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Nimbus

Guastavino: Complete Piano Music / Martin Jones

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Details

Composer
GUASTAVINO, CARLOS
Artist
Martin Jones
Format
CD
Label
Nimbus
Released
Mar 01, 2008
Catalog #
NI5818
UPC
710357581823

About

Simple delight in well-crafted, unpretentious music-making.

These three CDs present, in almost chronological order, the complete piano music of a composer who will, I imagine, be unfamiliar to most readers. Carlos Guastavino was born in Santa Fé, the capital of the northern Argentine province of the same name. After studies at home and in Buenos Aires he achieved international recognition as a pianist, touring South America, the USSR and China, and giving broadcasts on the BBC in London. His musical language is firmly rooted in tradition, believing that music should be firmly based on singable melodies and tonal harmony and written for us now, not for the discovery of future generations.

The first three pieces are delightful. A fast dance, a slow atmospheric piece and a dedication to beautiful earth, beautiful country (Tierra Linda), a phrase often used to refer to Argentina itself, get this set off to a fine start. Easily approachable, delightful to listen to, difficult to play, Guastavino has the vernacular of his country’s music at his fingertips.

The Sonatina in G minor is a light hearted piece. Already Guastavino has started to simplify his style and the sheer exuberance of the finale is a joy. The Sonata of two years later is more serious in substance but equally easy going in language, and is only let down by a rather banal fugue in the middle of the finale, but a return to the colloquial material redeems this. And so it goes for this first CD.

The second CD contains two sets of ten pieces each. The Diez Preludios are well characterized pieces, being free, and simple, settings of children’s songs and very attractive they are too. Very short, they leave you wanting more. The Diez Cantilenas Argentinas which follow are much bigger pieces, more nationalistic in feel. The tempi are, in general, leisurely and the composer takes his time to make his point. These are lovely pieces, abstract in feel with a thicker texture than the Preludios, and much more filigree writing.

The final CD starts with a shock. Here is some strong, individual music, obviously from the same hand as the earlier pieces but with more character. Until now I was beginning to wonder if Guastavino’s style developed and was most pleasingly surprised with these Tres Romances Nuevos (Three New Romances), although there are only two! Pueblito, mu pueblo, Cancion Argentina is a step backwards, being a later arrangement of a very early song, but with Las Presencias (Appearances) and Mis Amigos (My Friends) we reach Guastavino’s mature style, and most attractive it is. These fifteen short pieces are portraits of friends (some imaginary!) and they are light and delicate, full of colour and a real feel for the south. It really was worth waiting for these prizes. The final set of Popular Songs presents the most effective treatment of simple material with a childlike effortlessness.

If you’re expecting highly rhythmic, heavily accented Argentinian music of the Ginastera type, or the slinky, sexy tangos of the great Astor Piazzolla then this is not for you. What Guastavino gives us is South America through a late 19th – early 20th century European compositional style, but with the voice of the Americas always to the fore. This is not a set for playing from start to finish in one sitting, but there’s enough music of interest, and variety within the small style, here for many enjoyable visits.

Martin Jones is a fine, and always reliable, pianist so I have no doubt that his performances are of the first order, they certainly sound most authoritative - I have never seen the music so am relying entirely on my ears! - and I suspect the thoroughly enjoyed himself when recording these most enjoyable works.

The booklet is excellent, Calum MacDonald’s twelve pages of biography and discussion of the music are all one could want in helping you through music which is new to you.

Well worth having for the simple delight in solid, well crafted and unpretentious compositions and music making.

-- Bob Briggs, MusicWeb International

Tracklist 69 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 Gato 01:27
    Track
    1
    Title
    Gato
    Duration
    01:27
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  3. 2 Bailecito 03:38
    Track
    2
    Title
    Bailecito
    Duration
    03:38
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  4. 3 Tierra linda 03:34
    Track
    3
    Title
    Tierra linda
    Duration
    03:34
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  5. 4 I. Allegretto 02:55
    Track
    4
    Title
    I. Allegretto
    Duration
    02:55
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  6. 5 II. Lento muy espressivo 02:51
    Track
    5
    Title
    II. Lento muy espressivo
    Duration
    02:51
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  7. 6 III. Presto 02:13
    Track
    6
    Title
    III. Presto
    Duration
    02:13
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  8. 7 I. Allegretto intimo 04:39
    Track
    7
    Title
    I. Allegretto intimo
    Duration
    04:39
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  9. 8 II. Scherzo: Molto vivace 02:59
    Track
    8
    Title
    II. Scherzo: Molto vivace
    Duration
    02:59
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  10. 9 III. Recitativo: Lento - Molto allegro 02:34
    Track
    9
    Title
    III. Recitativo: Lento - Molto allegro
    Duration
    02:34
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  11. 10 IV. Fuga y Final: Allegro 05:35
    Track
    10
    Title
    IV. Fuga y Final: Allegro
    Duration
    05:35
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  12. 11 No. 1. Movimento 04:47
    Track
    11
    Title
    No. 1. Movimento
    Duration
    04:47
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  13. 12 No. 2. Retama 04:33
    Track
    12
    Title
    No. 2. Retama
    Duration
    04:33
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  14. 13 No. 3. Danza 04:00
    Track
    13
    Title
    No. 3. Danza
    Duration
    04:00
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  15. 14 Estilo 04:34
    Track
    14
    Title
    Estilo
    Duration
    04:34
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  16. 15 No. 1. El Patio 02:15
    Track
    15
    Title
    No. 1. El Patio
    Duration
    02:15
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  17. 16 No. 2. El Sauce 02:39
    Track
    16
    Title
    No. 2. El Sauce
    Duration
    02:39
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  18. 17 No. 3. Gorriones 03:08
    Track
    17
    Title
    No. 3. Gorriones
    Duration
    03:08
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  19. 18 Pampeano 03:27
    Track
    18
    Title
    Pampeano
    Duration
    03:27
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  20. 19 La tarde en rincon 02:50
    Track
    19
    Title
    La tarde en rincon
    Duration
    02:50
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  21. 20 Las ninas 05:57
    Track
    20
    Title
    Las ninas
    Duration
    05:57
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  22. 21 Romance de Cuyo 05:04
    Track
    21
    Title
    Romance de Cuyo
    Duration
    05:04
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  23. Disc 2
  24. 1 No. 1. La Dama Dama 01:06
    Track
    1
    Title
    No. 1. La Dama Dama
    Duration
    01:06
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  25. 2 No. 2. La flor de cana 02:18
    Track
    2
    Title
    No. 2. La flor de cana
    Duration
    02:18
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  26. 3 No. 3. Rimoron 01:35
    Track
    3
    Title
    No. 3. Rimoron
    Duration
    01:35
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  27. 4 No. 4. Margarita 03:23
    Track
    4
    Title
    No. 4. Margarita
    Duration
    03:23
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  28. 5 No. 5. Bordando para la reina 01:55
    Track
    5
    Title
    No. 5. Bordando para la reina
    Duration
    01:55
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  29. 6 No. 6. Una nina bonita 02:54
    Track
    6
    Title
    No. 6. Una nina bonita
    Duration
    02:54
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  30. 7 No. 7. Cuantas estrellas 01:44
    Track
    7
    Title
    No. 7. Cuantas estrellas
    Duration
    01:44
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  31. 8 No. 8. Un domingo de manana 03:42
    Track
    8
    Title
    No. 8. Un domingo de manana
    Duration
    03:42
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  32. 9 No. 9. La torre 02:14
    Track
    9
    Title
    No. 9. La torre
    Duration
    02:14
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  33. 10 No. 10. En un coche va la nina 01:52
    Track
    10
    Title
    No. 10. En un coche va la nina
    Duration
    01:52
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  34. 11 No. 1. … Santa Fe para llorar 03:52
    Track
    11
    Title
    No. 1. … Santa Fe para llorar
    Duration
    03:52
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  35. 12 No. 2. Adolescencia 04:22
    Track
    12
    Title
    No. 2. Adolescencia
    Duration
    04:22
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  36. 13 No. 3. Jacaranda 05:09
    Track
    13
    Title
    No. 3. Jacaranda
    Duration
    05:09
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  37. 14 No. 4. El Ceibo 02:58
    Track
    14
    Title
    No. 4. El Ceibo
    Duration
    02:58
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  38. 15 No. 5. Abelarda Olmos 05:11
    Track
    15
    Title
    No. 5. Abelarda Olmos
    Duration
    05:11
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  39. 16 No. 6. Juanita 02:57
    Track
    16
    Title
    No. 6. Juanita
    Duration
    02:57
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  40. 17 No. 7. Herbert 06:09
    Track
    17
    Title
    No. 7. Herbert
    Duration
    06:09
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  41. 18 No. 8. Santa Fe antiguo 03:20
    Track
    18
    Title
    No. 8. Santa Fe antiguo
    Duration
    03:20
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  42. 19 No. 9. Trebol 03:09
    Track
    19
    Title
    No. 9. Trebol
    Duration
    03:09
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  43. 20 No. 10. La casa 05:05
    Track
    20
    Title
    No. 10. La casa
    Duration
    05:05
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  44. Disc 3
  45. 1 No. 1. La nina del rio dulce 07:13
    Track
    1
    Title
    No. 1. La nina del rio dulce
    Duration
    07:13
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  46. 2 No. 2. El chico que vino del Sur 03:47
    Track
    2
    Title
    No. 2. El chico que vino del Sur
    Duration
    03:47
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
  47. 3 Pueblito, mi pueblo (version for piano) 02:28
    Track
    3
    Title
    Pueblito, mi pueblo (version for piano)
    Duration
    02:28
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  48. 4 No. 1. Loduvina 03:54
    Track
    4
    Title
    No. 1. Loduvina
    Duration
    03:54
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  49. 5 No. 2. Ortega 03:45
    Track
    5
    Title
    No. 2. Ortega
    Duration
    03:45
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  50. 6 No. 3. Federico Ignacio Cespedes 03:59
    Track
    6
    Title
    No. 3. Federico Ignacio Cespedes
    Duration
    03:59
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  51. 7 No. 4. Mariana 02:50
    Track
    7
    Title
    No. 4. Mariana
    Duration
    02:50
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  52. 8 No. 5. Horacio Lavalle 04:48
    Track
    8
    Title
    No. 5. Horacio Lavalle
    Duration
    04:48
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  53. 9 No. 1. Luisito, de la calle Concordia 02:44
    Track
    9
    Title
    No. 1. Luisito, de la calle Concordia
    Duration
    02:44
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  54. 10 No. 2. Nelly, de la calle Rio IV 02:53
    Track
    10
    Title
    No. 2. Nelly, de la calle Rio IV
    Duration
    02:53
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  55. 11 No. 3. Ismael, de la calle Teodoro Garcia 03:07
    Track
    11
    Title
    No. 3. Ismael, de la calle Teodoro Garcia
    Duration
    03:07
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  56. 12 No. 4. Pablo, del Aeroparque 01:48
    Track
    12
    Title
    No. 4. Pablo, del Aeroparque
    Duration
    01:48
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  57. 13 No. 5. Fermina, de la calle Aranguren 01:42
    Track
    13
    Title
    No. 5. Fermina, de la calle Aranguren
    Duration
    01:42
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  58. 14 No. 6. Gabriel, de la calle Andonaegui 01:40
    Track
    14
    Title
    No. 6. Gabriel, de la calle Andonaegui
    Duration
    01:40
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  59. 15 No. 7. Alberto, de la calle Posadas 02:17
    Track
    15
    Title
    No. 7. Alberto, de la calle Posadas
    Duration
    02:17
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  60. 16 No. 8. Casandra, de la calle Galileo 02:08
    Track
    16
    Title
    No. 8. Casandra, de la calle Galileo
    Duration
    02:08
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  61. 17 No. 9. Damian, de la calle Malabia 01:39
    Track
    17
    Title
    No. 9. Damian, de la calle Malabia
    Duration
    01:39
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  62. 18 No. 10. Alina, de la calle Lacroze 01:37
    Track
    18
    Title
    No. 10. Alina, de la calle Lacroze
    Duration
    01:37
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  63. 19 No. 1. — 01:32
    Track
    19
    Title
    No. 1. —
    Duration
    01:32
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  64. 20 No. 2. — 01:08
    Track
    20
    Title
    No. 2. —
    Duration
    01:08
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  65. 21 No. 3. — 00:57
    Track
    21
    Title
    No. 3. —
    Duration
    00:57
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  66. 22 No. 4. — 02:51
    Track
    22
    Title
    No. 4. —
    Duration
    02:51
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  67. 23 No. 5. — 00:51
    Track
    23
    Title
    No. 5. —
    Duration
    00:51
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  68. 24 No. 6. — 02:25
    Track
    24
    Title
    No. 6. —
    Duration
    02:25
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  69. 25 No. 7. — 02:05
    Track
    25
    Title
    No. 7. —
    Duration
    02:05
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  70. 26 No. 8. — 01:57
    Track
    26
    Title
    No. 8. —
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  71. 27 No. 9. — 03:04
    Track
    27
    Title
    No. 9. —
    Duration
    03:04
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones
  72. 28 No. 10. — 01:27
    Track
    28
    Title
    No. 10. —
    Duration
    01:27
    Composer
    Carlos Guastavino
    Performer
    Martin Jones