Remi Boucher - Plays Granados/Rodrigo/& - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

When we play music, we listen to the passages that inspire us, and we listen for emotion. These passages sometimes stay with us in the form of indelible memories, if we hear them at the right time and in the right place. Through experiences like these, music speaks to us and becomes part of our lives. For Waldo Geuns, one such unforgettable musical work is Goyescas by the Spanish composer Enrique Granados. He gives voice to love in all it's joyful and challenging moments in this, his greatest piano suite. Granados uses the titles and the scenographic notes in the score to illustrate how two lovers make overtures to each other as they dance, how their relationship blossoms even as it weathers darker days, until fate ultimately takes it's toll and one of the lovers passes away, leaving the other behind with beautiful memories. Granados, like Rachmaninov, was one of the last great pianist-composers. His mastery of the piano can be heard in his exceptional virtuosity and lyricism.

Musicam semper amavi (InchI have always loved musicInch) - Martin Luther In Reformationssvit, I wanted to create a musical journey through the history of Christianity with a series of hymns, composed or modernised by Martin Luther, as well as some Swedish hymns, both well-known and little known, which I have arranged in different styles. Most of the hymns can be found in the Swedish hymnbook from 1697, some of which are still included in the present day hymnbook. I have used the old translations, amongst others those by Olaus Petri. The journey begins in Jerusalem in the first century. People are playing music in the streets and market places and singing can be heard from the temple. We also hear Jesus' last words on the cross. Then, via the Coptic church, we arrive at the Gregorian chant with it's modes Mixolydian, Lydian, Dorian, etc. Martin Luther makes his entry with his high and clear voice. Many of the Swedish hymns have three beats to a bar, which was unusual at the time, and was perhaps considered a little too dance like. I have chosen some of my favourites here. Luther thought that the prayer InchOur FatherInch was rushed through and babbled in the whole world without consideration for it's depth of meaning and holy ritual. Here, it is represented in Swedish folk style, with Luther's text in contrary motion. As with many other melodies, Luther modernised the Gregorian chant InchVeni Creator SpiritusInch. Here, I have woven the two existing versions together. Sometimes I have included citations of Luther or Jesus as a counterpart to the hymns. InchGlad dig du kristi brudInch is a well-known hymn, but here it is heard with the old text InchFrojda dig du Kristi brudInch, giving a different rhythm to the melody. Everything is tied together by Luther's five InchsolasInch Sola Scriptura InchScripture aloneInch Sola fide Inchfaith aloneInch Sola gratia Inchgrace

REBaroque - Variations [COMPACT DISCS] date 11/19/2008