Mompou's Songs Of The Soul
This CD of songs by the 20th Century Catalan composer Frederic Mompou (1893 -- 1987) shows the Naxos label at its best in presenting music that many listeners, myself included, will find unfamiliar. The CD is the first in what Naxos says will be the complete recordings of Mompou's songs. Judging by this lovely CD, the project will be highly welcome. Sung in Catalan, Spanish, French, and Latin, the songs in this recording date from 1915 to 1973. Soprano Marta Matheu, a Spanish opera singer with a successful European career and Jordi Maso, a Spanish pianist who has recorded six CDs of Mompou's complete solo piano music for Naxos, perform together beautifully here. Maso also prepared the informative liner notes.
The songs on this disk show Mompou as a miniaturist heavily influenced in their reclusive character by Faure. The songs are short, succinct, and melancholy. The tempos generally are slow. Piano and voice are tightly integrated. Matheu sings simply with her voice often floating over the piano line. Piano and voice are integrated throughout these songs. The feeling of the set is of sadness and loss.
Most of the songs are included in sets including from between two and five songs. An example of an individual song is the short Catalan "Grandma's Song" composed in 1915 which shows the strong influence of folksong. Another individual work is the Latin "Psalm" of 1936 which has the feel of plainchant. A rarity in this collection is the uptempo Christmas song "See what Splendor" composed in 1966 and published for the first time with this CD.
The title song of the album, the "Song of the Soul" dates from 1943 and sets a Spanish text by St. John of the Cross. The song features long alternating lines set for solo piano followed by sections for unaccompanied voice. Matheu is poignant in these solo sections. This song, with its sad, reflective tone, sets the mood for the recital.
Another highlight of the collection is the opening song, "Above You Only Flowers", part of a five-song set titled "Dream Battle". It opens with a meltingly beautiful piano introduction followed by a simple vocal line. Piano interludes and a lovely postlude accentuate this beautiful miniature.
Composed in 1973, the "Five Songs for Paul Valery" sets five works by the great French poet. These songs have a broader dynamic and vocal range than do the remaining songs on the CD together with a more angular character. The songs are lovely and, as are their companions, melancholic in tone.
Texts and translations are not provided either in the liner notes or online. The recording was made in Spain late in 2012. Lovers of art song and of music off the usual path will enjoy this CD. Naxos kindly provided me with a copy of the CD for review.
Total Time: 57:24
Robin Friedman
