What an utterly delightful disc! Perhaps it is not an accident that all four neo-classical and neo-medieval pieces with impressionistic influences on this disc are by French composers. The French have always had a love for this particular quintet configuration, and quintets for flute, harp, and strings as well. I�ve long been familiar with, and a fan of, Francaix�s quintet, particularly in the outstanding performance by the New York Woodwind Quintet (Everest), and this quintet is no less delightful and effective. Perhaps because he was writing for this particular combination and not a horn and winds, Francaix gives us a more buoyant, less quirky, but equally inventive piece�the second-movement Scherzo, in particular, has a dance-like feel to it, while the final Rondo is based on the humorous folk song Savez-vous planter les choux? or, �Do you know how to plant cabbages?� Ropartz�s little suite is based on impressions of the sea. It is the most tonally austere of the four works here, but also quite emotionally intense as well as evocative of the ocean. Undoubtedly the most unusual, and least-known, work on this program is Jean Yves Daniel-Lesur�s Suite Medievale, written in 1946 and premiered in 1947. Daniel-Lesur always complained that he �always thought modally. Subsequently I was receptive to both the diversity and the immense possibilities of polymodality.� Because of this, it was an easy reach for Daniel-Lesur to write a mediaeval suite using intervals of fourths and fifths and still make it sound modern. Here, as elsewhere in this program, Canta Libre plays with enthusiasm, polish, rhythmic acuity, and lyrical sweep. Indeed, it reminds me very much of the Nash Ensemble, in my view the sina qua non of such groups. Highly recommended.
Joseph-Guy Ropartz (1864-1955)
Prelude, Marine et Chanson (1928)
01. I. Prelude: Ben moderato Prelude
02. II. Marine: Adagietto Prelude
03. III. Chansons: Allegro giocoso Prelude
Jean Francaix (1912-1997)
Quintette pour flute, harpe et trio a cordes (1934)
04. I. Andante tranquillo
05. II. Scherzo
06. III. Andante
07. IV. Rondo
Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur (1908-2002)
Suite Medievale (1946)
08. I. Monodie
09. II. L’Ange au sourire
10. III. Symphonie
11. IV. Complainte
12. V. Danse
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
13. Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte (1910)
Canta Libre Chamber Ensemble
Sally Shorrock, flute
Karen Linquist, harp
Bryony Stroud-Watson, violin
Veronica Salas, viola
Bernard Tamosaitis, cello
4Tay, 2012
https://mega.co.nz/#!BcsSGQxQ!79zwBitAIeRtS6U1sq5UreIFyukL7Mk0uztI1Nm Soh0
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