Leo Brouwer - Beatlerianas (2013) / AvaxHome

This disc is actually primarily an exposition of composer Leo Brouwer's (b. 1939) work but is kicked off with a highly unusual set of almost Merchant Ivory-esque cinematicized Beatles songs arranged as a septet suite transposing the oeuvre into semi-medieval, semi-neoclassical milieus for internationally recognized guitarist Carlos Barbosa-Lima and the Latin Grammy-winning Havana String Quartet to flesh out in lush recital. A high degree of Romantic Impressionism pervades the entire CD, starting off by imbuing Eleanor Rigby with a Greensleeves-ish flavor it's never before been accorded. By the time She's Leaving Home arises, you'd swear you were at a baroque court waltz with king, queen, and barons. As I say: quite unusual.

www.acousticmusic.com/fame

Cuban composer Leo Brouwer has combined popular materials from the Western hemisphere with European styles in a manner related to the music of Villa-Lobos and Ginastera. The former comparison is more apt in the case of this set of pieces for guitar and string quartet, featuring the fine Cuban guitarist Carlos Barbosa-Lima: Brouwer is adept at stepping across the line between popular and classical, sometimes repeatedly within the same piece. There's a real find here: the Beatlerianas, which may only in the broadest sense be classed as arrangements of Beatles songs. They are constantly shifting treatments, completely unexpected yet often, in retrospect, seeming almost logically dictated by the tune. Some of them pull the music in neo-Classic or neo-Baroque directions; some are almost abstract texture studies. Yet none loses sight of the source material. It is a richly rewarding little set, probably clearer in this reduced version. Elsewhere you get a good sampling of music from various phases of Brouwer's career, tending toward popular styles (the Paisaje Cubano con Fiesta, track 8) or European and perhaps Soviet neo-Classicism (the String Quartet No. 5) but never losing sight of the opposite pole. The Micropiezas for two guitars, composed in 1957, are each about a minute long; they were supposedly written in homage to Darius Milhaud, but their intricate counterpoint and absolute economy suggest a kind of New World Mompou. The engineering from the small Zoho label in New York state is superb, and this is a deeply satisfying release on all counts.

www.allmusic.com

The Cuban composer Leo Brouwer (*1939) is protagonist and inspiration behind the musical union of internationally known guitarist Carlos Barbosa-Lima and the Latin Grammy-winning Havana String Quartet. Leo Brouwer’s two quintets for guitar and string quartet, several pieces for solo and duo guitar and the world premiere recording of his 5th String Quartet will delight listeners with their compositional variety and the technical and interpretive strength of their performances.

www.zohomusic.com

Allmusic.com describes album's moods as amiable/good-natured, graceful, lush, nostalgic, playful and tuneful. What else can one wish for during New Year's holiday season? While Beatlerianas are sure to delight a lot of folks, I find the rest of this disc just as good, if not better. Enjoy the music!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Track List:

1 – 7 JOHN LENNON/PAUL MCCARTNEY arr: Leo Brouwer
BEATLERIANAS for Guitar and String Quartet (1985, revised 2012)
1 Eleanor Rigby
2 Yesterday
3 She's Leaving Home
4 A Ticket To Ride
5 Got to Get You into My Life
6 Here, There and Everywhere
7 Penny Lane

8 - 9 LEO BROUWER: STRING QUARTET # 5 (2011)
8 Lento
9 Celebration

10 - 12 LEO BROUWER: Works for Guitar Solo
10 Paisaje Cubano con Fiesta (2007)
11 Cantilena de los Bosques (2007)
12 Zapateo (1973

13 - 16 LEO BROUWER : MICROPIEZAS (1957-8) for two guitars
13 No. 4
14 No. 2
15 No. 1
16 No. 3
17 No. 5

18 - 20 LEO BROUWER: QUINTET FOR GUITAR AND STRING QUARTET (1957)
18 I Allegro
19 II Quarter = 60
20 III Allegro Vivace

EAC

Exact Audio Copy V1.0 beta 3 from 29. August 2011

EAC extraction logfile from 1. January 2014, 20:25

Leo Brouwer / Beatlerianas

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–– CUETools DB Plugin V2.1.3

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[8a9f6568] (2/2) Accurately ripped

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Read more about the CD here.

3% recovery record is included.

Of related interest:
Andrew McKenna Lee - Gravity and Air (2009) Link
ICE - Abandoned Time (2008) Link
Carlo Domeniconi & Harald Genzmer - Mediterraneo (2000) Link

More contemporary American and European music is available at my blog.