Search - Villa-Lobos, Mignone, Nazareth :: Latino-Anerican Piano Music

Not a single ordinary note! Exquisite music from down under

A. Braid | New York, NY | 08/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yes, there is hardly an ordinary note on this entire CD, which highlights piano miniatures of seven Latin American composers. Unfortunately, many Latin American composers do not receive their due in the U.S.: their music is often criticized for incorporating too many folk elements, and therefore is not taken seriously as recital fare. While all these pieces are rather short (the longest is under 8 minutes), these are moving and stylish perfromances which eloquently portray the beautiful Latin American heritage and have intellectual appeal. The three works here by Villa-Lobos are pensive and dreamy; Mignone's two 'Valsas de esquina' draw upon the European waltz tradition breathing spanish spirit into this most trite of genres. The two pieces by Nazareth are playful and just might make you bob your head or swing a bit to the rhythm. More contemporary sounds are delivered in the music of Ginastera, who is regarded as Argentina's most accomplished composer. Eduardo Caba makes gestures from Latin American Indian heritage with various modal and pentatonic passages. And on down the list... the selections of music are wonderfully chosen and well played by pianist Irma Ametrano. Whether you've heard of these guys or not (I had only heard of two of the seven composers before I found this CD), their music will be sure to win your heart. While these composers draw upon the tradition of Western European music (you will certainly hear echoes of Chopin, Liszt, and maybe others in the piano writing), they are true to the rhythms, melodies, and harmonies of their own culture. I wish this were a double CD set: the program notes state that these composers have written a lot more piano music than what is presented here. This album will provide many hours of fulfilling listening enjoyment."