1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Vocal-Like Interpretation, December 22, 2010
This review is from: Musica del Delphin (Audio CD)
It's been awhile since I studied classical guitar but back in the 70's Luis Milan's Six Pavanes were the gateway to 16th century vihuela repertoire for many players. I came across a used copy of Narvaez's Musica del Delphin and for years played through the odd piece from time to time (though not very well I'll admit). It was a long time before I came across a recording.
Narvaez also wrote vocal music and the instrumental pieces in this collection really amount to an application of vocal style to strings. The challenge for a player is to identify and emphasize the primary voice of the moment, which Marquez does wonderfully here. Another challenge is maintaining motion in the lines, in music whose rhythm can ebb and flow with an almost improvisational feel.
The production suits the music very well. Being an ECM release, it's inevitable the sonic point of reference for recording nylon string guitar is Ralph Towner. There's a warm ambience, not too closely miked yet not too cavernous. The trebles are rounded rather than sharp and bright, the midrange full. Marquez writes in the booklet that he used a capo and also retuned to D to maintain Naravaez's original keys. I think this also kept the transcriptions from sounding overly heavy on the modern guitar.
I've never been a purist about playing this music on reproduction period instruments and Pablo Marquez underlines the point that it's ultimately the performer, not the instrument, who brings a work to life.
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