Fernando Lopes-Graça, one of Portugal’s most prolific and innovative 20th-century composers, was steeped in the folk songs of various provenances. In this third instalment (the earlier volumes are on 8.579039 and 8.579082) Lopes-Graça sets some of the greatest of all Portuguese poets. His exploration of harmonic complexity and progressive writing is distantly rooted in Debussy and laced with other subtle French elements. Premiere recordings of the kaleidoscopic Old English and French songs, which run the gamut of emotions, are among his earliest settings of foreign folk songs.
Works:
•Lopes Graca: O menino da sua mãe, Op. 21 (Original 1936 Version)
• Lopes Graca: 6 Old English Songs, Op. 52
• Lopes Graca: 3 Sonetos de Camões, Op. 27 (Original 1939 Version)
• Lopes Graca: Aquela triste e leda madrugada, Op. 112
• Lopes Graca: Por que vossa beleza a si se vença, Op. 133 (Original Version)
• Lopes Graca: 6 Vieilles chansons françaises, Op. 50
• Lopes Graca: O sol é grande, Op. 130