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Albéniz: Echoes of Spain
Isaac Albeniz
Albéniz: Echoes of Spain
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (9) - Disc #1

Albeniz never wrote anything for the guitar, but his piano music frequently evokes the sound of the guitar and it transcribes very well. John Williams, a greatest guitarist, has a very good command of the Spanish musical i...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Isaac Albeniz
Title: Albéniz: Echoes of Spain
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Sony
Release Date: 10/25/1990
Genre: Classical
Styles: Forms & Genres, Suites
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 5099703667929, 074643667920

Synopsis

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Albeniz never wrote anything for the guitar, but his piano music frequently evokes the sound of the guitar and it transcribes very well. John Williams, a greatest guitarist, has a very good command of the Spanish musical idiom. His playing is technically superb, but even more importantly he has the flexibility and understanding of the music's rhythms to make it come alive. The early digital recording still sounds realistic, but this old LP-length program should have been transferred long ago into a lower-priced series. You might want to wait, but if you can't the playing is certainly satisfying. --Leslie Gerber

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CD Reviews

The best Albeniz on guitar, ever
Mike Shanahan | Honolulu, HI, USA | 02/28/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)

"There is no better collection of Albeniz on guitar, and no better John Williams recording. Once you have heard his version of 'Granada,' no other recording in the usual key of E will suffice. He actually tuned his 5th string up from A to B -- suicide on your A string! -- to get a more resonate sound in his transcription. Williams's extrovert style works wonders with 'Cordoba' and 'Sevilla' as well. Given this classic mix of an extrovert guitarist and an extrovert composer, the closing rendition of the "Tango is D" is all the more magnificent. Never was Albeniz more reflective; never was Williams more reflective. Arguably the best guitar recording ever dedicated to a single composer, though a series of recent and brilliant recordings by David Russell (of Torroba, Barrios, etc.) make it hard to make such a blanket statement. Anyway: buy this recording!!!!!!!!!."
Great Guitar
Forrest Wildwood | The house with the narrow gate | 07/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)

"The guitar of John Williams, the music of Albeniz, the feel of Spain what more could you ask. This is a quality piece that is nice to the ears and senses. Well worth adding to your collection."
Evocative Albeniz
M. Levitt - classical music buff | Philadelphia, PA | 04/11/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD contains nine pieces: Granada, Asturias, Sevilla, Mallorca, Cordoba, Torre Bermeja, Cadiz, Zambra Granadina and Tango - all played so evocatively, beautifully by guitarist John Williams that I couldn't resist playing this CD over and over despite knowing much of this music from hearing other classical guitarists. If I have any complaint, it is that the CD is too short.



Realistic sound quality. Highly recommended. For the Suite Espanola, Op. 47, do try Julian Bream's CD of Spanish Guitar Music on RCA/BMG. On my shopping list is Manuel Barrueco's Albeniz and Turina CD on EMI, and Jason Vieaux's Sevilla album (all Albeniz transcriptions).



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