Joly Braga Santos

[kyjo]

I share your enthusiasm about this symphony kyjo, and completely agreed. It's something incredibly marvelous, certainly one of the most uplifting scores ever created. Braga Santos was inspired by the folk Portuguese music when composed it, and I say: wow, the Portuguese music is heavenly! The 4th movement, for me, is like the true bliss land, where problems don't exist, just happiness and joy. Symphonies like this one are ranked so high by me, symphonies where I can perceive the human soul, the positive side of human beings.

I completely agree! It's indeed one of the most optimistic works I know. As much as I love the turbulently emotional, dark music of Mahler, Shostakovich, etc. I must say that I find myself wanting to return more often to works like Braga Santos' 4th because of their deeply uplifting quality. The same applies to certain other composers such as Atterberg, Martinu, Hanson, and Piston who so often wrote music that conveys exuberant joy at a time when many other composers were writing either experimental/serialist music or music that reflects the horrors of current wars and other events. I find that a lot of the more optimistic, accessible music of the 20th century (of which Braga Santos' first four symphonies are prime examples) is severely neglected in the concert hall nowadays, which is a real shame, as audiences would likely respond very positively to it!

[Mirror Image]

Braga Santos is an excellent composer. I prefer him much more to his teacher, Freitas Branco. There's something about Braga Santos' musical language that appeals to me. Whether it be those lively rhythms, his harmonic vocabulary, or just the sheer power of his music, I always come away feeling glad I revisited the work of his I just listened to.

[kyjo]

Braga Santos is an excellent composer. I prefer him much more to his teacher, Freitas Branco. There's something about Braga Santos' musical language that appeals to me. Whether it be those lively rhythms, his harmonic vocabulary, or just the sheer power of his music, I always come away feeling glad I revisited the work of his I just listened to.

Great to see you're a fan, John (even though you don't think much of the 4th Symphony )! What are your favorite works of his?

[Mirror Image]

Great to see you're a fan, John (even though you don't think much of the 4th Symphony )! What are your favorite works of his?

Well, I wouldn't call myself a 'fan', because there aren't a whole lot of his works I enjoy. My two favorite works out of everything I've heard are his Symphony No. 2 and the ballet Encruzilhada (Crossroads). These two works really stand out to me, but that's about it.

[kyjo]

Well, I wouldn't call myself a 'fan', because there aren't a whole lot of his works I enjoy. My two favorite works out of everything I've heard are his Symphony No. 2 and the ballet Encruzilhada (Crossroads). These two works really stand out to me, but that's about it.

Ah, I see. Well those are two outstanding works indeed! The Symphony no. 2 has a particularly beautiful slow movement and a moving epilogue. I remember there was one movement from Crossroads that was particularly lovely - probably the Pas de deux.

[SymphonicAddict]

The Concerto for strings is worthy, too, and belongs to the same period of the Symphony No. 4, the Variations on an Alentejo Theme and the Symphonic Overture No. 3.

[vandermolen]

Very much agree with Kyle , Caesar and John about Symphony 4 - a terrific score. I also like symphonies 1 - 3, especially No.3 and the Naxos 'Alfama' CD was a great discovery. As for Freitas-Branco I was also rather disappointed until I heard Symphony 4 which I'd strongly recommend.

[Sergeant Rock]

Braga Santos is an excellent composer....There's something about Braga Santos' musical language that appeals to me...

Well, I wouldn't call myself a 'fan', because there aren't a whole lot of his works I enjoy.

....Come on, John, make up your mind 


Sarge

[Mirror Image]

....Come on, John, make up your mind 


Sarge

[vandermolen]

....Come on, John, make up your mind 


Sarge

It's possible to hold two, apparently, contradictory positions in the mind at the same time.

John is clearly a Zen Master.

[Mirror Image]

It's possible to hold two, apparently, contradictory positions in the mind at the same time.

John is clearly a Zen Master.

Yes, I now look like this:

[vandermolen]

Yes, I now look like this:

Exactly as I imagined.

[Christo]

Ah, I see. Well those are two outstanding works indeed! The Symphony no. 2 has a particularly beautiful slow movement and a moving epilogue. I remember there was one movement from Crossroads that was particularly lovely - probably the Pas de deux.

Definitely the pas de deux - it has a melody that will haunt you for days. 

[kyjo]

My fellow Braga Santos fans should find much to enjoy in a great discovery I just made, the Symphonic Variations Margariteña by Venezualan composer Inocente Carreño (1919-2016). I just heard it played by the Pittsburgh Symphony tonight under the fantastic young Venezuelan conductor Rafael Payare. To my ears, the work shares much in common with Braga Santos' accessible, melodic, and folksy style, so I thought it would be worth mentioning here. Here's a performance by the Simon Bolivár orchestra under Dudamel: https://youtu.be/LCoC0cyyPFw

[vandermolen]

My fellow Braga Santos fans should find much to enjoy in a great discovery I just made, the Symphonic Variations Margariteña by Venezualan composer Inocente Carreño (1919-2016). I just heard it played by the Pittsburgh Symphony tonight under the fantastic young Venezuelan conductor Rafael Payare. To my ears, the work shares much in common with Braga Santos' accessible, melodic, and folksy style, so I thought it would be worth mentioning here. Here's a performance by the Simon Bolivár orchestra under Dudamel: https://youtu.be/LCoC0cyyPFw

You are quite right Kyle - it is a very nice Braga-Santos-like discovery which I very much enjoyed hearing. Must look out for more by this composer. Many thanks for posting the link.

[Christo]

You are quite right Kyle - it is a very nice Braga-Santos-like discovery which I very much enjoyed hearing. Must look out for more by this composer. Many thanks for posting the link. 

Jeffrey acts as the official spokesperson for all so-called BSE ('Braga Santos Experts'). Fully seconded. 

[vandermolen]

Jeffrey acts as the official spokesperson for all so-called BSE ('Braga Santos Experts'). Fully seconded. 

[kyjo]

You are quite right Kyle - it is a very nice Braga-Santos-like discovery which I very much enjoyed hearing. Must look out for more by this composer. Many thanks for posting the link.

Glad you enjoyed it, Jeffrey (and Johan)! I've spotted a couple other orchestral works of Carreño on YouTube - must check them out.

[vandermolen]

Glad you enjoyed it, Jeffrey (and Johan)! I've spotted a couple other orchestral works of Carreño on YouTube - must check them out.

Definitely Kyle. Pity there's not more on CD but good for my bank balance I guess.

[vandermolen]

Great to hear some JBS on the radio when I turned on BBC Radio 3 just after 9.00am. The final dance of the 'Alfama Suite'. First time I've heard any of his music broadcast.


And here is the great man himself with his family.