This exhilarating and inventive work doesn`t get even a passing mention in Wikipedia`s piece on Villa-Lobos (who apart from Bachianas Brasileiras is criminally neglected in the West). One can guess why: in the 1950`s classical composers weren`t supposed to write music this easy on the ear, and in fairness it does occasionally get a bit Rachmaninioffy. But only occasionally and we should by now be able to see that within his conservative, tonal idiom Villa-Lobos was fantastically creative, springing harmonic surprises at every turn. Time for a rehabilitation of this thrilling composer? or will he remain a guilty pleasure for those of us who can take the cold shower of avant-garde dissonance if we have to, but need a warm bath of post-romanticism now and then?
mention in Wikipedia`s piece on Villa-Lobos (who apart from Bachianas
Brasileiras is criminally neglected in the West). One can guess why:
in the 1950`s classical composers weren`t supposed to write music this
easy on the ear, and in fairness it does occasionally get a bit
Rachmaninioffy. But only occasionally and we should by now be able to
see that within his conservative, tonal idiom Villa-Lobos was
fantastically creative, springing harmonic surprises at every turn.
Time for a rehabilitation of this thrilling composer? or will he
remain a guilty pleasure for those of us who can take the cold shower
of avant-garde dissonance if we have to, but need a warm bath of
post-romanticism now and then?