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Jordi Savall and...

Posted by musetap (A) on May 6, 2007 at 16:12:15

Was fortunate to see and hear Jordi Savall in concert last night at the First Congregational Church in Beserkley. Savall has become one of my favorite musicians/artists in the past few years and this was my first time to experience him live. (Had to go solo as my wife took ill...)

In a program titled FOLIOS & ROMANESCAS, Savall (viola da gamba), Pierre Hantai(harpsichord) and Xavier Diaz (theorbo y guitar) performed pieces by Diegi Ortiz, Tobias Hume, Marin Marias, JS Bach and Antonio Martin y Coll, among others. This was the second of two nights at FCC and everyone seemed very relaxed and comfortable. The crowd (500?) was mostly grey/thin haired (like me!) and very mellow. There was a nice slight buzz of anticipation in the air.

With deft interplay featuring intricate lines, delicate tonalities and musicianship of an extraordinary calibre, these three masters filled the big venue with a truly wonderful tapestry of sound. Acoustics were excellent: I wasn't sure these unamplified/unmiked instruments might be up to the task of conveying the music properly in such a big space, but no problemo. From my near center aisle seat some 14 rows back, the sound was lush and full when called for, dead silent when neccesary. A well designed acoustic space indeed.

Savall is a master of the seldom heard viola da gamba, and brought forth beautiful sonorous arco passages as well as pizzacato lines that rang with authority and formed glorious chords. Deep resonate bass notes where at the other end, and the tonal colorations of that instrument (including bow-hammered chords and trills) brought to life these many compositions that Savall has "rescued" from obscurity. He plays with grace and refinement, passion and respect.

Diaz' solo piece, CANARIOS by Jacaras, was a brilliant Spanish guitar workout. I'm not a fan of the harpsichord, but Hantai was marvelous in all the ensemble pieces and his solo Bach (didn't catch which piece and didn't recognize it well enough to venture a guess) was a replacement for the scheduled Scarlatti, and very enjoyable.

As a fan of Savall and his Alia Vox label, this was a marvelous live introduction. A 100 minute or so program (with an intermission), an encore (an improvisation) and a wild standing ovation form an apprecitive audience made for a perfect evening of wonderful music and wonderous musicianship. What could add to that? Well, meeting these gracious and generous musicians at the CD signing afterwards! If you are at all a fan of Savall and Alia Vox I recommend a performance by them. Apparently Savall plays some 140 dates per year worldwide. He/they return to these parts in Febuary. I'll be there.


"I always play jazz records backwards, they sound better that way"
-Thomas Edison

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