Foreground "Background Music" of Sublime Beauty & Mystery
03/19/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Mompou (1893-1987!) wrote almost exclusively for the piano, but his honest, original style is largely outside the major 20th century movements -- Debussyian expressionism, Schoenberg serialism, Rachmaninov romantic virtuosity, Ivesian eccentricity, Glassian minimialism, etc. Mompou's pieces are very short, 2 or 3 minutes, and sound light years ahead of their time in their meditative simplicity awash in harmonic ambiguity and melodic tentativeness. Yet, these are not New Age noodlings, but true compositional statements.Mompou makes for meaningful foreground or background music that instills a contemplative, spiritual calm I think many will find refreshing. (Both volumes of this Naxos on-going series are excellent.)"
Mompou: Piano Music, Vol. 1 thru 4 w/Jordi Maso
D. S. HARDEN | L.A.,CA USA | 05/30/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This review is for Vols. 1 thru 4. The Naxos series is the best bargain you will ever find for the 4 (separate) discs. Sr. Maso (a Spainard) is definitely "on target" with his technique and delivery. The recordings are very good. I believe that the reclusive Catalan Mompou would be pleased that a musician has captured his melancholic spirit so well...
Five stars for Mssrs. Mompou and Maso!
P.S., Get all four discs like I did - you won't be sorry - seriously! With Naxos - the price is always right - music for the masses at a good price!!"
En toute nostalgie...
Ron Roy | Canada | 03/30/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"
Une belle découverte musicale, un peu à la manière de Satie.
Belle prise de son, bon interprète, disque abordable."