Guastavino: Cuatro canciones argentinas (1949)

This CD combines songs that - in different ways - illustrate the lively back and forth between the influence of European traditions and that of Latin American folklore on the composition of art songs in Argentina and Mexico.

Argentinian-born Désirée Halac presents a beautifully performed recital of songs by Carlos Guastavino. The obituary written for The Guardian called Guastavino the most quietly distinctive voice in 20th century Argentinian music. His distillation of local folk elements into an avowedly romantic-nationalist idiom was unique and markedly different from his colleagues. Guastavino wrote some 300 works, more than half of them the delightful songs, often winsome or tinged with sadness, on which his reputation rests.

Raúl Giménez presents a panorama of popular twentieth century songs by composers of his native Argentina. These songs have their roots in Argentinian folk-idioms and in the simple lyricism of country life, and most are written 'in popular style'. The fresh, rustic harmonies of Buchardo complement the strongly rhythmic elements reflecting popular dance rhythms which characterize the selections of Guastavino. This reverence for tradition is continued in the songs of Ginastera with their clear references to fast dance rhythms, but it is overlayed by a melodic inventiveness which is essentially modern.