Customer Comments:

 The Distilled Simplicity of Erik Satie Realized by Peter Fletcher, January 20, 2006Reviewer: Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Erik Satie (1865 - 1925) remains an enigma to the classical music world. His compositions are so apparently transparent and minimalist that he simply defied classification for years. Highly regarded among the brilliant minds of his time, composers such as Debussy, Ravel, Stravinsky, Milhaud, his purity of impulse of creation, reducing the excesses of Romanticism to what would open the way toward modern music, is still a point of revelation.

Peter Fletcher is not only a brilliant musician, but he is also a musicologist whose absorption in the music that he elects to perform demonstrates sensitivity to the composer's impulses that allows him to enter the difficult world of transcription. This generous recording of the music of Erik Satie includes works that are indeed standard repertoire (the 'Gymnopedies' and 'Gnossiennes' are often performed by pianists and by orchestras in the famous transcriptions by Debussy, as well as the rarely heard works such as 'Sports et Divertissements' that Fletcher performs impeccably along with the French poetry beautifully recited by an uncredited female reader ('Tiny Thoughts for Children'). And after an array of jewels Fletcher ends this recital with the lovely waltz 'Je te veux'. Ah, Paris!

The recorded sound is warm in presence with excellent engineering. But in the end it is Fletcher's suave tone and quiet surface (no fingers on strings sounds here!) that allows us to simply listen to the gentle genius of Satie's melodies. No higher praise could be paid a performer. Highly recommended,
Grady Harp, January 06

Catalan music full of rich musical spices - performed by a master of the guitar, January 5, 2006, Ann Arbor, MI
You want this disk. You really do. I don't care whether you have ever heard fine guitar playing before or not; this disk is something special. Peter Fletcher brings so much mastery and inspiration to this music that you will hear things in guitar playing that you had not suspected before. I heard so many different tonal colors, articulations, and timbres that were absolutely in the service of the music that I was dumbfounded. Frankly, how he achieves some of these sounds is beyond me. How do you mute the chords you are strumming while bringing out a compound melodic line (that is a single melodic line that is really two lines) - listen to track 8 to hear this.

Federico Mompou was a fine Spanish (specifically Catalan) composer who lived from 1893 - 1987. He wrote mostly for the piano, but did write some pieces for guitar. The Suite Compostelana was written for Segovia and has become a mainstay in the repertoire of classical guitarists. Few can play it with the mastery and poetry of Peter Fletcher and we are glad to have it on this disk. The Canciones y danzas (Songs and dances) were written for piano, except for number thirteen (track 19 here), which was written for guitar. So, Mr. Fletcher has transcribed all the others for guitar. And he achieved a great deal in his transcriptions. They all sound like guitar music, but extremely demanding guitar music. There is so much going on in the way of accompaniment and melody that you would be forgiven if you thought two guitars were playing, but it is all done with two hands, one guitar, and a special musical talent.

Yet, the playing sounds so effortless and music is so free and wide ranging. While it is certainly tonal music, Mompou uses very interesting harmonies that add a great many Spanish spices. When he uses dissonant harmonies they are never there to be merely harsh, they sound rich and just right.

I would love to watch Mr. Fletcher play and see how he gets all those musical effects. This kind of musicianship lets you know there is so much more to this instrument than you would suspect from the kind of guitar playing we normally here and is lauded as "great". Once you here this, nearly everything else will not satisfy.

Great transcriptions, but an even more sparkling performance!, July 14, 2005, Atlanta, GA
If you're a classical guitar fan, you should know at least a little of Mompou's music. Fletcher did, and obviously got the bug, because he delivers a great deal more of Mompou's piano pieces by transcribing them for guitar for the first time. This takes a lot of time and hard work of which Mr. Fletcher is to be applauded. However, the real applause goes to Peter's performance. No mistaking Fletcher for a Parkening protege (and fan) here - the playing sparkles! Great phrasing, dynamics and tone color really breath the life into these - Mompou would be proud. A VERY enjoyable listen and I must add, a great recording (specifically of the engineering too - the guitar has been captured wonderfully on this album). Highly recommended!

Peter Fletcher makes the guitar sing, October 18, 2003, Chicago, IL
Usually I only write reviews of CDs when the CD inspires me to do so, either negatively of positively. In this case, I'm happy to say that it was positive inspiration. After listening to this CD I was amazed at the subtleties of expression that Peter Fletcher exudes from his guitar. It's as if the guitar is singing to you. This is what the guitar is all about. No other instrument can sing in such subtleties and it can only truly "sing" in the lap of the best performers. Let me give you an example of what I mean. Listen to the sample of the beginning of the Preludio from the Suite Compostelana performed by Mr. Fletcher. It starts out barely audible and subtly increases in volume then diminishes then increases again; this arching of dynamics is true musical poetry. Listen for the tasteful use of vibrato and color throughout these pieces. It's what makes these this CD so interesting, enjoyable and touching to listen to. (NOTE: Color on the guitar is achieved in several ways, one by plucking the strings closer to the bridge or farther away. Closer to the bridge gives a tinnier sound and farther away gives a warmer rounded sound). Let's compare Peter Fletcher's performance with another young guitarist, Antigoni Goni on Naxos (ASIN: B0000014FB Catalog number 553774 or 8553774). Try sampling Ms. Goni's performance of the Preludio and compare it to Mr. Fletcher's. You'll see that Ms. Goni's does not add the dynamics and color that Mr. Fletcher does. To be honest though, I did like Ms. Goni's slower tempo on the Canción from the Suite Compostelana, but over all Mr. Fletcher takes the prize for me. In fact, I've listened to various pieces of the Suite Compostelana performed by Mr. Segovia, Mr. Parkening, Mr. Tennant, and Mr. Bream as well. All have their strengths and weaknesses. Mr. Fletcher's is the most poetic and musically satisfying performance of all of them. Regarding the rest of the CD, Mompou's 14 Canciónes y Danzas. I was first introduced to these piano pieces in 1997 by Stephen Hough on the Hyperion label (CDA66963) and in 1998 by Jordi Maso on Naxos (8.554332). All but No. 13 were transcribed for the guitar by Peter Fletcher himself. No. 13 is an original composition for guitar. This is the first and only recording of these pieces on guitar. Thanks to Mr. Fletcher, this adds a major work to the guitar repertoire. His transcriptions reveal a superb kinship with Mompou's music. His performances of the 14 Canciónes y Danzas are superbly subtle and delicate and sometimes bold and brash when called for by the music. His love for Mompou's music shines through. You'll find much touchingly beautiful music to replenish your soul in this CD. The recorded quality is very good. THIS CD IS A MUST HAVE. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

Exciting new material for the guitar!, June 21, 2003, Cedartown, Georgia
Here is a wonderful new set of pieces to add to the often too-limited repertoire for the classical (read:Spanish) guitar. Mompou was a Catalan composer who wrote not only for guitar, but also for piano. Mr. Fletcher plays these pieces with the proper combination of inner feeling and outer flash. To his further credit, he transcribed most of the pieces here for guitar from their original piano versions in an Atlanta coffeehouse. Raise a cup of Java and listen one of the most exciting classical guitar CD's in years!

Excellent performance and transcriptions, October 1, 2002, Atlanta, GA
The Suite Compostelana is a staple for concert guitarists, and here receives a beautifully shaded and shaped performance. The real treats are the guitarist's own transcriptions of Mompou's atmospheric and translucent piano miniatures, many of which I'm guessing may only be known to connoisseurs. This is fine playing, very well recorded and generous at nearly 80 minutes.

Magnificent!, September 2, 2002, New York City, NY
First rate solo guitar CD. Colorful, virtuosic, spontaneous, rich playing. Ranks with the world's finest classical guitar recordings. A musical treat, don't miss it.