Reviewing my CD finds from half-price day at the Friends of the Multnomah County Library Annual Booksale.
Guitar Pieces by Granados, Rodrigo, Asencio, Barrios, Coste, and Henze.
Jeffrey McFadden, Guitar
I started writing my review of this CD in my head before I even got it out of the case. For have I not often quipped that it is good to have an album of classical guitar music, but superfluous to have two? I've got a small handful of classical guitar CDs, and even a few surviving classical guitar tapes(!), each of which are perfectly pleasant and each of which I listen to somewhat less often than yearly.
Once the CD began playing, however, I was immediately impressed by a more energetic and distinctly more Iberian edge than I expected. And in truth, I know so little about the classical guitar repertoire that I couldn't tell you whether this is due to the program of compositions, or the talent of Jeffrey McFadden, or even the recording quality. Certainly, the Naxos label always does a good job on these "recital" CDs of kicking off with an especially compelling number -- a "rocker," if you will -- and of ending on a high note as well, which is a good strategy when you are selling unfamiliar material. It helps.
I might have to do some comparative relistening, but I think this might become my go-to classical guitar disc.
Prognosis: Maybe it could become your go-to classical guitar disc, too!
Guitar Pieces by Granados, Rodrigo, Asencio, Barrios, Coste, and Henze.
Jeffrey McFadden, Guitar
I started writing my review of this CD in my head before I even got it out of the case. For have I not often quipped that it is good to have an album of classical guitar music, but superfluous to have two? I've got a small handful of classical guitar CDs, and even a few surviving classical guitar tapes(!), each of which are perfectly pleasant and each of which I listen to somewhat less often than yearly.
Once the CD began playing, however, I was immediately impressed by a more energetic and distinctly more Iberian edge than I expected. And in truth, I know so little about the classical guitar repertoire that I couldn't tell you whether this is due to the program of compositions, or the talent of Jeffrey McFadden, or even the recording quality. Certainly, the Naxos label always does a good job on these "recital" CDs of kicking off with an especially compelling number -- a "rocker," if you will -- and of ending on a high note as well, which is a good strategy when you are selling unfamiliar material. It helps.
I might have to do some comparative relistening, but I think this might become my go-to classical guitar disc.
Prognosis: Maybe it could become your go-to classical guitar disc, too!
Oh, cool! Classical guitar is some of my favorite music to write by, and I've been overusing my go-to CD (a John Williams Spanish Guitar one).
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth, I like these reviews a lot. It kinda makes me giggly to think of how much easier it is to find certain kinds of information these days compared to previous decades, when I was totally stymied about how you'd know which plastic-sealed CD case would contain a better recording. (Sure, as it turns out, there are books that do this too, but I didn't know that either.)
Strange that Jeffrey McFadden would wear a dress on his CD cover. Not that I'm judging...
ReplyDelete:)
You know, I was wondering about that too.
ReplyDeleteI noticed you were listening to guitar music the other day, and now I know why it sounded unfamiliar. I like it! Thanks for the review. I have confiscated the CD for further study and meditation on this "Iberian edge" of which you speak.
ReplyDeleteIs the cover photo not a superimposition of this feller over some other Photoshop-susceptible image? Dear God I hope so.
ReplyDeleteAt the risk of just sounding grouchy, I hereby register my objection to the idea that anyone needs a go-to classical guitar album. Classical guitar makes me want to go away, not go to. Strum it, or plug it in, and I'm with you, but...
Hmmm...Mr. 5000 may have played his guitar CD just one too many times. But I agree that it makes wonderful background--unobtrusive, but pleasant. This is our go-to music for dinner parties because it never seems to interfere with the chat, but politely covers the noise of dining.
ReplyDeleteSister Jen! just so, so wrong......Someone needs a nappy-time@!
You know, Elaine, she already confessed to grouchiness, and as a rule nobody likes being told they "need a nappy-time." It's certainly not something ~I~ would say to sister jen without a stout barrier, preferably at least six inches of steel-reinforced concrete, between me and her. But I suppose internet anonymity will get you off the hook.
ReplyDelete