This delightful music was unknown to me until I acquired the LP at hand, a few years ago. The music is the work of Henri Tomasi, a French composer-conductor of Corsican decent who was a contemporary and associate of Milhaud, Honegger and Poulenc, Like them, his music is highly accessible; unlike them, it is little heard today.
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| Henri Tomasi |
The album, titled
Noël en Provence, includes two Christmas-themed choral-vocal works. Side one is devoted to a "Divertissement Pastoral," written for a Mass of the Nativity at the Abbey of Saint-Michel de Frigolet, and setting texts by Alphonse Daudet, Jean Giono, Marie Mauron, Frédéric Mistal and Marcel Pagnol. Side two contains "Douze Noëls de Saboly," on texts by the 17th century Provençal poet Nicolas Saboly.
The performances under the direction of Jacques Jouineau are suitably glowing and sympathetic. The sound combines clarity, warmth and impact in a way that is hard to find in a 21st century recording.
This is perfect for all who have a taste for little-known holiday music. The recording dates from 1963; my French pressing is from a few years later.
15 comments:
Links (Apple lossless):
https://mega.nz/#!fYc33ShB!iTeS9f-i7NephUbEfl8z4ytIJJ3zPKhO194HHfV88kM
https://www.mediafire.com/?y3zq00aubqpsevf
I love little-known holiday music! Thanks, Buster! :)
looks great. thanks for something both seasonable and unconventional. -a.v.
Hi Buster,
I haven't thanked you for uploading such interesting music for such a long time.
Always a pleasure to see what you have found and that you so generously wish to share with us.
Very much appreciated.
Have a most enjoyable Festive Season.
Cheers,
Douglas (UK)
Thank you, Buster.
Dear Buster,
Many thanks for that LP, very special to me. Tomasi is too much known only for his trumpet concerto which according to his son Claude (a close friend of mine) is not his best piece ! I do love Tomasi's music and have performed many of his works. His catalogue includes masterpieces such as Chant pour le Vietnam, Symphonie du Tiers-Monde, Eloge de la Folie and so many others.....This LP shows another side of his compositions....he was born in Marseille.....Provence is in his blood.
Hello everyone and happy holidays! Thanks so much for your comments. I am grateful that you are enjoying this fine music.
Centuri - I do have a recording of the trumpet concerto but not the other items you mention - which I will now seek out.
A delightful album! The Divertissement Pastoral was especially wonderful. I wish my French were such that I could follow the story line as it was being presented. Thanks for sharing!
interesting and unique post!!! thanks very much and happy holidays to you, Buster!
Mark - I wish my French were such that I could give you a clue as to what the material is conveying. Unfortunately no texts with this one.
SD - Happy holidays!
This is a delight to find! As a former classical saxophone player, I got acquainted with a lot of Tomasi's music, and this will give me a chance to branch out.
I once owned this LP, but it got away from me . I spent a year in Aix-en-Provence, and this brings back some great memories for me. Thank you so much!
dear Buster, I am afraid there is no official (studio) recording of the works I mentioned but Michel Solis wrote a book about Tomasi called Un Idéal méditerranéen. Attached in that book (Albiana publications), a CD including the Symphony under Pierre Dervaux as well as two other Radio recordings: Le Silence de la Mer and Retour à Tipasa.
All - once again thanks, and happy holidays!
centuri - Thanks for the information!
you are welcome !!
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