:22)
7. ** Mostly slow and gentle. Lovely impressionism. No obvious Spanish theme. (4:24)
8. * Called “tango” but clearly a concert piece. Mid-tempo but varies. Parts are gentle, others are fiery. Evocative of dancing, rather than dance music per se. (5:26)
Tracks 9-13: Suite of short “gypsy dances”
9. Slow, quiet intro, then mid-fast, moderately loud. Hard banging. Not pleasant. (4:05)
10. Soft, impressionistic, ballet-like. Ambiguous time signature. (3:28)
11. Also impressionistic. A bit heavier than 10, but lighter than 9. (2:34)
12. ** Very fast and lively. Full of exciting chord sequences and cadenzas. (1:35)
13. * Fast and exciting. Gallops along. Very complex syncopation between two hands. (1:56)
14. Mid-tempo mostly, but quite slow in spots. Rather dark and somber. Very modern. (8:27)
15 Twenty-one fast, tricky passages separated by pauses. Like an exercise book. (12:54)
Track Listing