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Track(s) taken from CDA66176

Guitares et mandolines

composer
1890
author of text

Dame Ann Murray (mezzo-soprano), Graham Johnson (piano)
Recording details: March 1985
Unknown, Unknown
Produced by Martin Compton
Engineered by Antony Howell
Release date: July 1988
Total duration: 1 minutes 41 seconds

Cover artwork: El Jaleo. John Singer Sargent (1856-1925)
Reproduced by permission of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, USA
 

Other recordings available for download

François Le Roux (baritone), Graham Johnson (piano)
Marcus Farnsworth (baritone), Joseph Middleton (piano), The Myrthen Ensemble

Reviews

‘A hit!’ (Hi-Fi News)
Guitares et mandolines is one of Saint-Saëns’ evocations of different musical instruments and is a song to his own text. It was written in 1890 and is one of the most effective of the many French songs which evoke Spain. It is true that the poem is not a masterpiece in itself, but it gives the composer ample opportunity to paint pictures. The repeated notes in the right hand of the accompaniment, an effect which suggests the plectrum at work, are the mark of a piano virtuoso who knows the tricks of the trade (the fingers have to alternate quickly on these repetitions). There is also a teasing use of hemiola, and when sharps and naturals are mentioned in the text (‘dièses, bécarres’) the composer pointedly writes an extra sharp sign above the word ‘dièses’, and takes care that all the melismatic notes of ‘bécarres’ are naturals.

from notes by Graham Johnson © 1997

Other albums featuring this work

Saint-Saëns: Songs
CDA66856
Songs to the moon
Studio Master: SIGCD4432CDs Download onlyStudio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available
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