Rating:
Genre:
Classical
Release Date: 07/01/2003
Run Time: 63:06
On the second album of the compilation series of
Andrés Segovia's works from
MCA, the master of the classical guitar plays works from three of the major composers for guitar in the Spanish tradition. The first four tracks are portions of
"Fantasia Para un Gentilhombre," a piece written exclusively for
Segovia by his friend, the blind composer
Joaquin Rodrigo. The piece includes accompaniment from the
Symphony of the Air, with
Enrique Jorda conducting. The work is stunning in its grandeur and almost seems to be an influence of
Gil Evans' later arrangements in style (though, of course,
Evans had other influences to deal with for
Sketches of Spain). The second cluster of tracks make up the
"Concierto del Sur" by Mexico's first national composer,
Manuel Maria Ponce, again with accompaniment from the
Symphony of the Air. Finally, eight tracks at the end of the album contain
Federico Moreno Torroba's
"Castles of Spain." The main highlights of the album are perhaps the third movement of
Ponce's piece,
"Allegro Moderato E Festivo," and the solo work on
Torroba's works, which depict a different castle within each movement. As with all of the installments of the
Segovia Collection, fans of guitar, classical guitar, Spanish guitar, Spanish classical, or
Segovia himself will all be delighted; though first-time listeners may wish to look into the
Bach album (volume one) or the Spanish guitar album (volume five).
~Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide