Search - Isaac Albeniz, Katona Twins :: Espana / Iberia / Mallorca

An excellent way to start any music collection.

Tom Brody | Berkeley, CA | 08/08/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album contains a generous selection of music by Isaac Albeniz. There are 14 compositions in all, totalling 56 minutes. The shortest piece is Zortzico at one minute and 40 seconds, while the longest piece is El Albaicin at seven minutes and six seconds. The sound quality is excellent. The microphones are close to the guitars.



I would recommend this Katona album over Spanish guitar albums recorded by John Williams and Julian Bream. John Williams' excellent album, Spanish Guitar Music (SBK 46347) contains tunes that were recorded under various conditions. The first cut, Albeniz' Asturias and Tango, was recorded under conditions that cause too many echos and a muddy sound. The other cuts on this Williams' album were recorded under suitable conditions. Still, I prefer the Katona disc.



Julian Bream's excellent album, Popular Classics for Spanish Guitar (Vol. 8 in the Bream series) is a must-buy, but Falla's Homenaje pour le Tombeau de Debussy sounds scary and Villa-Lobos's Etude in E Minor and Villa-Lobos's Etute in C# Minor also sound severe or a little scary. For these reasons, I prefer the Katona disc over the Bream compilation, especially for children.



When a Spanish piece is played by a solo guitar, it sometimes seems like "too many notes" are being stuffed into one guitar. Hence, I prefer this Katona recording, which features two guitars.



I bought this Katona recording because of Cordoba and because of Malaguena. However, this particular version of Malaguena is not the same Malaguena that is widely known (the version that goes: "Ta-ta-TAAA, ta-ta, taa-taa-taa.") and widely recorded on piano. It is a different Malaguena, but it is just as delightful as the more famous Malaguena.



I especially recommend this Katona recording as a way to start a music collection for children. In my opinion, chamber music compositions such as those by Brahms and Schumann, and symphonies in general, are way too complicated for little children. But the Katona guitar pieces provide an easier-to-understand collection of tunes, suitable for neophyte ears in any age group. FIVE STARS."