Search - Blancafort, Villalba :: Blancafort: Piano Music, Vol. 4

Sophisticated Catalan Piano Music

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 05/16/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In a previous review of piano music of Manuel Blancafort (1897-1987) Manuel Blancafort: Piano Music, Vol. 3 I commented that it was 'rather pallid music.' I continue to hold that opinion. But in listening closely to this, the fourth volume of Blancafort's complete piano music, I must confess that the harmonic sophistication is of the highest order. Blancafort's music reminds me most of that of his somewhat older Catalan colleague, Federico Mompou, whose music however, for me, holds greater charm.



On this disc is one of of Blancafort's major efforts, the Sonatina antiga (1928-29), which is in the usual three movements and is, unusually for the composer, cast in a Neoclassical mold. The middle movement, 'Tendresa', is particularly effective. A musical memoir of a sea trip to America on the Mauretania in 1926 is 'American Souvenir'. The first of its two sections, 'Transatlántica en ruta' ('Liner at Sea') describes both the majestic vistas and the bustling human activity observable on the ship. The second, 'Homenatge a Chaplin', describes musically both the Little Tramp's clownlike movements and his overt sentimentality. Both pieces are quite effective as played by pianist Miguel Villalba.



'Ermita i panorama' ('Hermitage and Panorama') is a two-section work, played without pause, that is predominantly ruminative and dark until the beginning of the second section which is a lively folk-tinged toccata. 'Pastorella' was originally for piano solo, as presented here, but became better known as a violin/piano piece and later as a string orchestra tone poem. It is, not surprisingly, pastorale and lyrical in tone. 'Romança, intermedi i marxa' ('Romance, Interlude and March') comprises an Italianate serenade, a children's song, and a march, the latter depicting a tramp playing a flute for villagers and concluding with a lovely waltz.



While I truly believe this music is not generally as attractive as Mompou's piano works, it has its charms, particularly its really quite special handling of impressionistic harmonies, and it is presented superbly by pianist Villalba.



Scott Morrison"