Naxos
2003
Blancafort: Piano Music, Vol. 1
About This Album
The first volume of Manuel Blancafort's piano music covers the years 1915-1919 when the composer was still a young man in search of a voice. Catalan cançons had the deepest impact on Blancafort's imagination, and the minor-key romanticism of his earliest keyboard works makes the most of this wistful traditional material. Yet the influence of Federico Mompou -- Blancafort's friend and mentor -- is strong in this music, particularly in terms of classical restraint, simple tonality, and formal clarity. Rarely rising above soft dynamics and with spare, unadventurous harmonies, Blancafort's Pieces (7) de joventut are consistent in their subdued color and transparent textures. The Cançons de muntanya show more variety of expression, though they, too, are predominantly sorrowful and pensive, with only the fifth and ninth pieces breaking through the overcast mood. The Notes d'antany show more harmonic richness and sophistication in their pianistic figurations, revealing the strong influence of Debussy and Ravel. The Cançons (12) continue Blancafort's impressionistic development, though they stay close to the tunes from which they are derived. Pianist Miquel Villalba conveys the melancholy and tenderness of these short pieces, but never lets them descend into murkiness. While this music is certainly accessible, some listeners may find it rarefied and of limited interest. ~ Blair Sanderson, All Music Guide
Track List

Record, For Piano
1.
Arietta-confidència, For Piano
2.
Retorn, For Piano
3.
Pensament De Tristesa, For Piano
4.
Allegretto Grazioso, For Piano
5.
Paraules De Queixa, For Piano
6.
Tema Campanyart, For Piano
7.
Cançons De Muntanya, Songs Without Words For Piano
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Notes D'antany, For Piano
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
1a Cançó, For Piano
25.
Cançó De La Canalla, For Piano
26.
Cançó Del Pastoret, For Piano
27.
Cançó En La Solitud, For Piano
28.
Cançó Del Capvespre, For Piano
29.
Cançó En L' Ermita, For Piano
30.
Cançóneta Per Adormir, For Piano
31.
Cançó A La Platja, For Piano
32.
Senyora Isabel, For Piano (1st Version)
33.
Senyora Isabel, For Piano (2nd Version)
34.
El Mal Ric, For Piano
35.
Muntanyes Regalades, For Piano
36.
Rossinyol Que Vas A França, For Piano
37.