This two-CD set, part of a new series showcasing the work of Canadian electroacoustic composers, is my first exposure to what seems to be an exciting new collection from Montréal-based empreintes DIGITALes.
Barroso’s heritage and training help to make him one of today’s most distinctive Canadian musical voices. He grew up surrounded by the rich musical culture of his native Cuba, was trained extensively in the western classical tradition, and has a strong interest in the aesthetics of the avant-garde. His works typically draw on all three of these influences.
The composer’s Cuban heritage is reflected most strongly in La Fiesta (which suggests the exuberant sound of Cuban music with its many strongly rhythmic passages), Charangas Delirantes (which make reference to the small dance ensembles (charangas) of Cuba), and Tablao (a tribute to a life-time of exposure to flamenco music). Both Canzona and Sonatada make reference to the traditions of Western classical music: the former employs the elaborate polyphony of the 16th century canzona, the latter explores the various styles of classical piano music, filtering them through microtonal tuning systems. His works for electronic and live instruments (Crónicas de Ultrasueño (León Biriotti, oboe), En Febrero Mueren Las Flores (Adele Armin, RAAD viola), and Yantra X (James Read, bassoon) all demonstrate a sensitive and organic approach to the combination of the two mediums, while drawing, to different degrees, from all three aspects of Barroso’s background.
Although I found the aforementioned works to be enjoyable and of high musical quality, Viejas Voces (Old Voices), for tape and viola, affected me most strongly. The piece is marked by the great attention paid to texture and timbre: many passages are based on the transformation or patient construction of elaborate sound masses. Strongly rhythmical sections suggest the dance music of his homeland, while the many lyrical passages entrusted to the viola suggest both the melodies of Cuba and of the Western classical tradition. This work is given a sensitive and compelling performance by violist Laura Wilcox.
This [2-CD set] is a well-produced and intriguing portrait of a major artist. This series, based on the evidence provided by this CD, should provide an important documentation of electroacoustic music in Canada.
