FREDERIC MOMPOU: Musica Callada; Trois Variations – Javier Perianes, piano – Harmonia mundi

by | Feb 29, 2008 | Classical CD Reviews | 0 comments

FREDERIC MOMPOU: Musica Callada; Trois Variations – Javier Perianes, piano – Harmonia mundi HMI 987070, 73:10 ****:

Mompou was brought up in the same Spanish city as so many other composers and musicians, Barcelona. His maternal grandfather ran a bell-making factory.  He was early repulsed by traditional Germanic music, originally having an affinity for Debussy-style impressionism.  He late adopted a primitive style influenced strongly by Satie, but eventually crystallized his very personal approach epitomized in his Musica Callada series of short and quiet pieces – Silent Music in English.  The 28 short pieces – a few only 45 seconds length – are introspective, contemplative and bathe in the simple beauty of resonant sound. Yet the variety Mompou achieves within this seemingly tight confine is quite amazing. I find a similarity to much of jazz pianist Bill Evans work – you can use it as background music, but if you really listen closely you will find great emotional depth in the music.

The piano sound HM has captured is clean and colorful.  It is a more hi-res piano sound than the complete works of Mompou which HM also distributes on the Mandala label, and anyway the Musica Callada is what Mompou is best known for.

 – John Sunier

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