Andaluza, Elegia : Platera & I CD

Description: Andaluza, Elegia : Platera & I CD Review Nobel Prize-winning Andalusian poet Juan Ramon Jimenez is most remembered for Platero y yo, his 1917 collection of tender reflections on his beloved little donkey. In 1960 Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco wrote guitar accompaniments to be played with the recitation of 28 of the 32 short chapters. His music perfectly suits the character of the texts -- gentle, idyllic, pastoral, sometimes playful, and sometimes melancholy. Castelnuovo-Tedesco was astute in calculating the relationship between the words and the music, and they complement each other beautifully, without overwhelming each other, but the music is of enough interest that it could exist independently of the text. The alchemy of words and music in this recording of 17 of the movements with speaker Nelson Brenes and guitarist Frank Koonce creates a wonderfully complete experience. Both perform with a reserve and understatement that suit the text ideally, never falling into broad humor or pathos that could weaken the work's gentle impact. Brenes, an operatic baritone, delivers the text with directness and sensitivity, and he's well matched with Koonce's relaxed and expressive playing. The sound is clean and intimate. The CD is beautifully produced, with charming pen and ink illustrations from an early edition of the text. It should be of interest to fans of Spanish-flavored guitar music, and of spoken poetry with musical accompaniment. --Stephen Eddins, allmusicguide.comMany years ago, I attended a concert at the North Carolina School of the Arts where the Castelnuovo-Tedesco Platero y yo was performed in its intended form. The blending of the Italian composer's music with the evocative text by Nobel Prize-winning Juan Ramón Jiménez was a wonderful experience. While the guitar works stand on their own very well for the most part, the words are so beautiful that hearing them together is magical. Koonce and Brenes have selected seventeen of the pieces for this disc and each one is a gem. It is hard to imagine how either narrator or guitarist could be bettered. Koonce plays with complete mastery and wonderful expressiveness. Brenes has a glorious speaking voice (and sings nicely at times too) and delivers the text with great drama wile still managing to avoid any "stage-y" histrionics. The recorded sound is beautiful. It may take a minute or two to enter the acoustic world the artist/producers have created, but quickly one enjoys the overall sound and the balance of voice and guitar. It is obvious that being a Spanish-speaker will enhance one's appreciation of this work, but the narration can be appreciated for its sonorities alone. Luckily, comprehension can be guaranteed by a beautifully produced booklet included with the disc. It has Spanish and English texts, and charming illustrations from a 1922 edition of the book. In case it should make a difference to anyone, Brenes delivers the text in very elegant Latin-American Spanish. I like it, but if you are expecting an earful of zetas you will be disappointed! --Al Kunze, Soundboard MagazineAn established and respected exponent of Castelnuovo-Tedesco's musical depictions of Jimenez' celebrated word paintings, Frank Koonce last released this selection of 17 movements on disc in 1995. He was then working alongside the actor Don Doyle, who offered a suitably wholesome account of the text in its English translation. More than a decade down the line, Koonce revisits the terrain with the poet's words presented in the original Spanish. Given that the movements chosen are the same and the running order, apart from the reversal of Juegos del Anochecer and Idilio de Noviembre, is unchanged, we're essentially addressing a question of the lingo. Like the majority of monoglot English listeners, my capacity to understand even the most precisely enunciated Spanish is nowhere near good enough to keep up with proceedings here. This means the rich and expressive voice of Brenes, who bursts into song on several occasions, effectively t Fast and Free Shipping You're already purchasing the item. Why pay additional for shipping, especially slow shipping? We get your order shipped out within 2-business day and delivered to your doorstep as quickly as possible. Competitive Pricing With our dynamic pricing model, our prices are always competitive. Our prices are some of the lowest that you will find on the internet. Rest assured that you're getting a good deal when purchasing with us. 30-day Money Back Guarantee We are committed to making sure that you leave this transaction satisfied. If you're unhappy with the product for any reason, you may return it back for your money-back or a replacement within 60 days. No questions asked!

Price: 19.97 USD

Location: Houston, Texas

End Time: 2024-12-22T15:15:30.000Z

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