Andres Segovia - The Segovia Collection [2002] [Boxset]

Andrew Farach-Colton
It is impossible to overestimate Andrés Segovia's influence on modern guitar playing. Born in 1893, he gave his first recital in 1909 and continued to perform well into his 90s, inspiring generation after generation of young musicians. The recordings on this attractive four-disc set were made at the height of the master's powers, between 1952 and 1969.

Although he recorded extensively, Segovia was not all that interested in the recording process. But while there may have been less emphasis on technical perfection, a marvelous spontaneity comes through very strongly. Yes, there are quite a few places on the first disc -- of concerted works by Rodrigo (Fantasia para un Gentilhombre), Ponce (Concierto del Sur) and Boccherini (the Cello Concerto No. 6, arranged by Cassadó) -- where soloist and orchestra go their separate ways. No matter, though. The playing is full of life, and Segovia's exquisite, clear tone is a joy. The second disc is devoted to 20th-century works by Spanish composers (Torroba, Mompou, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Ponce, Esplá, and Rodrigo) -- all written expressly for the guitarist. Disc 3 covers some four centuries of Spanish music -- from Luys Milán to Enrique Granados -- some of the pieces originally composed for the lute, others transcribed by Segovia.

The final disc is devoted to Bach, in Segovia's now-standard transcriptions. Much of this material, originally recorded by DG, has been reissued in various compilations over the years, though several of the selections have never made it to CD before. This is a historic set, then, and one that provides tremendous pleasure. The excellent notes in the accompanying booklet make a fine, instructional listening companion. And DG's presentation is handsome: The discs come in extra-thin, individual jewel cases and are housed in an unusually sturdy cardboard box. Nothing, however, is as elegant as the music herein. [/b]

The Segovia Collection
1. Fantasa para un gentilhombre, for guitar & orchestra 38:26
Composed by Joaqun Rodrigo and Symphony of the Air
2. Concierto del sur for guitar & orchestra 37:57
Composed by Manuel Ponce and Symphony of the Air
3. Cello Concerto in D major, G. 479 34:55
Composed by Luigi Boccherini
Performed by Andrs Segovia, Felix Galimir, Arthur Granick, Symphony of the Air, Eugene Bergen and Jascha Bernstein
Conducted by Enrique Jorda
4. Castles of Spain, for guitar 30:00
Composed by Federico Moreno Torroba
5. Piezas caractersticas, for guitar 12:56
Composed by Federico Moreno Torroba
6. Suite compostelana for guitar 34:17
Composed by Frederic Mompou
7. Sonata for guitar, Op 77 "Omaggio a Boccherini" 40:50
Composed by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco
8. Sonata for guitar No 1 ("Mexicana"): Allegro in A major 3:41
Composed by Manuel Ponce
9. Impresiones musicales, for piano & orchestra: 5. Antao 2:31
Composed by Oscar Espl
10. Piezas (3) espaolas, for guitar: 1. Fandango (Allegretto) 3:57
Composed by Joaqun Rodrigo
11. Prelude and allegro, for guitar 2:16
Composed by Santiago de Murcia
12. Passacaglia for guitar 4:59
Composed by Ludovico Roncalli
13. Suite for guitar, No 1 in G major: Gigue 1:32
Composed by Ludovico Roncalli
14. Suite for guitar, No 2 in E minor: Gavotte 1:51
Composed by Ludovico Roncalli
15. Pavan for vihuela No 1 1:21
Composed by Luis de Miln
16. Pavan for vihuela No 6 0:51
Composed by Luis de Miln
17. Pavan for vihuela No 3 1:41
Composed by Luis de Miln
18. Pavan for vihuela No 5 0:53
Composed by Luis de Miln
19. Pavan for vihuela No 2 1:55
Composed by Luis de Miln
20. Pavan for vihuela No 4 1:06
Composed by Luis de Miln
21. Suite espaola: No. 2, Gallarda y Villano 2:45
Composed by Gaspar Sanz
22. Suite espaola: No. 1, Espaoletas 1:29
Composed by Gaspar Sanz
23. Lessons (8) for guitar 21:35
Composed by Dionysio Aguado
24. Small Pieces (8), Op 24 (Complete): Minuet in C minor 2:57
Composed by Fernando Sor
25. Short Pieces (6), for guitar, Op 5: Minuet in C major 1:22
Composed by Fernando Sor
26. Pequeos Divertimento for 2 guitars No. 2, Op. 61/2: Etude No. 8 [No. 1] in C major (Andantino) 1:29
Composed by Fernando Sor
27. Pequeos Divertimento for 2 guitars No. 2, Op. 61/2: Etude No. 2 [No. 3] in A major (Andante allegro) 1:18
Composed by Fernando Sor
28. Etudes for guitar, Op 35: Etude No. 17 [no. 6] in D major (Moderato) 1:18
Composed by Fernando Sor
29. Etudes for guitar, Op 31: Etude No. 20 [No. 10] in A major (Andante allegro) 1:26
Composed by Fernando Sor
30. Etudes for guitar, Op 31: Etude No. 19 [No. 10] in A major (Andante) 1:47
Composed by Fernando Sor
31. Etudes for guitar, Op 35: Etude No. 16 [No. 15] in D minor (Moderato) 1:41
Composed by Fernando Sor
32. Etudes (12) for guitar, Op 6: Etude No. 11 [No. 17] in E minor (Allegro moderato 3:07
Composed by Fernando Sor
33. Etudes for guitar, Op 29: Etude No. 13 [No. 19] in B flat major (Andante (le 3:04
Composed by Fernando Sor
34. Etudes for guitar, Op 29: Etude No. 17 [No. 20] in C major (Allegro moderato 2:52
Composed by Fernando Sor
35. Suite espaola No. 1, for piano, Op. 47, B. 7: No. 1, Granada (Serenata) (Allegretto - Meno mosso 5:21
Composed by Isaac Albniz
36. Andaluza (Playera), for guitar or other instrument (arrangement of No. 5 of 12 Spanish Dances) 5:09
Composed by Enrique Granados
37. Spanish Dances (12), in 4 volumes for piano (also arrangements), Op.37, H. 142: No. 10, Danza triste (Allegretto - Andante - Tempo 4:17
Composed by Enrique Granados
38. Tonadillas al estilo antiguo, 10 songs for voice & piano, H. 136: No. 1, La Maja de Goya in G minor 4:46
Composed by Enrique Granados
39. Suite for lute in E minor, BWV 996: Allemande 2:26
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
40. Partita for lute in C minor, BWV 997: Sarabande 3:59
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
41. Partita for lute in C minor, BWV 997: Gigue 2:51
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
42. Partita for solo violin No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002: Sarabande 3:06
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
43. Partita for solo violin No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002: Bourre 3:35
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
44. Partita for solo violin No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002: Double 3:20
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
45. Suite for solo cello No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009 43:51
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
46. Suite for solo cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: Prlude 2:19
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
47. Suite for solo cello No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: Gavotte 1 & 2 3:56
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
48. Partita for solo violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: Chaconne 13:57
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
49. Prelude for lute in C minor, BWV 999 1:19
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
50. Partita for solo violin No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006: Gavotte en Rondeau 3:00
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
51. Fugue for lute in G minor, BWV 1000 5:12
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
52. Sonata for solo violin No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: Siciliano 3:22
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
53. Suite for lute in E minor, BWV 996: Boure 1:35
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach