Customer Reviews

All in Twilight, Toru Takemitsu: Complete Music for Guitar

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm going to have to disagree with the first review. There is quite a bit of reverb on the recording, but it doesn't sound like it was recorded in a high school gymnasium. I think the sound is warm, rich, well-balanced and quite appropriate, but apparently it's a matter of taste. There is a great deal of direct sound atop the ambience, and these compositions/arrangements sound very nice in the chosen environment. I'm not sure a much drier space would have been very complimentary to these pieces, especially considering the specifics of their technical challenges and the way many parts are voiced.

As for Halasz's playing, it's brilliant. Sometimes I think I could stand for him to take a little more time with some of the phrases and things; but really, so much of timing and phrasing and shaping, in Takemitsu's music, is meant to be left totally up to the performer, and I think Halasz has done a mighty fine job with interpretations (I especially like the Folios at the tempo he's chosen) This is an album of wonderful compositions/arrangements played technically and musically better than I've ever heard them. I highly, highly reccommend it. Give it a listen on iTunes or something before you buy it and see what you think of the sound. I've never written such an album review before, but I felt strongly enough about this recording to do so. I hope you'll give it a chance.

Zachary Barr

Unfortunately, I have to agree with the first reviewer. The reverby sound renders this cd almost too painful to listen to. Which is a shame, for I feel that these are some of the greatest pieces written for the guitar. Perhaps Halasz can record a second cd for those of us who prefer an intimate "guitar in your living room" sound, rather than the "guitarist trapped in a well" sound.

I was excited to have a complete solo guitar recording of Takemitsu,s work. The recording quality of this work , however is very painful to listen to.

Drenched in ambient reverb from the church in Sweden and one track from a concert hall in Germany, one has to dig through a virtual wall of sonic sludge to hear Takemitsu,s brilliant arrangements/compositions.

This is a real as shame as the guitarist , Franz Halasz has a masterful command of his instrument and the material at hand. Hopefully someone will record this body of work so we can enjoy listening and not feel like the performance took place at a high school gymnasium.

Peter C. Cavano