Composer: Gustavo Diaz-Jerez
Performer: Cristo Barrios, Ricardo Descalzo
Orchestra: Royal National Scottish Orchestra
Conductor: Eduardo Portal
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Signum Records
Release: 2020
Size: 2.23 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Ymarxa (Tenerife) (For Orchestra)
02. Ayssuragan (La Palma) (Symphonic Poem for Clarinet and Orchestra)
03. Guanapay (Lanzarote) (Symphonic Poem for Piano and Orchestra)
04. Chigaday (La Gomera) (For Orchestra)
05. Azaenegue (Gran Canaria) (For Orchestra)
06. Erbane (Fuerteventura) (For Orchestra)
07. Aranfaybo (El Hierro) (For Orchestra)
Gustavo Díaz-Jerez is one of the leading composers and pianists in Spain. His compositional output spans all genres, from solo works to opera. His works have been premiered by prestigious ensembles and orchestras. His orchestral work Ymarxa, commissioned by the XXVII Canary Islands Music Festival, was premiered by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Charles Dutoit. In 2018, his first opera was premiered, La casa imaginaria.
This album represents the culmination of more than ten years of compositional work. A unique endeavour in the history of music in the Canary Islands, it comprises seven symphonic poems – almost two and a half hours of music – which evoke the landscapes and natural beauty of the Canaries. The cycle takes its name, Maghek (‘the one who creates brightness’), from the sungoddess of the Guanches, the aboriginal inhabitants of the Canary Islands. Each piece is inspired by a specific locale on a different island; some resurrect forgotten stories. Naturalistic tonal painting (the sea, the wind, the rugged scenery) is a constant feature throughout the cycle.