Joaquín Rodrigo : Concierto pastoral for flute and orchestra (1978)

[@lucassmusicofficial]

This piece is beyond challenging! Having studied and performed the concertos by Liebermann, Ibert, Nielsen, and Reinecke, this is one I refuse to touch. Ms. Hansen is beyond incredible, with her facility of the flute in all registers, and her relentless embouchure work is incredible. All while maintaining a beautiful, crisp, clear, expressive tone. This piece is hauntingly gorgeous, and it’s absolutely correct that it’s a never ending barrage of flute. Bravo!

[@MrGreenwheel1]

I'd never heard this till WBJC in Baltimore aired it. And I've been listening for over 40 years. Was driving and had to find a parking lot for safe listening. There is so much music here, where to start. Those jocular dance rhythms like those in Concerto de Aranjuez. Gorgeous melodies Stunning technical passages for flute. I don't know why this pastoral does not receive more airtime. Yes I do. It's too modern for lovers of famous war horses, who, it seems, must donate generously to our classical station. Rodrigo's piece requires listening facility and a love of flux, rhythm, virtuosity, surprises. A joyful ride indeed (aural experience, if you prefer). The Lisa Hansen performance sounded wonderful on the decent car stereo. A beautiful discovery and it deepens my appreciation of Rodrigo! Yo voy con la musica, cerca del Dio, o, los dios! (Hablo poquito!)

[@sandornor85]

I simply love this concerto. A challenging work who deserves more attention.

[@maxmerry8470]

I recall seeing a TV documentary at about the time Rodrigo wrote this startling Concerto for The Man With The Golden Flute (Galway was a huge star back then). The composer's wife and Galway talked about the beauty of the Adagio. All of his slow movements, she said, were special. The whole composition is one of Rodrigo's most interesting, in my opinion. It requires the kind of technical virtuosity possessed by the likes of Galway but also a feeling for the nuances of the instrument. Lisa Hansen possesses both qualities in abundance. Great performance; great upload.

[@corrado1675]

Capolavoro!! Grazie.

[@tonyobadinage6647]

Challenging! This is a side of Rodrigo that I did not know (nor had I expected!). If you're expecting the Spanish lyricism of the Concierto Aranjuez, think again; you won't find it here. I'm rather glad I came across this, the challenge is very worthwhile persevering with. The flute part has a bird-like relentlessness about it which makes for, at times, uncomfortable listening; even in the (often) wistful Adagio, the flute never lets up. The Rondo is Spanish (jota-like) but, again, the flute part is ever-present and relentless. Don't give up on this, it is a really worthwhile piece (this is my first listen). It must, surely, be one of the most challenging Flute Concertos in the canon. My hat is doffed to the flute player (I refuse to say 'flautist'; Ms Hansen plays a flute and not a flaut!). Nice one Rodders :)

[@RoddersClassical]

Tony, this has been the least loved of the Rodrigo concertos (with the listeners at least) on my channel. It is interesting to compare this to his final two concertos, which might be more along the lines of what listeners are looking for : kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppe4ZJqplqynlcU & kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGTSm3mdiKuNo7s

[@tonyobadinage6647]

Hello Rodders. I like Rodrigo's music (and the music of other Spanish composers) simply because of its innate 'Spanishness' but I also enjoyed listening to this piece; each to his own, I suppose. I can understand that this would be less popular than your other uploads but it's all about battling against perceptions. I'm thinking that Rodrigo, himself, battled against preconceived ideas about what his music should sound like when he wrote this and yet there is a 'Spanishness' contained therein... the listener just needs to dig away the outer crust to find it. Music should challenge us; indeed "Art" (define that as you will) should challenge us. If it does not do so, then it becomes slavish entertainment dictated to by the receiver. The great musicians (of any genre) lead the audience; lesser lights are led by the audience. I recently listened to all the albums (the British releases) by The Beatles. I've always known, and loved, their music but it's only with this last, personal, re-appraisal that I fully 'get' just how ahead of the game they were, how influential they were upon other bands, both contemporary and subsequent. This Rodrigo piece really struck a chord with me (please pardon the pun) - I would hope music lovers could relinquish twenty-five minutes of their time to understand that he really was more than just sweet 'Orange-Juice'.

[@RoddersClassical]

Tony, the LP which had the Concertos for Harp and for Flute would be my favourite of the Batiz LP's. James Galway had arranged the Fantasía para un gentilhombre for Flute before Rodrigo composed this concerto for him. Possibly there was a conscious effort to produce something in complete contrast to the Fantasia. You won't get any disagreement from me on the Beatles either. The list of musicians in the 60's who were not influenced by them in any way must be small.

[@tonyobadinage6647]

Rodders, BatiZ is a great champion of Spanish (and Mexican) music. One of my more cherished LPs was an HMV recording of AlbeniZ's "Iberia" pieces (orchestrated by Arbos) which was released in the early 1980s. I also had a few of his Rodrigo recordings (as well as the 'Music of Mexico' recordings on HMV Greensleeve) which you have uploaded here. I didn't, however, know of this LP.... now I do :)

[@RoddersClassical]

Tony, my next favourite of the Batiz LPs would be the one with the violin and first of the cello concertos.