Marco Ramelli - Mompou: Misteriós, Transcriptions for Guitar, Vol. 1 (2024) [Hi-Res/MP3]

This album is dedicated to the compositions of Federico Mompou, a composer and pianist of profound sensitivity. He exhibited an early inclination for the piano but, inspired by a Gabriel Fauré concert, he shifted his focus to composition, making his way to Paris to further his study. Mompou’s compositional approach was channelled through the piano, which he considered a fundamental tool for connecting with music’s essence, so he composed primarily on and for the instrument. There are some exceptions, however: notably his guitar compositions Suite Compostelana (1962) and Cançon i Dansa No.13 (1972).

In the guitar’s melancholic and evocative timbre, Mompou discovered an ideal medium to express his contemplative and gentle poetic world. The guitar becomes the canvas where sound and silence intertwine, evoking emotionscapable of transporting the listener to archaic places suspended in time.

In 2018, Brilliant Classics released Ramelli’s recording of Mompou’s original guitar compositions. This new album furthers his exploration of the composer’s works, taking his piano compositions and reimagining them for the guitar. The collaboration between the guitarist and James Beneteau, who presented Ramelli with these exquisite transcriptions of Mompou’s pieces, has been profound.

Throughout the transcription journey, Ramelli and Beneteau followed Mompou’s scores as a map, transmuting each piece through the lens of contact with the geography of the guitar’s unique resonance. Decisions about transcription, instrumentaltechnique, tempo, and dynamics are all intertwined with this listening to the instrument itself. Playing Mompou’s music transcribed for guitar is a journey aimed at heightened listening and sensitivity, exploring the spaces between notes through tactile contact with the instrument. This recording captures this creative process and marks the beginning of this ongoing artistic journey.

Tracklist
01. Mompou- Canción y danza I (transcribed by James Beneteau)
02. Mompou- Canción y danza II (transcribed by James Beneteau)
03. Mompou- Canción IX (transcribed by James Beneteau)
04. Mompou- Canción y Danza IV (transcribed by James Beneteau)
05. Mompou- Canción y Danza V (transcribed by James Beneteau)
06. Mompou- Cants magic's- IV. Misteriós (transcribed by James Beneteau)
07. Mompou- Prélude V (transcribed by James Beneteau)
08. Mompou- Prélude VI (transcribed by James Beneteau)
09. Mompou- Prélude VIII (transcribed by James Beneteau)
10. Mompou- Prélude II (transcribed by James Beneteau)
11. Mompou- Impresiones intimas I (transcribed by James Beneteau)
12. Mompou- Impresiones intimas II (transcribed by James Beneteau)
13. Mompou- Impresiones intimas III (transcribed by James Beneteau)
14. Mompou- Pájaro triste (transcribed by James Beneteau)
15. Mompou- La barca (transcribed by James Beneteau)
16. Mompou- Cuna (transcribed by James Beneteau)
17. Mompou- Secreto (transcribed by James Beneteau)
18. Mompou- Pensaments (transcribed by James Beneteau)
19. Mompou- Camí de muntanya (transcribed by James Beneteau)
20. Mompou- L'eco (transcribed by James Beneteau)
21. Mompou- El camí del jardí (transcribed by James Beneteau)
22. Mompou- Dos petits preludis- I. Oració d'ermita (transcribed by James Beneteau)
23. Mompou- Dos petits preludis- Il-lusió (transcribed by James Beneteau)
24. Mompou- Pastoral (transcribed by James Beneteau)
25. Mompou- Preludi (transcribed by James Beneteau)
26. Mompou- From Marguerite Long, la petite méthode de piano- I. Sur la pointe des pieds (transcribed by James Beneteau)