Barrios-The Music of (Includes La Cathedral )

Listen to renowned classical guitarist David Russell perform magical interpretations of guitarist and composer Agustin Barrios Mangoré. A Barrios authority, Mr. Russell brings these expressive turn-of-the-century Latin works into a graceful and exacting technique which is wrapped in a smooth, rich sound.

The twenty-one pieces on this CD give an overview of Barrios' music unmatched on any recording. They vividly portray scenes of barrios' Latin America of the late 1800's and early 1900's. La Cathedral, a three-movement work, takes the listener into a beautiful cathedral where the organist is playing Bach. From this sanctuary, the listener, once again, is forced to enter the streets of the temporal world. This recording also contains Vals Tropical. Discovered in El Salvador, this elegant waltz received its world premier on this recording. Three other waltzes follow; Vals de Primavera and Vals Op. 8, No. 3 and 4.

The remaining works on this release cover a wide range of musical expressionism. Una Limosna por el Amor de Dios, Barrios' last major piece, is perhaps the greatest tremolo study ever written. Un Sueño en la Floresta is a a Romantic tour de force which incorporates an unheard high C on the first string, and Las Abejas is one of the finest arpeggio studies for guitar. Russell also performed in the intensely passionate Mazurka Apasionata and three dances based on Paraguayan rhythms and themes—Danza Paraguaya, Jha Che Valle and London Carapé.