Mexican Piano Music - Ponce: Legende, Etc / Osorio

$19.99
Label
Cedille
Release Date
January 1, 2005
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      PONCE, MANUEL
    • PERFORMER
      Jorge Federico Osorio
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      January 01, 2005
    • UPC
      735131908627
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      CDR 086
    • LABEL
      Cedille
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Instrumental
    Works ⌄

    1. I. Estrellita

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    2. II. La barca del marino

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    3. III. Cuiden su vida

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    4. 12 Estudios de concierto (12 Concert Studies): No. 7. Juventud (Youth)

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    5. 12 Estudios de concierto (12 Concert Studies): No. 12. La vida sonríe (Life Smiles)

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    6. 12 Estudios de concierto (12 Concert Studies): No. 3. Hacia la cima (Towards the Summit)

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    7. I. Souvenir

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    8. II. Quimera

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    9. III. Deseo

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    10. IV. Hoja de album

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    11. Legende

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    12. No. 3 in A-Flat Major

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    13. No. 8 in C-Sharp Minor

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    14. No. 9 in G Minor

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    15. No. 11 in A Minor

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    16. No. 13 in F Minor

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    17. No. 14 in D-Flat Major

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    18. No. 16 in B-Flat Minor

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    19. No. 23 in A Minor

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    20. I. Serenata marina

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    21. II. Plenilunio

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    22. III. Paz de ocaso

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    23. I. Allegretto mosso ma espressivo

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio

    24. II. Allegro non troppo

      Composer: Manuel María Ponce

      Performer: Jorge Federico Osorio






An unexpected treasure! The first track of this hugely enjoyable survey of the piano music of Mexican composer Manuel M. Ponce (as he is described in Cedille?s presentation: the M is for Maria) is one of those deliciously ?lazy? numbers that haunts the imagination long after it has been listened to; the rendition here of the first of the Canciones mexicanas , Estrellita , also reveals the total dedication of Jorge Federico Osorio.


Ponce (1882?1948) is not a composer to come my way too often, and, if I am honest, not a composer that I would actively seek out. Yet the music recorded here is captivating: a mix of local color and rhythm (not least from Cuba) with something of the salon and an awareness of European models. I suppose Chopin is in there somewhere (well, he is!), an influence that sits very easily with the ?popular? cut of most of the music here, which is disarmingly inventive, wholly unpretentious, and which offers listening that is undemanding and pleasurable, yet varied enough to sustain 75 minutes of playing time. Estudios de concierto revel in technical display, and Osorio plays brilliantly the three pieces that constitute this set, as he does the whole recital, and he clearly loves the music, too, its song and dance, and its heartfelt (and unpredictable) harmonies. This is lovely music, exuberant and intimate, playful and touching.


This isn?t all of Ponce?s piano music, not by any means, for he wrote about 100 works for the instrument (I take this information from Grove ); here, in addition to those works played complete, we are offered four movements from Trozos romanticos and eight mazurkas (of which there are at least 23 examples). All very insouciant, then, and Osorio is the ideal musician to bring this music alive, which he does with a lilt and demonstration that is natural, convincing, and dedicated. Ponce lived in Paris for eight years; the last movement of Suite cubana reminds of Ravel and Debussy without aping either and the two studies dedicated to Artur Rubinstein contrast the slow and intense first one with the nervous and agitated second. The recording quality is first-class: the piano is forward and vivid but without being dry or boxy, and without compromising dynamic variety or color. I am delighted to add this alluring music to my collection, and to share an enthusiastic recommendation with you!


FANFARE: Colin Anderson