Braga Santos' music always sounds somewhat familiar yet totally original; somewhat simple yet totally enjoyable both emotionally and structurally. He is an expert builder and sustainer of symphonic structures, and in his extensive use of brass and wind instruments. His few references to other composers (Respighi of course, Villa-Lobos, and here, Vaughan Williams) are seamlessly integrated into the whole and always justified. I'm just becoming acquainted with his music, and my appreciation of his stature grows with each new work I hear; his Fourth Symphony is no exception. (My only disappointment here is that my ignorance of the language prevents me from understanding the text.) And to think: I heard this work five years ago on YT and wrote that it was "...somewhat pretentious and lacking...originality." I think my musical tastes have developed and improved since then...hopefully.
Happy to find a composer from my language and even happier to know that his style is close to Respighi's, my favorite italian composer. I hope i can know more about portuguese classical music, its my culture (across the Ocean)..
Esta música es una maravilla para mí. Escribo este comentario y lo envío a través de un programa traductor. Necesitamos llevar la música de sus naciones al mundo porque Occidente está obsesionado con los que yo llamo los adictos al trabajo germánicos. Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Haydn. Y todos los que se suscribieron a su forma Sonata sinfonías, música de cámara, etc. Honro esas obras y sus formas, pero eso ha dejado poco espacio a la visibilidad de ti en el resto del mundo, creando las obras mágicas que compones en todo el mundo!
Excellent performance of a super symphony, one we never hear In Portugal or here in the UK. I was introduced to this work by a friend some years ago on visiting Portugal. It’s been a favourite ever since..
@@alexanderthompson2254 Unfortunately the mastering work from the original analog tapes was not great... I own both an LP and a CD and I think that if one could get a hold of the original master tapes a better digital version could e achieved using the current noise reduction and digital mastering software
@@AndreGranjo Agreed, it's a little 'dim' sounding in the quieter moments especially. More surprising to me was the often-poor brass playing, esp. in the horn section where even my non-trained ears pick up a number of bum notes. But the lyricism in the valorous high string interludes of the first movement are more 'heraldic' here (for me) than the more recent, though otherwise technically superior, recording. In either case, I feel lucky to have two separate recordings of this wonderful music to enjoy. I've only known Braga Santos' music for a little over a year now but he has swiftly risen to the top of my favorites list. His gift for melody in these early days of his writing - instilling tragedy, heroism or sunny bucolic joy so effortlessly - is such a gift to behold. The manner in which he abandoned this gift (with one or two short exceptions) post-1950 is a tragedy. But then again, I'm sure there was outside pressure for the classical world of the time which rejected such gifts wholesale.
Mérito de melancolia inquieta, algum dramatismo sem saída certa, um tipo de "cavalgada" das cordas, sublinhada por metais um pouco ao estilo da 5ª de Sibelius e pouco mais. Ficou muito por dizer, com total franqueza de quem é simples ouvinte. Fine bit...what´s next from him? .
Braga Santos' music always sounds somewhat familiar yet totally original; somewhat simple yet totally enjoyable both emotionally and structurally. He is an expert builder and sustainer of symphonic structures, and in his extensive use of brass and wind instruments. His few references to other composers (Respighi of course, Villa-Lobos, and here, Vaughan Williams) are seamlessly integrated into the whole and always justified. I'm just becoming acquainted with his music, and my appreciation of his stature grows with each new work I hear; his Fourth Symphony is no exception. (My only disappointment here is that my ignorance of the language prevents me from understanding the text.)
And to think: I heard this work five years ago on YT and wrote that it was "...somewhat pretentious and lacking...originality." I think my musical tastes have developed and improved since then...hopefully.
Happy to find a composer from my language and even happier to know that his style is close to Respighi's, my favorite italian composer. I hope i can know more about portuguese classical music, its my culture (across the Ocean)..
Never heard something as intense as this symphony in my life. Exctatic.
Esta música es una maravilla para mí. Escribo este comentario y lo envío a través de
un programa traductor. Necesitamos llevar la música de sus naciones al mundo
porque Occidente está obsesionado con los que yo llamo los adictos al trabajo germánicos.
Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Haydn. Y todos los que se suscribieron a su forma Sonata
sinfonías, música de cámara, etc.
Honro esas obras y sus formas, pero eso ha dejado poco espacio a la visibilidad
de ti en el resto del mundo, creando las obras mágicas que compones en todo el mundo!
but why did you translate your text to Spanish? Portugal speaks "Portuguese", go figure.
Excellent performance of a super symphony, one we never hear In Portugal or here in the UK. I was introduced to this work by a friend some years ago on visiting Portugal. It’s been a favourite ever since..
Magnífica composição, magnífica interpretação.
Adorei ❤️😍👌
Uma das suas melhores
Magnífica obra! Uma sinfonia memorável! 5*
Conhecia a versão instrumental. esta também é muito boa. obrigado...
I don't speak the language but I prefer this choral version better. Thanks!!
é pena que a Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian não promova a música portuguesa
Some definite Respighi going on here, especially around the 11-12 minute mark. Enjoyable nonetheless!
Does anyone know if this recording is available on CD?
Yes, Naxos has a 6 CD pack with all the symphonies (1-6)
@@patriciacarrilho5979 No, this version (choral) is only available on PortugalSom. I believe that it is no longer available!
@@AndreGranjo Found it for a hefty price online, it's still out there on the secondary market. Thanks!
@@alexanderthompson2254 Unfortunately the mastering work from the original analog tapes was not great... I own both an LP and a CD and I think that if one could get a hold of the original master tapes a better digital version could e achieved using the current noise reduction and digital mastering software
@@AndreGranjo Agreed, it's a little 'dim' sounding in the quieter moments especially. More surprising to me was the often-poor brass playing, esp. in the horn section where even my non-trained ears pick up a number of bum notes. But the lyricism in the valorous high string interludes of the first movement are more 'heraldic' here (for me) than the more recent, though otherwise technically superior, recording. In either case, I feel lucky to have two separate recordings of this wonderful music to enjoy. I've only known Braga Santos' music for a little over a year now but he has swiftly risen to the top of my favorites list. His gift for melody in these early days of his writing - instilling tragedy, heroism or sunny bucolic joy so effortlessly - is such a gift to behold. The manner in which he abandoned this gift (with one or two short exceptions) post-1950 is a tragedy. But then again, I'm sure there was outside pressure for the classical world of the time which rejected such gifts wholesale.
Mérito de melancolia inquieta, algum dramatismo sem saída certa, um tipo de "cavalgada" das cordas, sublinhada por metais um pouco ao estilo da 5ª de Sibelius e pouco mais. Ficou muito por dizer, com total franqueza de quem é simples ouvinte. Fine bit...what´s next from him? .
Professional performance! Minus 4th movement - the runnings are too difficult for the trumpet, the choir is false.
I also think the choir subtracts from the piece, but what do you mean the choir is false?
@@cordobes Sorry if my English is not perfect, the singing doesn't sound clear.
Soberbia!!!