Joly Braga Santos

[Dundonnell]

In point of fact the Dutch BSEs only drink bottled custard, delivered by the milkman. The Scottish one drinks whisky (of course) but I have a sophisticated taste for vintage wines (Co-Op Special Reserve 2008). Now, where's that Braga Santos CD?

I don't drink whisky, sob, sob I only drink "the finest wines available to humanity"(to quote Withnail)

[jowcol]

 I'm coming in late, but one of the greatest things about this forum was getting turned onto JBS!  The first four symphonies are fantastic! I wouldn't know where to begin between the colorful orchestration, rhythmic vitality, outstanding melodies and structure.  It was sort of like finding out the Moeran wrote four more symphonies!  These rank with Orthel's third as my best discoveries of the year-- in any genre.

[Dundonnell]

I am very delighted to read how much you enjoy Braga Santos I was playing the slow movement of No.2 to a non-classical friend of mine last night. He was absolutely amazed to hear that BS was only 23 years old when he wrote that music. What a gift to write such a melody so young

And Orthel too! Excellent

[jowcol]

Just a quick note on the lovely second movement of the 4th.  The descending theme reminds me a lot of the Brazillian Jazz guitarist's Canto de Ossanha.  (Which the acoustic Guitarist John Fahey adapted as "Let Go" on his album of the same name.)  I wonder if there is some sort of Portuguese folk tune or something both were drawing from.  Anyone, that movement is sublime.

[vandermolen]

By sheer coincidence, Co-Op Special Reserve is my favourite, too. I'm looking forward to its 2009 embottlement, a vintage year as never before! And yes: we hve them as a six-pack from the milkman. Who's offering them as 'Grande Crue Délire'. 

Well, as we are connoisseurs of fine music it is hardly surprising that we also have a sophisticated taste for fine wines too 

[pjme]

By sheer coincidence, Co-Op Special Reserve is my favourite, too. I'm looking forward to its 2009 embottlement, a vintage year as never before! And yes: we hve them as a six-pack from the milkman. Who's offering them as 'Grande Crue Délire'. 

Christo, I'm a bit confused....Une crue/la crue = hoge waterstand / water level       les crus ( = le cru) de Bourgogne,Alsace....: Cru is a French wine term which means "growth place". More specifically, cru is often used to indicate a specifically named growth place

Grand cru Délire : OK  Grande crue Délire : ?or pun?

Peter

[Christo]

... or pun?

(My French is worse than yours, but not that bad)

[pjme]

   0:)

C'est pas grave. My French is quite rusty...

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

(#4/2)

Anyone, that movement is sublime.

Yeah, it stands like a rock in that symphony, epic and monumental.

[Dundonnell]

I have not yet had time to listen to the new Naxos version of the Freitas Branco 2nd Symphony conducted by Alvaro Cassuto but I have just listened to the other two works on this disc and am staggered at how good they are!

There must be something about the air in Portugal to produce such precocious composers as Freitas Branco and Braga Santos! The Fantasy 'After a reading of Guerra Junqueiro' was written when Freitas Branco was only 19 but is a resplendent, gloriously Straussian piece with magnificent writing for the brass and gorgeous, grandiose climaxes. 'Artificial Paradises' was written only a year later(in 1910) but is an equally rich, impressionist work of quite astonishing maturity.

I was somewhat underwhelmed by the Freitas Branco 2nd Symphony in the recently issued Atma version but will listen to it again in this new Cassuto version. On the basis however of these two wonderful short tone poems it is clear that the composer did have a prodigeous talent

[Dundonnell]

I have re-read Christo's post (on page 12) of this thread about the other tone poems by Freitas Branco and can't wait to hear them-hopefully coupled by Naxos with Symphonies 3 and 4

[vandermolen]

How weird! I was reading this famous old thread earlier this evening and here it is back again 

[Dundonnell]

How weird! I was reading this famous old thread earlier this evening and here it is back again 

Can't keep a good thread down

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Can't keep a good thread down

BSEs are always on duty keeping this thread alive... 

[karlhenning]

 

[Dundonnell]

I am listening again to Freitas Branco's 'After a reading of Guerra Junqueiro". Simply wonderful!! Absolutely glorious music Ok...it is heavily influenced by the Richard Strauss of Don Juan and Till Eulenspiegel(which might put Jeffrey off?) but what swaggering orchestral mastery for a 19 year old

Worth buying the cd for this alone! BSEs and others should love it 

And..if you are a Debussyian or Delian you will love 'Artificial Paradises' too. I am neither really but it IS an extremely fine piece of lush, impressionist tone painting. There is a marvellous passage in the work too which reminds me of the Khachaturian of 'Spartacus' except that this was written in 1910!

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I am listening again to Freitas Branco's 'After a reading of Guerra Junqueiro". Simply wonderful!! Absolutely glorious music Ok...it is heavily influenced by the Richard Strauss of Don Juan and Till Eulenspiegel(which might put Jeffrey off?) but what swaggering orchestral mastery for a 19 year old

Worth buying the cd for this alone! BSEs and others should love it 

And..if you are a Debussyian or Delian you will love 'Artificial Paradises' too. I am neither really but it IS an extremely fine piece of lush, impressionist tone painting. There is a marvellous passage in the work too which reminds me of the Khachaturian of 'Spartacus' except that this was written in 1910!

[makes mental note]

[vandermolen]

I am listening again to Freitas Branco's 'After a reading of Guerra Junqueiro". Simply wonderful!! Absolutely glorious music Ok...it is heavily influenced by the Richard Strauss of Don Juan and Till Eulenspiegel(which might put Jeffrey off?) but what swaggering orchestral mastery for a 19 year old

Worth buying the cd for this alone! BSEs and others should love it 

And..if you are a Debussyian or Delian you will love 'Artificial Paradises' too. I am neither really but it IS an extremely fine piece of lush, impressionist tone painting. There is a marvellous passage in the work too which reminds me of the Khachaturian of 'Spartacus' except that this was written in 1910!

Right, I have just ordered this CD and will be holding you personally responsible if it sounds like 'Ein Heldenleben' 

[karlhenning]

Right, I have just ordered this CD and will be holding you personally responsible if it sounds like 'Ein Heldenleben' 

[vandermolen]

excellent Karl