Customer Reviews

Mompou: Piano Music, Vol. 1

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

 

 

Mompou's Songs and Dances contain some of the most delicately melodic music in classical music. It's meditative music, never as imposing as Chopin, with a tremendous sincerity. The music moves between lilting dances, delicate melodies, and meditative passages. Rather like a combination of Poulenc and Chopin.

Maso's performance captures the dance like quality and the deeper moods. He's also more distant than some of the more famous pianists, such as Hough and de Larrocha, giving the music its meditative feel. Music for late night listening with a glass of red wine and a cigarette under the 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!!

The sound on the CD is clear and concise. The playing is light and spirited enough that this highly meditative music does never deteriorates into dull and dreary audio wall-paper.

As noted in previous reviews the music itself is contemplative, cool, somewhat aloof. Mompou is similar to Eric Satie using simple melody and deceptively simple musical settings with flashes of brilliant and eccentric flair.

But Mompou does not have as many acerbic moments as Satie, nor is he devoted to random dadaist compositions. This makes for a listening experience that is similar in mood but more pleasant to the ear.