Reviews

Harmonies Poétiques et Religieuses

 by Franz Liszt

 

On the turntable By William Gregory

This recording is one of the reasons my job as a reviewer can be so rewarding. This cycle of songs known as Harmonies Poétiques et Religieuses reveals a devout and spiritual composer at a moment of quiet meditation and inspiration. Far removed from the instrumental fireworks that make up Liszt and his piano compositions, the Poetic and Religious Harmonies that make up this collection have been overlooked through the years, making this recording an authentic find. David Barela plays each one of these miniature settings, based on the poems of his friend Alphonse de Lamartine and the medieval chants of the Catholic Church, with hallowed introspection, virtuosic technique, defined dynamics and a reverent legato, re-introducing Liszt to a fractured and frenzied world. "Hymne de L'enfant a son Reveil" is truly one of the most moving and gorgeous pieces written, bringing in the gap between Chopin and Liszt ever so slightly. The greatest mystery of all is how these pieces have gone unrecognized for all of these years. Perhaps it is no accident that these serene testaments of faith have re-emerged at this time. This recording is a Masterful look at a different side of Liszt, impeccably performed by David Barela.

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A New Recording of Seldom-Heard Works by Liszt - "Harmonies Poétiques et Religieuses"

copyright Classical Focus 2004

An unusual recording of rare and seldom-heard works by Franz Liszt has recently come to light in a CD called  “Harmonies Poétiques et Religieuses” performed by American pianist David Barela on his own record label, DGB Records. 

According to Barela, these are pieces Liszt wrote in later life after he had taken minor orders into the priesthood.  That they are contemplative and deeply introspective is not surprising, especially compared with the composer’s works of that time, and given the profound religiosity that inspired Liszt as a young man towards a vocation in the priesthood—from which he was initially dissuaded by his father.  .

“These pieces are not the lyrical virtuoso piano compositions that one thinks of as music by Liszt, “ says Barela.  “They are song-like; it’s as if Liszt is forcing the piano to sing.  Playing these pieces conjures up images of Liszt playing the piano in his study late at night, meditating and praying to his God.”

The first selection, “Invocation,” is a gossamer meditation inspired by a poem of the same name by his friend, the poet Alphonse de Lamartine, as was “Hymn De L’Enfant A Son Reveil” and “Andante Lagrimoso,” based on “Une Larme ou Consolation” by Lamartine.  Others include an arrangement of “Ave Maria,” “Pensee des Morts,” based on the De Profundis melody found in Liszt’s Tasso sketchbook; “Pater Noster,” a piano arrangement of a work for mixed chorus and orchestra; and “Miserere D’Apres Palestrina.”

The third piece in the cycle, “Benediction de Dieu dans la Solitude” has been omitted on this CD for space considerations.

A pianist born in Silver City, New Mexico, Barela trained as an operatic bass at the University of New Mexico and later studied at the University of Arizona with the great baritone, Igor Gorin, and the concert pianist Ozan Marsh

Barela says he became aware of these pieces while reading the three-volume biography of Liszt by Alan Walker, who noted the beauty of the works, as well as the fact that they are often overlooked by pianists.  With the intention of bringing them to greater awareness, Barela made this inspiring recording.    

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MW Classical al Music Web

Classical Editor: Rob Barnett

Barela’s playing is committed and sonorous, with appropriately slow tempi and pensive phrasing when required.

***

Sunday, December 28, 2003

Writer's CD Choices Offer a World of Variety

By David Steinberg
Albuquerque Journal Staff Writer

"Harmonies poétiques et religieuses" (dgb). Pianist David Barela, a native of Silver City and a former UNM music student, has a commanding presence in this recording of Franz Liszt's demanding songlike pieces. Barela meets the composer's demands in a powerful performance.

***

"Just listened.  Beautiful!  Thank you!" Seattle's Best Live Music, Ben Schroeter

We received the lovely Liszt recording and have aired several pieces.  The disc has been added to our library this week.  Please forward my compliments to the artist.  Best wishes, Neil Hever
Neil Hever - Program Director
WDIY-FM Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

***

 David Lamb, Composer; Seattle, Washington, writes:

David Barela Romantic Piano


David Barela, Romantic Piano

 

During my lifetime I have met many pianists. One pianist in particular stands out among the rest...Mr. David Barela, who recently released the 'Romantic piano' CD. His keen attention to details and love for his craft resonates through these keys. It is evident.
The great writer Oscar Wilde, once remarked," In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants. The other is getting it." This "universal " concept is probably applicable to everything on this planet except for Mr. Barela's 'Romantic Piano' CD.
Furthermore, there are a lot of pianists who can play piano very well; However, there is a difference between good and very , very good, and the differences are in the very small details. Mr. Barela is just great with minuscule details.
In conclusion, one can see easily that David is at the pinnacle of his career. He seems to be at that point of maturity that time has provided along with a deep understanding of music and talent that puts him among the best that the classical piano has to offer.


The Elegance of Barela

 

These piano selections are elegant in their presentation. Barela has a sensitivity and flare at the keyboard that is difficult to match. The CD provides many hours of quality listening.


Excellent recording & unusual selections

 

David Barela's musicianship and the recording itself are outstanding. What interested me most, however, was the selection of pieces. The CD opens and closes with some beautiful, often haunting Debussy works. Between these works, a variety of composers (Chopin, Barber, Granados) and less frequently recorded works are featured to great effect.

A must buy both for Barela's talented play and for his taste in selecting an interesting set of music for the CD.

American Record Guide

There are many piano programs like this, and whether you like it depends on whether your favorite pieces are included and played well.  This is the only CD I’ve seen that has two of my very favorite pieces on it: the ‘Moment Musical’ of Rachmaninoff and Debussy’s ‘Sunken Cathedral’.  Both are played gorgeously, so I was immediately well-disposed toward this pianist.  The Rachmaninoff is taken at a normal tempo, but the playing allows tone to dominate se we can luxuriate in those seventh chords.  The Debussy is the slowest performance of it I’ve ever heard, but I have always wanted to hear it played as a real mood piece, with full indulgence.  It doesn’t seem too slow; who not wallow in it?

So we have beautiful playing and great sound here.  The program appeals to me; now it’s up to you.

Vroon

 

David Barela - ROMANTIC PIANO:    This is our first listen to David's enchanting keyboard work (there was another CD in the package that will be reviewed in a future issue).  Nearly 73 minutes of sensitive and well balanced piano that will put you in a frame of mind that allows you to deal (much better) with the terrors that abound in our world today.  I wonder what would happen if one were able to sit George Bush and Osama Bin Laden down in a room together to listen to the calm expressed through Mr. Barela's fingers... we are all entitled to dreams, I guess... and if yours are inclined towards peace and harmony, you will be exceedingly glad you got this album.  The music is not (at all) syrupy new age with no heart or soul... David uses his keyboards to paint portraits of emotions that we all feel at one time or another... never hurried, never rushed, but with appropriate bursts of energy throughout the CD.  I am highly impressed - you will be, too!  This gets a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for lovers of beauty in music the world over.       Rotcod Zzaj

I've never really been a fan of classical music and just recently I figured
out why. It's all of those drastic changes in volume, from the extremely
quiet to the intensely loud in just a few seconds. I realise that this is
all part of the dynamics of the music but I find it annoying to be
constantly adjusting the volume during listening. Thankfully, 'Romantic
Piano', does not tamper with volume changes so dramatically. It consists of
Davids' versions of twelve classical piano compositions by famous composers.
The songs are all gentle and relaxed, and there is a great subtlety of light
and shade in the playing. You may guess that I don't go for this sort of
music much but I have listened to this an awful lot to gain an objective
opinion and I ended up really liking it! This is an elegant album and even
someone of my uncultured ear can detect the quality piano work!
Shaun Holley
A links resource for independent artists and bands creating beat-driven
ambient electronica.
 

 David Barela, Romantic Piano, January 8, 2003
Reviewer: Yuri Ratnek, Russia from Seattle, Wa United States
During my lifetime I have met many pianists. One pianist in particular stands out among the rest...Mr. David Barela, who recently released the 'Romantic piano' CD. His keen attention to details and love for his craft resonates through these keys. It is evident.
The great writer Oscar Wilde, once remarked," In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants. The other is getting it." This "universal " concept is probably applicable to everything on this planet except for Mr. Barela's 'Romantic Piano' CD.
Futhermore, there are a lot of pianists who can play piano very well; However, there is a difference between good and very , very good, and the differences are in the very small details. Mr. Barela is just great with minuscule details.
In conclusion, one can see easily that David is at the pinnacle of his career. He seems to be at that point of maturity that time has provided along with a deep understanding of music and talent that puts him among the best that the classical piano has to offer.
 

Kevin Turley, New Age Music Director, WLJS-FM, Anniston, AL. writes:

Romantic Piano: "Whether you're wanting a romantic evening with the love of your life or just want to take a little time to relax, pianist David Barela sets the mood with 'Romantic Piano'.  The album has 12 both beautiful and unique works.  This album belongs in every music library."

5 out of 5 stars The Elegance of Barela, November 3, 2000
Reviewer: Donna Ruggles from Seattle, WA USA
These piano selections are elegant in their presentation. Barela has a sensitivity and flare at the keyboard that is difficult to match. The CD provides many hours of quality listening.
 

Excellent recording & unusual selections, October 30, 2000
Reviewer: Robert S Bach from Bellevue, WA USA
David Barela's musicianship and the recording itself are outstanding. What interested me most, however, was the selection of pieces. The CD opens and closes with some beautiful, often haunting Debussy works. Between these works, a variety of composers (Chopin, Barber, Granados) and less frequently recorded works are featured to great effect.

A must buy both for Barela's talented play and for his taste in selecting an interesting set of music for the CD.
 

This is stunning., June 17, 2000
Reviewer: JSG from U.S.A.
From Debussy's pious Ballade to Isolde's giddy histrionics by Liszt, Barela has conceived these pieces beautifully. It's as though he's playing old friends for old friends. Un Sospiro is a real treasure. Am very pleased to have found this recording!
 

Great music, June 12, 2000
Reviewer: A music fan from Nebraska
This is a wonderful CD - perfect for the car. The musicianship is excellent, and selection of pieces perfect for good listening.
 

David Steinberg, Albuquerque Journal, writes:

Barela's style is sensitive without being maudlin, assertive without being heavy-handed. 

Craig Smith, Music Critic, Pasatiempo, The New Mexican's Weekly Magazine of Arts, Entertainment & Culture writes:

Barela can certainly get a healthy sound out of the instrument, and the disc comes across as a well-conceived artistic whole.  The sound is close but clear, the playing clean.  Some fine pedaling exists in the Chopin and the Liszt Sonetto (a tour de force of passion and power).  The two Barber pieces are just great.

John Pitt, Editor, New Classics, England writes:

The gifted pianist David Barela gives sensitive performances of some of the most exquisite romantic  music from the piano repertoire. This recording features charming works by, among others, Claude Debussy (Ballade, The Sunken Cathedral), Enrique Granados (The Maiden and the Nightingale), Liszt (Liebestraum, Un Sospiro, Sonetto 104 del Petrarca), Rachmaninoff (Moment Musicale No. 5), Samuel Barber (Hesitation Tango, Nocturne) and Chopin (Nocturne Op. 72 No. 1). With playing of a high order, this music is a sensuous and passionate delight.

Kip Allen, program Director, 96.3 Classical KHFM, Albuquerque, New Mexico writes:

Thank you for sending me a copy of "Romantic Piano."  It is a lovely CD, and one of which you justifiably must be very proud.  I will put it into our KHFM library, and will play selections from it for our listeners.

Nightmare

Meet David Barel and Enter His “Nightmare”

David Barel is a singer, pianist, and composer whose innovating haunting music on the new CD “Nightmare” spans a spectrum from experimental versions of classics to riveting original compositions.  Fascinated by the qualities of the human voice, David developed a four-octave range, which he applies to his exciting arrangements of well-known standards and to works of his own composition.

Influenced in his early youth by legendary soprano Lily Pons, David accepted a scholarship at the University of Arizona where he developed his vocal talents under the great baritone Igor Gorin, and he refined his piano technique, which he developed from the age of four with renowned concert pianist Ozan Marsh.

As a balance to the rigors of formal education, David performed in bars as a cocktail pianist and singer, where he developed the more spontaneous and playful aspects of his music.  More recently David’s musical life has focused more on his long-time love of ecclesiastical music.  He is currently serving as musical director and organist at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Seattle, Washington.

The Mysterious Four Octave Range

One night last year David was listening to a recording of luminary South American singer Yma Sumac, who was know for singing with a four octave voice.  David loved the concept, but his voice was two octaves lower than hers and no four-octave sheet music existed.  Thus “Nightmare” was born, and while he was at it he adapted a prelude and fugue by J. S. Bach with his own music interspersed.

The Dark Force

What characterizes David’s music is a dynamic tension and connection to the dark undertones of the human soul.  As an artist he delights in exploring passions from the macabre to the lyrical. 

'Nightmare' continues with the classical piano theme and adds some
percussion and David's extraordinary four octave voice. The vocal pieces
sounds slightly operatic and remind me of some of the work of Philip Glass.
The songs demonstrate well the range and versatility of Barela's voice and
can sound quite spooky!
Shaun Holley

Kevin Turley, New Age Music Director, WLJS-FM, Anniston, AL. writes:

Nightmare: "David begins this music journey using his amazing four-octave voice later incorporating it with his talent as a pianist.  I am proud to have added this album to the station music library."

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