More please...

 

When exploring the music of Granados away from the piano, I had no expectation of anything but Spanish exoticisms.

What a surprise when you get music like this! Granados ventures into modes and has little folksy-sounding melodies, but never does this music sound easy or aimed at the lowest common denominator.

The opening of the Piano Trio sounds positively modern, yet firmly etched in a Romantic Era mode. I am sometimes reminded of Rachmaninov, yet never does Granados allow the piano to take over the work.

The Piano Quintet continues in much the same mold, if not a bit more bold. The spare middle movement is quite a special moment, and there is almost a Medieval quality to it and the finale.

The LOM trio, so named for their last names Ligorio, Orpella, and Mor (I assume), is crystal clear and well balanced in this music. Unfortunate the runtime is so short and these works so brief, but perhaps that was part of their success for me.

 

 

A review from 2024


Ensemble chamber music is out of the norm for Spanish composer Enrique Granados, but no surprise he took to the Piano Trio and Quintet, as the piano was the composer’s main instrument.


While Granados writes in a thoroughly Romantic style similar to Rachmaninov, another monster of the piano, Granados doesn’t let the piano dominate the proceedings as the Russian composer would do.


These are lovely, sparkling works. Anyone expecting Spanish exoticisms best look elsewhere, for these are original works with little in the way of folk tunes. All the same, Granados sprinkles in specks of modal color and folk-like idioms, without distracting from his original efforts.


The LOM Trio, with friends for the Quintet, are lively and clear. The sound is a tad drier in the Quintet, but really this is a spectacular effort. Too bad this recording of three Granados works only adds up to 45 minutes of music.

Listen on YouTube

Works
Piano Trio (24.44)
Piano Quintet in G minor (15.49)
Goyescas: Intermezzo (4.52)

Performers
Manuel Porta Gallego, violin
Joaquín Riquelme García, viola
LOM Trio

Label: Naxos
Year: 2010
Total Timing: 45.34

Really, my only gripe is the short amount of music here, but I also don't want a host of other Spanish composers jamming up this program either.

A wonderful discovery!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find more Granados recordings HERE!