Villa-Lobos: Complete Music for Solo Guitar
Villa-Lobos: Complete Music for Solo Guitar
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The Rebirth of Music,
Heitor Villa-Lobos was a remarkable 20th-Century Brazilian composer whose works mixed elements of jazz with the flavors of South American folk music. In his compositions one can hear the premonition of later musical forms to come: salsa, rhumba, even a taste of tango, but the over-riding factor is the melodic jazz, which is so reminiscent of Villa-Lobos’ contemporary Django Reinhardt. One also hears the bravado of Spanish flamenco, complete with its pounding rhythm and complex phrasings. Villa-Lobos may just be the first truly international composer, in that his work reflects the input of numerous influences from around the globe. Indeed, he was toying with jazz fusion before the term was even invented.
Out of all of his total output, his compositions for guitar were relatively few, but they are also the most long-lived and the most celebrated. That’s because Villa-Lobos, who had performed as a street musician, had a clear sense of how he thought the guitar should be used as an instrument of expression. After just one listening it is easy to recognize both the beauty and importance of his works.
It’s also easy to recognize just how talented the guitarist, Norbert Kraft, is. And I don’t mean this strictly in technical terms. Even the great Segovia admitted that he found Villa-Lobos’ pieces difficult to play, but Kraft sounds like he’s doing it with his eyes closed. He’s loud where he needs to be, and quiet when the music calls for it. You can tell he is very passionate about Villa-Lobos. As another reviewer has pointed out, Kraft is Canadian and, at first, that seems like heresy. But there’s something very appropriate about a foreigner mastering Villa-Lobos’ international music. It is definitely in keeping with the spirit of the works. I think that after hearing these definitive interpretations of his six-stringed masterpieces, Villa-Lobos would be pleased.
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|Absolutely wonderful,
I picked this CD up at a local music vendor expecting little more than an acoustic reference to my Villa-Lobos sheet music. I was floored at the quality and musicianship put into this recording. The sound quality is outstanding, and Kraft’s playing is truly impeccable. It is obvious that a lot of time and effort went into putting this cd together. I would have paid three times the price to own it – indeed,
This CD does genuine justice to one of the most important 20th century composers for the guitar. For those of you not familiar with the guitar music of Villa-Lobos, I would highly recommend that you purchase this CD and experience the delightful coupling of classical and Brazilian traditions that he managed to accomplish. If you are a fan of classical guitar, this CD will likely become a favorite!
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|Incredible performande of Villa-Lobos guitar music!,
If you are interested in the guitar music of Heitor Villa-Lobos, look no further. I am a classical guitarist and have heard many performances and recordings of these works and this has got to be the best one. Norbert Kraft not only has formidable chops, but he plays with great phrasing and musicality, especially in the really intense pieces. I would have payed twenty bucks for this CD it is so good. So stop debating over which Villa-Lobos recording to get, this is the one!
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