Stock: 
Format: 
Release Date: 01-03-1997
Label: Jaro Medien
Catalog Number: JARO4198-2
Barcode: 4006180419829
Musical Style: Chamber Music
Track Listing:
| Disc 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Casa de la Calle Minnesota [24:13] | 3 | Escribo para los Angeles [16:03] |
| 2 | Suite del Ultimo Bandoneonista [10:06] | ||
Review:
'Aided by phenomenal technique he manages to melt elements of tango, milonga and the Uruguayan candombe into an unusual chamber-musical kaleidoscope.' (Berliner Tagesspiegel)
Description:
Compositions by Luis Di Matteo for Bandoneon and string quintet, recorded with soloists from the symphonic orchestras in Montevideo of a suite called 'La Casa de la Calle Minnesota' (The House on Minnesota Street)' written as an homage to the house in Montevideo where he resides with his wife, and children. The work consists of several mutually independent parts and is based on tango, milonga and candombe rhythms, which form the roots of his work as a composer. In this and several of his other compositions, however, measures in six-eighth and twelve-eighth time appear when called for by the underlying musical idea. None of his compositions follow an established style. If a work sounds like tango, for example, it is because tango is part of his background. His beginnings were in tango, milonga and candombe, and then came music. He calls this and other compositions of his suites only so as to give the child a name. Basically it is not his intention to write 'classical' music. He does not like the formalism and rules to which one has to subject oneself as a music student; and much prefers to compose freely. This is the only means by which human expression can evolve; otherwise one is composing for the musicologists. 'La Casa de la Calle Minnesota' bears a certain similarity to his earlier compositions such as 'Del Nuevo Ciclo', 'Sobre la Cumbre', 'Imagen 32'. But here he achieved a musicality and diversity of timbre never before attained in his work which was composed in 1993 and is dedicated to his wife Quela, his son Leonardo and his daughter Katya.
Biography:
Today Luis Di Matteo is one of the last great bandoneonistas of the Rio de la Plata, in addition to being among the most interesting contemporary composers of South American origin.
On the bandoneon, Luis Di Matteo refutes the common misconception that his instrument is applicable solely to Tango.
