The 32 songs on Paisajes del Recuerdo (“Landscapes of Memory”) were composed between 1905 and 1997 and, according to program notes by Isabel Diaz (translated by Mark Owen), represent a fair cross-section of how Basque composers were dealing with art song writing during that time.
Most of the songs are based on folk melodies and poems from the Basque region. What may be most remarkable about the collection is how thoroughly the composers had assimilated European technique and syntax””reworking the modal melodies into tonal ones, for example. (Or was it the other way around, with the composers being assimilated into the European mainstream?)
The melodies retain their regional character, even while dressed in Continental garb. The songs are direct and expressive, with the melodies carrying most of the musical burden.
Aita Donostia’s Nanas is a model of concise expression and Francisco Escudero’s Tres cantos vascos (“Three Basque Songs”) stands out for its Debussian harmonies and flexible rhythmic language.
Counter-tenor Carlos Mena has a clear, bell-like voice. His singing is sensitive and musically acute, revealing a deep understanding of both the music and the Basque poetry set in these songs. Susana García de Salazar is a fine pianist and a skilled accompanist.
Highly recommended for those with an interest in the material and in art songs in general.
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