FELICJA BLUMENTAL : Spanish and Portuguese Keyboard Music - Volume 2

Editorial Reviews
Album Description

Felicja Blumental

Spanish and Portuguese Keyboard Music - Volume 2

Music by Angles, Soler, Ferrer, Freixanet and Seixas

Felicja Blumental : Piano

Tracks:

Angles: Adagietto
Angles: Fugato in B flat major
Soler: Sonata in G minor
Ferrer: Sonata in D major
Freixanet: Sonata in A major
Anon: Toccata in C major
Seixas: Fuga in A minor Allegro
Seixas: Fuga in A minor - Minuet 2
Seixas: Sonata in C major Allegro
Seixas: Sonata in C major - Adagio
Seixas: Sonata in C major - Minuet
Seixas: Minuet in A minor
Seixas: Toccata in D minor
Seixas: Minuet in F minor - Allegro
: Seixas: Minuet in F minor - Minuet
Seixas: Sonata in C minor
Seixas: Sonata in D minor - Moderato
Seixas: Sonata in D minor - Giga
Seixas: Sonata in D minor - Minuet

Album Description

Some may believe the music of 18th Century Iberian composers to be less interesting than the music from Germany, France and Italy of this period. However, these two volumes of keyboard music illustrate the originality of Spanish and Portuguese composers Angles, Albéniz, Cantallos, Carvalho, Ferrer, Freixanet, Jacinto, Seixas and Soler. At the beginning of the 18th Century, Louis XI was King of Spain. He felt little enthusiasm for Spanish national art and preferred foreign artists. Consequently, Italian singers and composers gradually influenced the aristocratic tastes and the court life in Spain. It was a similar situation in Portugal. When King Johan V (1707-1750) became ruler of Portugal, he set about cultivating the arts in the city of Lisbon. Portuguese musicians had the opportunity to take apprenticeships in Italy while Italian musicians, such as Domenico Scarlatti were welcomed into Lisbon to perform. The authoritative musical figures during this time were! men of the church. Father Antonio Soler was a friar, organist and composer as well as an important theoretician who dominated the musical scene in Spain. The first pianofortes were being manufactured and Soler was fortunate to have a piano at the monastery. Although he wrote for the organ, the compositional quality of his keyboard works show that he had the piano in mind. His Portuguese counterpart was José António Carlos de Seixas. Seixas became Portugal's finest keyboard player of this period who bridged the gap between Baroque and Classical eras. Both composers did not simply duplicate Italian idioms, but developed and expanded the style while recalling their Spanish and Portuguese roots. They blended vocal-like melodies into quasi-contrapuntal lines and simple block harmonies. This formed a model on which classical composers such as Haydn and Mozart were to base their compositions.

Spanish and Portuguese Keyboard Music - Volume 1

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Spanish and Portuguese Keyboard Music - Volume 1

Manufacturer: Brana Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Spanish and Portuguese Keyboard Music - Volume 2

ASIN: B0002E5L3U
Release Date: 2004-06-25

Tracks:

Soler: Sonata in C sharp minor (Allegro Moderato)
Soler: Sonata in D major (Allegro)
Angles: Aria in D minor (Andante ma non lento)
M. Albz: Sonata in D major (Presto e gaio)
Cantallos: Sonata in C minor (Allegro scherzando)
Seixas: Sonata in A minor - Allegro
Seixas: Sonata in A minor - Minuet 1
Seixas: Sonata in A minor - Minuet 2
Seixas: Toccata in E minor - Allegro
Seixas: Toccata in E minor - Adagio
Seixas: Toccata in E minor Minuet
Seixas: Sonata in B flat major (Allegro)
Jacinto: Toccata in D minor (Allegro)
Carvalho: Toccata in G minor - Allegro
Carvalho: Toccata in G minor - Andante

Album Description

The 18th Century was an eventful time for the religious establishments in Spain and Portugal. Musicians travelled frequently between the countries and the techniques employed by organists and choir masters were shared. As a result of this cross-fertilization of ideas, the keyboard techniques evolved.

When King Johan V (1707-1750) became ruler of Portugal, he set about cultivating the arts in the city of Lisbon. Institutions were reformed and Portuguese musicians had the opportunity to take apprenticeships in Italy while Italian musicians, such as Domenico Scarlatti were welcomed into Lisbon to perform. Scarlatti in particular, was a central figure at this time, filling the post of Chapel Master in the capital city for 10 years from 1719. Carlos de Seixas (who was Vice Chapel Master) and Frei Jacinto were two of Portugal's most important musicians during this period. They composed prolifically for the keyboard, particularly sonatas and toccatas. Seixas was credited as having bridged the gap between the Baroque and Classical eras with his Sonatas.

Father Antonio Soler, on the other hand, dominated the musical scene in Spain. He was greatly nfluenced by Scarlatti and wrote a technical treatise on modulation.

Tragedy occurred in 1755, when an earthquake shook Lisbon and destroyed many of its treasures including libraries containing music manuscripts. Because of this, many compositions by Carlos de Seixas and Frei Jacinto were destroyed. However a few survived that still enjoy exposure today. Here is a handful of wonderful Spanish and Portuguese works that have survived the test of time.

FELICJA BLUMENTAL : Spanish and Portuguese Keyboard Music - Volume 2
Average customer rating:
FELICJA BLUMENTAL : Spanish and Portuguese Keyboard Music - Volume 2

Manufacturer: Brana Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0007UXJ3I
Release Date: 2005-02-17