Joan Cabanilles: Keyboard Music, Volume One: Eleven Organ Pieces
Much of the music of Joan (or Juan) Cabanilles (1644–1712) is as virtuosic and colourfully Baroque as that of his northern contemporary, Dietrich Buxtehude, though it is also touched with a distinctively Spanish intensity. He is claimed as the most prolific of all composers for the organ, and publication of his works, begun in 1927, is still under way. The surviving manuscripts can be seriously corrupt, requiring extensive editing and sometimes even detailed recomposition. This is the first in an ongoing series of recordings designed to restore a great Valencian master to his unique glory.
Timothy Roberts, historic organ (1724) of the Basilica of Sant Jaume, Vila-real (Castellón/Valencia)
Listen To This Recording:
- Tocata No. 1 de primero tono
- Passacalles No. 2 de primero tono
- Tocata No. 4 de quinto tono*
- Tiento No. 12 de falsas, de cuarto tono
- Tiento No. 31 partido de mano derecha, de primero tono*
- Tiento No. 82 lleno, por Bequadrado de quinto tono
- Tiento No. 9 partido de mano derecha, de secondo tono*
- Tocata No. 2 de mano izquierda, de quinto tono
- Tiento No. 63 de contras, de cuarto tono*
- Tiento No. 55 [lleno], de primero tono
- Tiento No. 14 partido de do s tiples, de cuarto tono*
*New Reconstructions by Timothy Roberts
Mathieu :
Really beautiful music, very well performed at a perfectly fitting Spanish organ! Looking forward to Volume II! 🙂 Greetings from Holland.
MusicWeb International :
‘RECORDING OF THE MONTH
I simply had to drop everything to recommend this Toccata Classics recording in the strongest possible terms to all lovers of renaissance and baroque music and of organ music in general. […]
The first reason to welcome this recording is that several of the pieces are not otherwise available. […]
The booklet which accompanies the new Toccata recording is my second reason for recommending it. Roberts’ notes contain all that you need to know about Spanish organ music of this period and about Cabanilles’ in particular. […]
It’s the instrument which gives me my third reason for recommending the recording: it’s a real joy to hear an organ which has just the right voicing for Spanish music of this period without sounding out of tune. […]
The fourth and most important reason concerns the performances themselves. […] It’s not even out of tune except to ears attuned to equal temperament and that’s part of the enjoyment.
The recording is very good, even as heard in the emusic mp3 download, but I do recommend obtaining the CD or the Qobuz download for the excellent booklet. […]
I can’t wait to hear more of Cabanilles´ prolific output.’
—Brian Wilson, MusicWeb International
Fanfare Magazine :
‘…the notes are well researched and documented copiously…. In his tientos, Cabanilles took full advantage of organological innovations such as brash horizontal trumpet stops, and balanced modern and archaic styles judiciously, earning him an enduring reputation as one of the key figures in the development of the genre. Timothy Roberts is an intelligent interpreter, clearly at home with the genre and its compositional intricacies. … Timothy Roberts has taken great care to inhabit fully the nuanced world of Iberian keyboard styles. As such, this recording may be the closest thing we’ll ever get to hearing Cabanilles’s music as he might have played it. I look forward to the next volume of the collection.’
—James V. Maiello, Fanfare Magazine
MusicWeb International :
‘We experience that sound[Spanish Organ] in all its glory on this CD for which Roberts has chosen an organ originally built in 1724 by Nicolás Salanova but virtually destroyed during the Spanish civil war. It was lovingly restored as recently as 2010 and makes a tremendous noise. The recording was made by Roberts himself, whose booklet notes are, in their detail, factual and informative content, not to mention their sheer readability, well worth the cost of the disc itself. […]
One thing is certain, Timothy Roberts’s obvious labour of love in presenting this music in all its glory has not been wasted; this is a truly magnificent recording.’
—Marc Rochester, MusicWeb International
MusicWeb International :
‘From his youth Roberts was fascinated by Spanish keyboard music and has studied it thoroughly. That shows in his fully idiomatic and engaging performances. In addition, these discs come with very informative booklets. Not only do we read much about Spanish organ music and Cabanilles’ oeuvre in particular, they also include analyses of every single piece.
Undoubtedly this is a project of great importance, and the quality of music, instrument and interpreter makes me look forward to the next volumes.’
—Johan van Veen, MusicWeb International
Andrew Benson-Wilson Website :
‘Timothy Roberts’ playing is musically sensitive, with a good sense of the touch and articulation that is so essential when playing organs built in historic style.’
—Andrew Benson-Wilson, Andrew Benson-Wilson Website