Customer Reviews

Bach in Brazil

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

 

 

I so loved this disc that I played it as bumper music on my radio talk show for two entire hours. Listeners kept e-mailing me for the title, they were so taken with it. Whether you love Bach (as I do) or Brazilian music (as I do) or just love to be made happy by music (as we all do), this CD will become a desert island disc. It combines Bach's profundity with Brazilian joie de vivre -- quite a potent combo. It is brilliantly arranged and superbly recorded. ...

Cazes and the Camerata Brasil give us a history lesson on the connection between the choros tradition (a popular chamber music style that emerged in 19th century Rio De Janeiro)and the European baroque. While a little education never hurts, I find that the Brazilian compositions don't quite hold up next to the melodic, contrapuntal perfection of old Johann Sebastian. Still, they are very nice and do demonstrate an underlying baroque sensibility. The Bachianas Brasileiras No.5: Aria, by Villa-Lobos, comes quite close to emulating the master, though it bogs down a bit, interrupting the flow of the album.

That said, what Cazes and the Camerata do with Bach is absolutely terrific. The combination of European and Brazilian instruments is uncannily well-suited for these pieces, and the performances are first-rate. Once you hear mandolins and guitars playing Bach's melodies, you may not want to go back to pianos and harpsichords.

I highly recommend this album to anyone who enjoys hearing Bach presented in new ways, especially if you're a fan of Brazilian culture. By the way, if you are a fan of the Jacques Loussier Trio, it should be pointed out that this is not a jazz treatment, nor is it bossa nova. Get it anyway.

I find it hard to take this one out of the cd player, it has outregeous arrangements of Bach and Villa-Lobos etc. I am a Bach fan and somewhat of a purist, but can definately curtail my puritism for this one. The textures of the instruments are so gorgeous, check it out.

this is an amazingly beauty-full CD of brazilian-arranged Bach pieces 'n' traditional choros 'n' brazilian classic music... Bach's music is soul-sophisticated yet swingin' w/ samba rhythms on this most wonder-full CD... the blend of classical music & choro music in these arrangements is phenomenal & played with a whole lotta soul... one of my all-time favorite CDs !!!

Can't help but love this one. I found this by accident and am constantly pulling it out to listen to over and over again. I don't know anything about the arranger, but whoever it is they have done the most wonderful job with all songs. Bach has had all kinds of arrangements (good and really bad) over the years, but this is the freshest most exciting sound I've heard in a long time and what a beautiful sound it is, five stars! and a hearty recomendation to all.

This CD is an intriguing blend of Bach and modern Brazilian music, impeccably arranged. A must for afficionados of musica brasileira! If you collect Brazilian music, you will want to own this import.