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The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price. Learn more
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Having heard Oldarra before, I was eager to receive this album. Rich sound as always - I have thoroughly enjoyed it! I also appreciated the prompt service!
When I bought this disc I was expecting something a little more "folksy". The tunes are popular among the Basques, but this isn't a "traditional" recording, in the usual sense of the word. Oldarra is a male choir, and they sing in the Chapel of Notre Dame du Refuge in Anglet in the French Basque Country. The music bears a remarkable resemblance to Russian Orthodox chant, which is reinforced by the acoustics in the church. For the most part, the songs are for male choir alone, but there are a few which call for a "txalaparta" ('sticks' is the only way to describe it) and a Basque flute. Some of the songs were written in the 20th century, but most are traditional Basque songs harmonized for the choir. I thought the disc dragged the first time I listened to it, apart from some tracks nobody could possibly not like -- like the majestic opening song, "Maitia nun zira?" (My sweetheart, where are you?). But gradually I got addicted to it. The music is like the Basque language and people: seemingly forbidding and inaccesible at first, but fascinating the more you get to know them. Amazon.com's audio clips give a good idea of the music, but can't capture its power. Another plus is that the CD notes include the original text and a translation. -- If you're looking for something more traditional and folksy, look elsewhere, but this is an impressive disc. 5 stars.
The choir was founded specifically to rediscover/retain the Basque cultural musical tradition. If this is the music they are preserving, I wish them nothing but the best. Most of the music is traditional but with known composers for the harmony. The selections include in track order: (1) separated lovers (2)a religious greeting (3) mother, child and ne'er-do-well father (4) epiphany song (5) sea-chanty (6) Easter hymn (7) Ave Maria ... The music is sufficiently varied to make the collection interesting. While the music has similarities to Gregorian chant and Hispanic folk music, it is sufficiently different to keep you guessing as to its source (unless you just happen to be intimately familiar with Basque folk music). Listen to the clips and expect the entire cd to be as good or better than the clips.
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2001
We had no idea what we were getting when we ordered this CD -- in fact, we had been hoping for "txistu" Basque flute music (which this, decidedly, is not). But we have been BLOWN AWAY by this a capella male chorus, singing soulful chant-like traditional tunes in Euskadi, the Basque language. We listen to it on Sunday mornings, while hosting dinner parties, or whenever we want to fill our home with wonderful music. HIGHLY recommended. We would buy any other CD this group produces.
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