Orchestrations (& Demos) of Mompou's "Impresiones

[JBacal]

Inspired by Ravel’s orchestrations of piano pieces, I decided to take my first humble stab at doing something similar. I chose a collection of 9 piano miniatures by the Spanish composer Federico Mompou entitled “Impresiones Intimas.” He originally composed these poetic pieces between 1911 and 1914.

I’m going to test the waters and post links to 3 of the 9. If there’s interest, I’ll post the rest of the collection, and as always I’m happy to post the midi files if anyone wants.

Please feel free to give me feedback about the orchestrations, the performances and the mixes. I am anxious to improve.

All the samples are from VSL Opus 1 except the oboe, which is Miroslav (I just purchased the VSL Horizon “French Oboe” but haven’t received it yet).

If you’d like to hear the original piano pieces, I highly recommend Alicia de Larrocha’s “Spanish Encores” CD.

Thanks for listening!!

Best,
Jay

www.Members.aol.com/jbacal/music/Cuna.mp3


www.Members.aol.com/jbacal/music/Pajaro_Triste.mp3


Planys_III_gracioso.mp3 (**removed to make room on server for new stuff. If you want to hear this one send me PM and I'll happily email it to you)

[PaulR]

@JBacal said:

Inspired by Ravel’s orchestrations of piano pieces, I decided to take my first humble stab at doing something similar.
Please feel free to give me feedback about the orchestrations, the performances and the mixes. I am anxious to improve.
Thanks for listening!!
Best,
Jay

Humble stab? Uh-huh. In my 'humble' opinion the Pajoro Triste should be on the demo section of this wesite, it's that good.

I suggest to the members of this forum, if they do nothing else, listen to this one. What a beautiful piece of music!

You captured it mate. Well done. So you're anxious to improve huh? I'm telling you, you won't improve much on that. Time to start writing your own pieces now, aye?

Incidentally, the theme in this piece has been 'borrowed' for part of a filmscore. Maybe Ben Hur or Sparticus, I can't remember, but I've heard it in a film somewhere, and I'm not surprised.


Thanks for sharing.

[Virtual Guitarist]

I second that completely!!!
Beautifull orchestration!
Deserves absolutely to be in the demo section!!!
Great work, congrats!!!

[William]

I agree these are excellent. As good or better than a number of the official demos already on the site. The expression is very finely detailed and they are skillful orchestrations by Jay Bacal of the beautiful Mompou pieces.

[Julie]

Jay-
These are great as I expected. Very simple and transparent orchestration, seems like it would be easy to screw up because of that- very nice. Did you use the new French Oboe from the horizon series? What instruments did you use?
thanks again for helping us,
Julie

[Carter]

Julie,

he said he used the Miroslave Oboe because he hasn't received his French Oboe Horizon package yet [:)]

[JBacal]

Thank you PaulR, Virtual, Bill and Julie for your kind encouragement. It is a terrific gift that busy and talented people like yourselves take the time to listen and give feedback.

Sincere thanks to all,

Jay

[JBacal]

Ok, ok, I realize no one technically “asked” me to post anymore of these Mompou pieces, but I just can’t resist adding one more.

Secreto.mp3 (**removed to make room on server for new stuff. If you want to hear this one send me PM and I'll happily email it to you)

The original piano miniature is just so hauntingly beautiful, and I think this demo shows the Opus 1 clarinet in a very tender and expressive light.

Thanks for humoring me. I’ll try to post a totally original composition next time.

Best,
Jay

[PaulR]

@JBacal said:

Ok, ok, I realize no one technically “asked” me to post anymore of these Mompou pieces, but I just can’t resist adding one more.

Thanks for humoring me. I’ll try to post a totally original composition next time.Best,Jay

It's not a question of humouring you Jay! Why is it that musicians, by and large, have absolutey no confidence in anything that they do. I could make a fortune, an absolute fortune, teaching musicians how to project themselves. But I can't be bothered.

Anyway, once again, very good orchestration and sound. So much space, which of course, is a personal preference of mine, which is just my taste. Excellent work.

What irritates me, is, this music that I was not familiar with until now, has been borrowed for filmscores by the sound of it. Nothing new there.

Well done!

PR

What do you mean ' you'll try and post an original work'. You either will, or you won't!

[William]

Yes that would be very interesting to hear an original piece.

This Secreto is amazingly expressive. It does indeed show how good that legato clarinet is. The progressive (or changing) vibrato on the trumpet solo adds a lot. Also the softer shades of dynamics which Jay has been specializing in. Excellent orchestration and performance.