Joaquín Turina; José Luis Turina - Music for Wind Quintet (Azahar Ensemble)

Information

• Joaquín Turina - Sevilla, Op. 2 (arr. José Luis Turina)
• Joaquín Turina - La Oración del Torero, Op. 34 (arr. José Luis Turina)
• Joaquín Turina - Danzas Gitanas, Op. 55 (arr. José Luis Turina)
• Joaquín Turina - Mujeres Españolas, Op. 73 (arr. José Luis Turina)
• José Luis Turina - Variaciones sobre temas de Turina

Azahar Ensemble

    Frederic Sánchez Muñoz, flute

    María Alba Carmona Tobella, oboe

    Miquel Ramos Salvadó, clarinet

    Antonio Lagares Abeal, horn

    María José García Zamora, bassoon

Date: 2018

Label: Profil

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Review

This is a debut album from Spanish-based wind quintet Azahar Ensemble. The album contains four works in arrangements for wind quintet which were originally written by the famous Spanish composer Joaquín Turina; it was the composer’s grandson José Luis Turina who arranged these scores for wind quintet. Also included is one of José Luis Turina’s own works, originally for piano four hands, based on themes from his grandfather’s works, that he has arranged for wind quintet. Joaquín Turina is famous for his evocations of Spanish everyday life and heritage especially that of Andalusia and this collection in its guise for wind quintet is given a marvellous performance by Azahar Ensemble.

The opening work Sevilla, Op. 2, made up of three pieces, was originally written by Turina for solo piano in 1908. Said to be his first Andalusian inspired work it’s an early work composed whilst in Paris where he had studied under Vincent d’Indy. Inspired by an afternoon of bullfighting in Madrid, La Oración del Torero (The bullfighter’s prayer), Op. 34 from 1925 was originally composed for ‘Laúd’ Quartet which are lutes used in Spanish folk music. From 1930 the Danzas Gitanas, Op. 55 for solo piano were inspired by gypsy life in Granada and intended to represent moods, traditional music and dance rather than specific places. Fifteen years after his first set of Mujeres Españolas (Spanish Women) for solo paino, Turina completed his second series Op. 73 in 1932 which are miniature tone pictures of Spanish women. A prolific composer, Turina’s grandson José Luis Turina is included here with his Variaciones sobre temas de Turina. Originally scored for piano four hands here is his 2015 wind quintet arrangement that he prepared for Azahar Ensemble.

Founded in 2010 and taking its name from Azahares “the Fragrances of love songs and orange blossoms” the Azahar Ensemble excel in these Turina scores. From start to finish the wind playing of each work is out of the top-drawer. Especially noticeable is the level of commitment and immediacy given to these scores with playing of considerable style that produces warm and vivid tone colours.

Also most enjoyable, José Luis Turina’s Variaciones sobre temas de Turina is a fine work close to the soundworld of his grandfather Joaquín, being steeped in Spanish atmosphere and heritage.

Successfully recorded at Ölberg-Kirche, Berlin the sound engineers have provided clarity and pleasing balance. The booklet essay is reasonably helpful but additional information on each work wouldn’t have gone amiss. In this appealing release Turina x Turina the Azahar Ensemble excel with these wind quintet arrangements of works by renowned Spanish composer Joaquín Turina.

— Michael Cookson

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Joaquín Turina (9 December 1882 – 14 January 1949) was a Spanish composer. He pursued his early studies in Seville and Madrid before relocating to Paris in 1905, where he trained under Moritz Moszkowski and Vincent d'Indy. Influenced by Isaac Albéniz, Turina developed a distinctly Spanish idiom that combined Andalusian folk traditions with French impressionism. His music frequently pays homage to his native Seville, like in Sinfonía sevillana and Canto a Sevilla. Known for orchestral pieces such as Danzas fantásticas and La oración del torero, Turina also composed operas, songs, piano miniatures and chamber music.

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José Luis Turina (born 1952 in Madrid) is a Spanish composer and grandson of Joaquín Turina. He studied composition with Antón García Abril, Román Alís, Rodolfo Halffter and Carmelo Bernaola in Spain, and later with Franco Donatoni in Rome. His compositions have earned major awards, including the Queen Sofía Composition Prize (1986) and Spain's National Music Prize (1996). Turina taught at Spanish conservatories, advised on national music education reform, and directed the Spanish National Youth Orchestra. His notable works include the opera D.Q. (Don Quijote in Barcelona) and the string quartets.

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Founded in 2010, the Azahar Ensemble, named after the orange blossoms of southern Spain, studied under Sergio Azzolini at the Hochschule für Musik Basel in Switzerland. The group quickly gained recognition, winning awards at the ORPHEUS Competition (2011) and El Primer Palau in Barcelona (2012). Their international breakthrough came with the 2nd Prize and Audience Award at the 63rd ARD Competition in Munich. Since then, they have performed in renowned venues such as the Vienna Musikverein, Berlin Philharmonie, and Salzburg Mozarteum, and have recorded for major broadcasters across Europe.

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