Asturiana: Songs from Spain and Argentina

• Main performer: Kim Kashkashian
• Booklet languages: English, German
• Libretto languages: English
• Time: 71:53
• Release Date: 2007

Review

These soulful Spanish and Argentinean songs arranged by violist Kim Kashkashian and pianist Robert Levin are well suited to their expressive and expansive playing. Most of the songs, ranging from works by Granados, de Falla, and Montsalvatge to early Ginastera, are written in a late romantic to early modern idiom, and many incorporate a strong folk element. The selections include rowdy, rhythmically charged dance-like songs, tender lullabies, and many flavors of love songs, from the exultant to the despairing. In addition to the better-known composers, Argentineans Carlos Guastavino and Carlos López-Buchardo make extraordinarily fine contributions. The choices of repertoire are excellent; each one of these songs is a jewel, and the ordering of the selections artful, including the surprisingly effective repetition of two songs at different points in the program. The transcriptions are inventive and imaginative, with the vocal lines idiomatically adapted for the viola's expressive capabilities. Kashkashian is a remarkable violist who brings vibrancy to everything she plays, and these relatively straightforward songs are no exception. Her warm, throaty tone and the nuanced, colorful inflections of her playing accentuate the vocal origins of the pieces. With his springy and languid rhythmic energy, Robert Levin is an equal partner in making the performances sparkle with passion. ECM's well-balanced sound has a little ambient noise, which is unusual for the label's scrupulous engineers, but it's not enough to be bothersome. ~ Stephen Eddins, Rovi

Performances

Composer	Title	Time
Manuel de Falla	Popular Spanish Songs (7), for voice & piano, G. 40 (Asturiana)	2:51
Enriqué Granados	El mirar de la maja, song for soprano & piano (Tonadillas al estilo antiguo, No. 6), H. 136/6	2:59
Enriqué Granados	El majo olvidado, song for baritone & piano (Tonadillas al estilo antiguo, No. 4), H. 136/4	3:19
Enriqué Granados	La maja dolorosa, 3 songs for soprano, English horn & piano (Tonadillas al estilo antiguo, No. 9), H. 136/9	3:26
Enriqué Granados	El majo discreto, song for soprano & piano (Tonadillas al estilo antiguo, No. 3), H. 136/3	1:26
Carlos Guastavino	La Rosa y el sauce, for voice & piano	2:20
Alberto Ginastera	Argentinian Popular Songs (5), for voice and piano, Op. 10 (Triste)	3:44
Xavier Montsalvatge	Canciones negras (5) for voice & piano: No. 4, Canción de cuna para dormir a un negrito (Ninghe, ninghe, ninghe)	2:54
Xavier Montsalvatge	Canciones Negras (5) for voice & piano: No. 3, Chévere	2:03
Xavier Montsalvatge	Canciones Negras (5) for voice & piano: No. 1, Cuba Dentro de un Piano	4:44
Xavier Montsalvatge	Canciones Negras (5) for voice & piano: No. 2, Punto de Habanera	1:13
Manuel de Falla	Popular Spanish Songs (7), for voice & piano, G. 40 (El paño moruno)	2:26
Manuel de Falla	Popular Spanish Songs (7), for voice & piano, G. 40 (Seguidilla murciana)	1:15
Manuel de Falla	Popular Spanish Songs (7), for voice & piano, G. 40 (Asturiana)	2:42
Manuel de Falla	Popular Spanish Songs (7), for voice & piano, G. 40 (Jota)	2:44
Manuel de Falla	Popular Spanish Songs (7), for voice & piano, G. 40 (Nana)	2:37
Manuel de Falla	Popular Spanish Songs (7), for voice & piano, G. 40 (Canción)	1:36
Manuel de Falla	Popular Spanish Songs (7), for voice & piano, G. 40 (Polo)	1:25
Alberto Ginastera	Argentinian Popular Songs (5), for voice and piano, Op. 10 (Triste)	3:44
Carlos Guastavino	Se equivocó la paloma, for voice & piano	2:18
Carlos Guastavino	Abismo de sed, for voice & piano (Zamba)	3:30
Carlos Guastavino	Pampamapa (Aire de Huella), for voice & piano	4:16
Carlos Guastavino	Bonita rama de sauce, song for voice & piano	3:42
Carlos Guastavino	La Rosa y el sauce, for voice & piano	2:20
Carlos López-Buchardo	Prendiditos de la Mano for voice & piano	1:56
Carlos López-Buchardo	Oye mi llanto, huaynu for voice & piano	4:23

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