September 26, 2018

  • Exploring

     Costas: Works for Guitar and Flute

    Duo Beija-Flor
    (Charles Hobson, guitar. Marie Noelle Choquette, flute)
    Big Round Records 8953
    Total Time:  68:12
    Recording:   ****/****
    Performance: ****/****

     

    The Montreal-based Duo Beija Flor explores a variety of music with Spanish and Latin flavor in this new collection of pieces for flute and guitar.  Many are unique transcriptions made by the duo.

    Manuel de Falla’s popular Siete Canciones Populaires Espanolas (1914), originally for soprano and piano, loses nothing in this this delightful traversal that makes them feel far more “original” to their source material than one might otherwise have expected.  The melodic content is beautiful and the various folk rhythms and dances provide contrast to the more lyrical movements.  Fun rhythmic techniques on the flute help provide some nice contrast as well.  The second of the three multi-movement works on the album is by the renown Brazilian guitarist, Sergio Assad (b. 1952).  His Summer Garden Suite is derived from the only score he has written today for the Japanese film Natsu No Iwa (1994).  The three movements explore Rio de Janeiro from its sights and sounds.  The “Opening” begins our journey with a stop for a beautiful “Summer Garden” before we bid “Farewell.”

    Eight shorter works fill out the central portion of the program.  It begins with two works by the Argentinean, Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992).  A candombe rhythm is used to depict the Escualo (shark) of the title which is a rare non-tango work by the composer.  The popular “Oblivion” from his score for Henry IV (1984) follows.  Two street scenes bring us to other parts of Latin America.  We move over to Buenos Aires first for Narcisco Saul’s (b. 1957) Boulevard San Jorge taking its inspiration from the tango.  Then it’s off for the Havana Street Parade by Canadian composer Roddy Elias whose music infuses jazz harmonies against an intriguing melody.  A couple of “sweets” inspired the two pieces by Brazilian Celso Machado (b. 1953).  Pe de Moleque is a delightful samba while Quebra Quiexo slows things down for contrast.  Two fados follow.  These are forms with roots in 19th-Century Portugal and were often songs with topics of a more melancholic nature.  Today the topics may vary.  Valeu a Pena is more like the forms origin with a more reflective askance.  We are off to Portugal for the following Lisboa e sempre Lisboa.

    The diaspora of Jews into Europe landed many in Portugal and Spain where a distinct quality of Sephardic songs developed.  The album concludes with four of these arranged by Sid Robinovitch.

    This is a really wonderful collection of music that engages the listener with its melodic inventiveness and delightful rhythmic explorations.  The performances are equally fine and well-balanced here in the sound picture.  A truly wonderful discovery for those looking for a lighter musical experience.