Intruiging and Thoughtful Music
Kilemyan | Copenhagen, Denmark | 10/04/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The record company "Musicians Showcase" has recently released a superb CD with the Cuban American pianist Martha Marchena.
This CD contains the complete piano works of her fellow Cuban American Aurelio de la Vega and thanks to Amazon.com I was able to purchase this CD. The distinguished composer Aurelio de la Vega (b1925) has dedicated 60 years of his life to contemporary music and eight of his piano works can be heard on "The Piano Works of Aurelio de la Vega".
Despite his Cuban origin de la Vega does not write music for the body but writes music for the mind - intriguing and thoughtful music.
This CD presents eight piano works of de la Vega written between 1944 and 1986. The CD opens with the neo-impressionist and romantic inspired "Tres preludios" (1944), which remind me a little bit of Debussy or Szymanowski or the early Schoenberg.
"Danza lenta" (1956) is a brief work and the second time I was listening to the CD I began humming to this wonderful "dance" tune.
I could not hum to the 9-minute long "Antinomies" (1967) an intriguing work written in a highly advanced language, which brings the Darmstadt School to mind.
"Homenagem" (1985-86) is a truly masterpiece written in memory of the great Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959).
The final work on the CD is the poetic and thoughtful "Epigrama" (1953), a lovely piece and a perfect choice to conclude this superb CD.
Martha Marchena's splendid CD is a 5-star record - musically and technically. I am very happy that I could purchase this CD from Amazon.com"