Carlos Chavez Eduardo Mata London Symphony Orchestra - Carlos Chvez The Complete Symphonies (12 tracks) +Album Reviews

Decent performances, really cheap price

Evan Wilson | Cambridge, Massachusetts United States | 02/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Carlos Chavez wrote 6 wonderful symphonies which have struggled to hang on to the fringes of the repertoire. When conductor Mata recorded this set, it was only the second complete rendition of the pieces (after a gritty but imperfectly played set led by the conductor). There has not been another complete set since Mata's so that and the cheap price are good reasons for getting this. The playing and performances are clean and colorful, but I have the feeling that the London orchestra was not completely comfortable with the idiom. There is a certain stiffness and control to their playing which stifles the music a bit. Still, this set warrants 5 stars because we aren't likely to get an new set any time soon.A word about the music itself. Chavez explored Mexican (& Aztec) folk music and the results of that research inform his symphonies to varying extents. The Symphony No. 2 positively revels in the rhythms and sounds of the land, but the folk influence is much more subdued elsewhere. Chavez knew the great 19th century symphonies and his carry on that tradition in a distinctive way. Thus, these pieces use older forms (including a Passacaglia to end the 6th symphony a la Brahms' 4th) and counterpoint abounds. However, Chavez's spare yet original orchestral palette (combining unlikely sonorities) and edgy (but not atonal) harmonic sense rewrite the romantic symphony in a new way. Don't expect the warm, lush sound of Brahms, even in Chavez's so-called Romantic symphony. Instead, expect pieces that meld colorfulness (but not impressionism) with a certain severity. It's an odd mix, but Chavez makes it work and it produces music that is very distinctive.This is very high quality music and it should be in your collection. Still, I hope some enterprising young conductor will take up Chavez's cause soon and give us another cycle (along with recording of Chavez's various concerted works). He deserves to be heard."

A Major Symphonic Cycle by a Forgotten Composer

Christopher Forbes | Brooklyn,, NY | 02/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Chavez - Complete SymphoniesFor years I was convinced that I knew exactly what the music of Carlos Chavez would sound like, without hearing a single note. To me it seemed obvious that any Mexican composer would automatically be a nationalist and base most of his music on the folk music of his country. That, plus Chavez's closeness to Copland in the 20s and 30s convinced me that his music would be a rather wan "Mexicana" copy of Copland's more successful Americana material. Then a few years ago I actually listened to the music of this composer and was completely blown away. Chavez was quite simply a brilliant modernist composer who just happened to be Mexican. And a more unjustly neglected composer is hard to imagine.Chavez's six symphonies are a substantial addition to the form in modern times. They are diverse in form and mood and beautifully crafted. Though the composer was primarily self-taught, his command of modal counterpoint and 20th century harmony is impressive in the extreme. Each symphony is distinctive musical entity. The First and Second Symphonies are the shortest works, both in a single compact movement, but that's just about all they share. The First Symphony was developed from material that Chavez has written for a production of Antigone. This is the most uncompromisingly modernist music in the set. The piece is one slow movement, with material based on Greek modes accompanied by tense dissonances. It is austere, but powerfully tragic music. The Second Symphony couldn't be a greater contrast. The Symphony, called the Sinfonia India, is one of the best examples of Chavez's forays into musical nationalism. Based on mestizo music from Chavez's childhood as well as including a massive array of native percussion, this is one of the most impressive and accessible pieces in the composer's repertoire, the only work really that approaches a permanent place in the repertoire. The piece begins with a vibrant melody in wildly changing meters, contrasted with a lovely slower pentatonic melody. The piece has an austere middle section based on a haunting modal melody which climaxes and leads to a repeat of the opening material. Then, the final section of the work accelerates and introduces a new, rollicking theme, which is repeated almost verbatim over and over. The only changes are to the instrumentation, as more and more instruments and a greater battery of percussion drive the work to a rousing finale. The third symphony is the first fairly traditional work in the cycle, written in three movements. The first is a typical sonata allegro with a jaunty main theme. The second is a charming scherzo and the final movement begins as a slow movement, but morphs into a faster finale as it goes. The work is beautifully crafted, as is the one movement 4th symphony, subtitled the Romantic Symphony. The Fifth symphony is almost neoclassical, and scored in two movements for strings alone. The Sixth symphony is also neoclassical, but with romantic overtones. It concludes with a stunning Passacaglia, perhaps the most effective since the Brahms 4th Symphony. It's a wonderful end to a truly impressive symphony cycle.There is almost no competition for the Third, Fifth and Sixth Symphonies. The only other recordings are old vinyl releases with the composer conducting, and they have never made it to CD. The First, Second and Fourth symphony are presented on a competing disc conducted by Enrique Batiz and the State Symphony of Mexico. This latter disc also includes music from Chavez's ballet The Daughter of Colchis and the tone poem Baile, both wonderful works as well. The Second Symphony also appears on a wonderful disc of Latin American music by Leonard Bernstein in the best performance I've heard of the work. Between the Batiz disc and this one by Eduardo Mata the choice is harder. Batiz is a much less inspired conductor than Mata, but his orchestra plays with more color and fire than the LSO under Mata. On the other hand, this Vox set is the only way to get all six symphonies and it IS laughably cheap...you can buy it and still decide to get the Batiz CD later if you wish. Trust me...you'll want that one too, if only for the other Chavez material, because once you discover this unsung composer, I'm sure you'll be wanting more of his wonderful music. I know I do!"

Spectacular

Aaron Humphrey | Alamosa, CO United States | 05/18/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From start to finish these two CDs are simply incredible. Chavez' music is so complex, so emotionally intense that one must make a concerted effort to fully assimilate it. Yet it is work that is well rewarded. This is, simply put, some of the best 20th century orchestral music out there. I most wholeheartedly recommend it."

Highly recommended for Chavez fans, but what about the rest

Russ | Richmond, VA | 07/13/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"In many ways, this is a very difficult set to review. Not knowing anything about this music, I purchased the symphonies of Carlos Chavez (1899-1978) out of curiosity. Many sources indicate that Silvestre Revueltas and Chavez were the two leading twentieth century Mexican composers. Despite the apparent importance of these two composers, recordings are relatively few (the music of Mexican composers seems to be somewhat of a dark territory, at least in comparison to other countries). In fact, (as of the date of this review) this is only the complete set of Chavez's symphonies available.

I wish I could say that these symphonies immediately won me over and should be played by every orchestra in North America. Unfortunately, even after repeated listening of these works, I am still a little perplexed by this complex music.

Despite composing a "Sinfonia India" (Symphony No. 2), based on actual Huichol and Yaqui Native American themes, Chavez should not be considered a nationalist composer. Chavez was a self taught modernist, although he independently studied the works of Beethoven and Brahms. His style is organic in nature and based on the use of recurring motives. Other than the above mentioned Symphony No. 2, his music is not immediately accessible. Dissonances are the norm here. Much of the compositional output of Chavez could be considered sparse in terms of melodic content, as well as orchestral texture. Although I indicated that Chavez should not be considered a nationalist composer, there are small, yet detectible, elements of folk / native music sprinkled throughout these pieces. The most striking element of this music to me is the characteristic writing for the woodwinds.

Here is a brief summary of the symphonies:

Symphony No. 1 - Sinfonia Antigona (12 minutes): A single movement work based on the Greek modal system

Symphony No. 2 - Sinfonia India (13 minutes): Chavez's most popular work. This single movement work uses actual Native American themes and percussion instruments. This is perhaps the only symphony which features a prominent part for the guiro.

Symphony No. 3 (31 minutes): The four movement symphony is most traditional of the set. I find the "Allegro" second movement to be somewhat gallant, and the quirky third movement scherzo to be interesting in a comical way. Despite the interesting inner movements, the terse outer movements of this work make it somewhat difficult to get a handle on.

Symphony No. 4 - Sinfonia Romantica (22 minutes): Another single movement work. The first half of the work is slow and murky, while the second half is lively and spirited. If it wasn't for the first half of this work, I think there could be some potential for the symphony to obtain more widespread popularity. The final section of this work features a rollicking syncopated melody, and is probably my favorite part within the six symphonies.

Symphony No. 5 (23:43): This symphony, scored for strings only, is neoclassical in nature. The string writing here reminds me a bit of Einar Englund's fourth symphony (Chavez's symphony came first though). The work concludes with a propulsive finale.

Symphony No. 6 (34:28): Concluding with a monumental passacaglia, some consider this to be Chavez's masterpiece. The passacaglia theme is initially presented by a tuba, which is followed by 34 (!) variations, then a set of two more variations within a fugal structure. The work concludes with a set of six more variations, followed by a coda in which Chavez, somehow, makes a C major chord sound ominous. All of this sounds interesting in theory, but the casual listener will definitely find himself or herself lost in Chavez's orchestral writing in this long (17 minute) movement.

So what does all this mean? Well, I liked the second symphony and I liked parts of the third and fourth at first listen. For these, I am glad I purchased this set. After repeated listening, some of the material in the fifth and sixth symphonies is yielding some pleasure. Additionally, this is an important release, given it represents the only complete set of Chavez's symphonies. And, how about that bargain price - it's tough to regret an eleven dollar purchase. Yet, in conclusion, I have come across so much fantastic music by virtually unknown composers, which is both immediately accessible and wholly characteristic, that this set in comparison, seems just a bit mediocre. For those new to Mexican classical music I would recommend starting with the less modern music of Revueltas ("less modern" is used in a relative sense here). For those who know and enjoy the style of Chavez, this set is wholly recommendable, given the price, the completeness, the detailed program notes, as well as the good playing by the LSO, although I am sure an orchestra which is more familiar with these works could add just a bit more excitement.

CD 1 - 63:58

CD 2 - 71:03"

There's something here, but don't dive in just yet...

Samuel Stephens | TN, USA | 06/16/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Not all of these symphonies are pleasant on the ears. You might be under the impression (because of Bernstein's advocacy of the Sinfonia India) that this music is all lush and exotic orchestration and exciting rhythms. But it isn't. Most of it is spiky, and some of it is meandering.

The best symphonies here are Nos. 1, 2, 4, and 5. But even Nos. 4 and 5 are harder than most other symphonies. The technical inventiveness is here, but it's the accessibility that's the problem. Chavez's style is quite hard to get used to.

If you're one to go for complete sets, this is the only one out there. And it's a great one in respect to artistic performances. The LSO and Eduardo Mata make a great team in playing this music for all it is worth."

Search - Carlos Chavez, Eduardo Mata, London Symphony Orchestra :: Carlos Chávez: The Complete Symphonies

CD Details

Similarly Requested CDs

CD Reviews