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Date: | Sat, 1 Mar 2003 09:17:44 +1100 |
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I very much share Scott Morrison's enthusiasm for this CD. I first
discovered Braga Santos many years ago through a Portuguese recording
of his 5th symphony released in this country by a record club that sourced
its material from a wide variety of labels and was inevitably bought by
those whose knowledge of CM was minimal - sound familiar? Thus I've
eagerly awaited each of Marco Polo's releases of his music.
As Scott points out, there is a distinct difference in his style in the
fifth and sixth symphonies. What appeals to me greatly about his music
is his liking for long-lined melody, reminding me of, say, George Lloyd
and Malcolm Arnold, and for blazing brass: the "certain monumentality"
Scott mentioned. Each of the CDs runs 65 minutes plus. The others in
the series are Symphonies 1 and 5 (8.223879), Symphonies 3 and 6 (8.225087),
and Symphony 4 and Symphonic Variations (8.225233). Another CD (8.225186)
contains concertos for various string combinations and most of these are
in Braga Santos's later style. I don't know whether Marco Polo has
planned any further releases of music by this fascinating composer.
Braga Santos is the only Portuguese composer I know much about. One
wonders who else's music might await discovery.
Richard Pennycuick
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