Joly Braga Santos - Concerto for Strings - Concerto for Violin, Cello, Strings and Harp - Etc.

One of the greatest (rather unsung) 20th century composers in my humble opinion, is Joly Braga Santos from Portugal. I wouldn't be hesitant to say that he is the most important Portuguese composer & symphonist. His Symphonies are especially fine, I'm blown away each time I revisit them. In particular his first 4 Symphonies (he composed 6) strike me as his best, then again I have to admit I generally appreciate his modal, big-boned and gorgeously neo-romantic works. His 4th Symphony is possibly his best, but all are simply knock-outs. The "Concerto for Strings" of 1951 is a strong example of his earlier modal style. There are many moments in the Concerto that might remind the
listener of Ralph Vaughan Williams, which for me is glorious. There is however, a more "muscular" feel to Braga Santos's music (compared to the Tallis Fantasia for example, which is 100 times the masterpiece yet sonically it's a decent example) and it's extremely rewarding. The rest of the program shows a gradual stylistic change, the "Sinfonietta for Strings" of 1963 for example offers spiky dissonance and denser contrapuntal writing. This progression only continues on with the "Variations Concertantes" for Strings and Harp and the "Concerto for Violin, Cello, Strings and Harp". All four compositions are that of a master, of all periods. Enjoy.

  
Braga_Santos_Concerto_for_Strings_Tz.zip

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