Here is another re-recording in my project to replace all my early recordings. Surely sounds a whole lot better than the previous version.

Villa-Lobos - A Lenda do Caboclo (4:20)

Bravo, that´s a very good recording and interpretation, I think! I have listened with score and can´t find anything to critisize at this moment. I have to admit I only know Villa-Lobos as a guitar-composer. I have played a lot of his etudes for guitar and one of his valses for guitar.

Take your time
Villa-Lobos wrote a gigantic body of piano works. A bit of a mixed bag really, much of it I would not want to play even if I could (the difficulties can be outrageous, far outstripping the musical content). But there are many lovely things to be found.
Thanks for the feedback.

Hi Chris,

I think that "A Lenda do Caboclo" is one of Villa Lobos' finest compositions. A truly beautiful piece. You do it justice bringing out its lyricism, flowing lines, and wonderful harmonies. Fine playing.

David

You may be right there David. Although I can't claim to have heard everything HVL penned, I do know all the commonly played pieces, and
this one stands out for its simplicity, calm and restraint.


Thanks for that ! Somehow this simple but heartfelt piece always inspires me. I think I'll do Alma Brasileira as well, to keep this one companion.

Nice work Chris!

Hi Chris,

I had a listen to your recording of "Legend of a Native" as a translation has it. Nice playing. You made it almost sound carefree, and while it is far from the background piano music some composer in the composer section posted, there is something simple about parts of it. There is something chilling about the main theme. After listening to the recording I think I figured it out. It is roughly the theme from Spielberg's Jaws , though I'll always know it for its musical reduction in terms of intervals perfect unison-minor 2nd, perfect unison-minor 2nd etc.. The return from the new section to the old at around 2:34 was nice. I could barely hear the last notes at 4:01 but I guess its appropriate as it seems to be a moody piece and therefore the end should sort of fade away instead of end with a forte or even a mf, I assume there is a "p" marking in the score?

Nice to hear some Villa-Lobos,

Riley

Hehe Jaws, yes now you mention it
It's not really a theme though, just a rocking accompaniment in typical Brazilian rhythm.
Yes I wanted it to fade away to a quasi niente, even though it is not indicated as such in the score. Artistic freedom !

you're right. I have analyzed this piece while studying a subject in the post-graduation this semester. this ABA... in the A sections, there's no theme. only a sketch of it. the theme appears in B, extended, modulated. this piece seems to fade out many times (right in the beginning, for example), and it even hesitate the theme. this gives opportunity to play it with lots of hesitation, and to make surprise (you play like it's going to end, but then it continuous. and it continuous indefinitely. this is not an end: it could go on and on... like a legend itself! =D )

the translation "Legend of a Native" is quite imprecise. native Brazilian people are the "índios". Caboclo is a mixture of a white Portuguese with an índio.
and there is no Legend of a Caboclo here in Brazil: Villa-Lobos wrote a piece as if there were... Villa-Lobos himself "created" this legend. and though the rhythm is Brazilian (there's also a little latin American habanera in it), the harmony is European, French.

Chis,

Nice playing. The harmonies sound a bit Debussy like. The rhythms have a bit of a Latin swing.
The recurring motif CBEDBA and it's variations have a latin jazzy flavor.

-Kaila

Hi Chris, the rhythmic ostinato and harmonies are woven so well together in this piece. The Latin impressionistic harmonies give just the right sonority. Excellent understanding and playing, without any hint of overdoing it.

Thanks you Kaila and George !
That jazzy rhythm is a typical Brazilian rhythm which Villa-Lobos was very fond of, and occurs in several of his compositions.

Very good Chris! No idea how your previous recording was but can easily trust you on that this is better.

At least this time I have practiced some