Mompou, Federico (1893-1987)

[Lat-Literal]

One of my favourite Spanish composers.

In brief:

"Although Mompou studied piano and harmony in Barcelona and Paris, he had no formal training in composition. Many of his works are based on traditional Catalan melodies, though the refined fluency of melody and harmony - together with the occasional influence of jazz - betray his love of French composers such as Fauré, Ravel and Satie. Mompou wrote almost exclusively for solo piano, sometimes with the addition of solo voice, and this preference for small and intimate genres forms reflected his own private nature."

Perhaps the best biography is on Stephen Hough's website:

http://www.stephenhough.com/writings/album-notes/mompou-piano-music.php

His interpretations are very good indeed.

Among the other impressive performers of his work is the great Alicia de Larrocha:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jej0-_sP04

[gurnemanz]

l got the Brilliant Classics 4CD collection recorded by the composer himself when it came out over a decade ago and have listened often and with great pleasure. He was a mere 81 years old at the time of recording (1974) and still on good form. Surely an essential buy for Mompou fans - and a bargain. Also Hough's Hyperion disc.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

l got the Brilliant Classics 4CD collection recorded by the composer himself when it came out over a decade ago and have listened often and with great pleasure. He was a mere 81 years old at the time of recording (1974) and still on good form. Surely an essential buy for Mompou fans - and a bargain.

I had one of those discs (I cannot now remember which one) when it first appeared on CD - I found it rather dull, and my impression of Mompou suffered as a result. Some time later, I went to a recital in the Eastbourne Arts Centre by Nicola Meecham, who included a selection of his works on her programme - rather too much for my liking before the recital, but I wanted to support the Arts Centre so went along anyway. It was brilliant! Her performances showed a variety of character that the composer's recordings hadn't (I checked afterwards - the composer's recordings still seemed flat and uninvolved, and I gave the CD away when I "downsized" a few years later; one of the few of the many I got rid of that I haven't missed).

Mompou seems rarely to feature in recital programmes, which - if Ms Meecham's performance is anything to go by - is a great pity.

[Belgrove]

Stephen Hough’s latest release on Hyperion of the Música callada is worth investigating. Hough refers to these meditative pieces as being the ‘music of evaporation’, yet despite their evanescence, they are exquisite jewels, arresting and compelling in the moment. Played on a Yamaha and beautifully recorded.

[smittims]

My favourite Mompou work is Los Improperios, a very modest oratorio which I find intensely moving, and a topical work for this week, as it concerns Good Friday.

It was characteristic of the composer that he was at pains to emphasise that the length and scale of the work (still only about 25 minutes!) did not signify an attempt to write a 'major work'.

[Pulcinella]

There was a Summer BaL on the Música Callada (with not much interest, sadly).

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?24305-Our-Summer-BAL-82-Mompou-Musica-Callada