SHARON ISBIN : Dreams of a World –Folk Inspired Music for Guitar – CD

LAURO : Virgilio; Romanza: RUIZ – PIPO : Cancion y Danza No1: DUARTE: Appalachian Dreams Op121: TAKEMITSU : Londonderry Air: GISMONTI : Agua e Vinho : RAMON Y RIVERA: Brisas del Tobes: LECUONA: Canto Siboney: SAN SEBASTIAN: Preludio No6 – Dolor: TARREGA: Recuerdos de la Alhambra: SHEMER: Four Songs: THEODORAKIS: Two Epitaphios: THIAGO DE MELLO: Varre – Vento: GRANADOS : Dedicatoria.

Sharon Isbin

CD:  Teldec : 3984 – 25736 – 2 .

Here is a very varied recital from Sharon Isbin that covers a huge area of music, but all based on Folk – Inspired pieces , beginning with Venezuelan  Antonio Lauro’s Virgilio (Bambuco Tachirense) written in 1984, and dedicated to his grandson Virgilio. If you know Lauro’s music you will know just how wonderful a writer he was. This is a fine start to the programme. Next we go to Spain, for Antonio Ruiz – Pipo’s beautiful first work for guitar Cancio y Danza No1, a very well – known pair of pieces that are exceptional guitar pieces, and superbly played by Sharon. Next comes a 5- movement suite from John Duarte, the Appalachian Dreams Op121.It begins with a very folksy styled Fantasia that has a wonderful melody that really stick in your mind. Then comes Black is the Colour of My True Love’s Hair, a very well – known piece of music that gets a lovely emotional arrangement from Duarte, and a super performance from Sharon.Darling Cora is the 3^rd piece, and moves around a great deal with some of Duarte’s harmonic crunches for effect! The penultimate piece is Putney Hymn, which almost has the sound of a religious harmony world, similar to Bach. The final piece in this wonderful set is simply called Finale, but again has a very bouncy folk sound to it and certainly finishes this suite off in a superb way. This is great piece of writing (and playing) and the CD should be purchased just for this piece on its own! Tore Takemitsu’s slightly unusual harmonic arrangement OF Londonderry Air, comes from a book I happen to have called Twelve Songs for Guitar and his slightly unexpected harmonies only add to the lovely end result of this piece. Brazilian guitarist Egberto Gismonti’s Agua e Vinho (Water and Wine) has beautiful jazz inspired harmonies in it, and is another simply fabulous piece of music. Lauro’s second piece Romanza is perhaps lesser well – known than some of his other works , but like all his guitar writing, it is a lovely piece that if you don’t know, you should. Luis Felipe Ramon y Rivera, was a Venezuelan player/composer whose piece here Brisas del Torbes was actually arranged for guitar by Antonio Lauro, and like Lauro’s work, it has that sound that his music has, and it is another lovely piece of playing, and writing. Cuban Ernesto Lecuona’s Canto Siboney is a slow piece with a slightly more up – tempo middle section, and is apparently well – known in that part of the world, and used in a few film scores! Padre Jose Antonio de San Sebastian was a Spanish writer whose work here, Preludio No6 – Dolor comes from a set of 21 piano pieces written in 1914. This is a great arrangement, and sounds as if it was written for guitar from the outset. Then we find the Tarrega Recuerdos de la Alhambra which is perhaps the most well – known of this recital. Of course Sharon plays it beautifully and the tremolo is constant and flows beautifully. Naomi Shemer is a new name to me .Her four songs, arranged by Sharon are apparently really popular over in her country Israel. They are super arrangements that sound very natural on the guitar, and moreover are nice pieces to listen to. Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis’ Two Epitaphios were arranged for guitar by Stanley Myers and are sad , reflective and lovely pieces. Gaudencio Thiago de Mello, a Brazilian Amazonian is another name that is new to me . His Varre – Vento (Swept by The Wind) is quiet and full of lovely harmonies and is another great piece. Finally we get Enrique Granados’ Dedicatoria, one of a set of ten piano pieces Cuentos de la Juventud (Stories of Youth) beautifully arranged yet again by Sharon and a fine climax to this great album of lovely music superbly played by Sharon and wonderfully clearly recorded

This is an album you should go and find if you like the style of music played.

Chris Dumigan