Miguel Bernal, Blanca Gómez & Hector Guerrero - Limones van por el río (2018) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

This recording has selected almost all of the piano-voice songs by Ángel Barja, based on ancient Galician folklore, where the melody tames a very accomplished popular style, slenderised in a subtle and coloristic piano accompaniment that scrupulously observes the conventions of popular roots voice writing. Barja preserves the syllabic nature of the melodies and insists on maintaining the accentuations against the verse. He alternates in them the strophic song, with turns and repetitions, with the simplicity of the popular tune, in many cases with medieval roots, as happens in the Cantiga “Those who know how to love” («Cuantas savedes amar») with a 13th century melody. Another bloc groups exuberant Christmas songs and, last, a third group, very eclectic, assembles songs of different styles and subjects. The poetic anthology used by Barja in his songs is very successful regarding the rhythm and musicality of these verses. It is no coincidence that, despite the apparent aesthetical and geographical remoteness of Galicia and Granada, our composer chose Federico García Lorca to compose five of his songs. José María Pemán was the poet chosen by the composer to set two of his most beautiful and brilliant songs: “Lemons carries the river” («Limones van por el río»), title of this CD production. This sample of the best of his legacy clearly pretends to showcase his music, his talent as melody composer and his mastery to combine sonorities and tradition.

Tracklist:
1. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – Canción (01:31)
2. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – Cazador (01:08)
3. Blanca Gomez & Hector Guerrero – Caracola (01:10)
4. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – Se Ha Puesto el Sol (03:02)
5. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – Quedito, Pasito. (02:01)
6. Blanca Gomez & Hector Guerrero – Del Rosal Vengo Mi Madre (02:12)
7. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – Zagalejo de Perlas (03:06)
8. Blanca Gomez & Hector Guerrero – ¡Niño Dios! (03:51)
9. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – Canción del Ruiseñor (02:10)
10. Blanca Gomez & Hector Guerrero – Tan Sola Estoy (02:21)
11. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – O Que Casa con Morena (01:46)
12. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – Alalá (00:50)
13. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – Alalá de Padrón (01:30)
14. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – Cantiga (00:47)
15. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – Romance (01:14)
16. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – Prende, Salgueiriño (01:34)
17. Blanca Gomez & Hector Guerrero – Ruiseñor de la Noche (05:04)
18. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – Limones Van por el Río (01:48)
19. Blanca Gomez & Hector Guerrero – Canción (01:34)
20. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – Fino Cristal (01:50)
21. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – Me Nación un Amor (03:24)
22. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – Verde Verderol (02:43)
23. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – ¡Terra, Terriña! (00:59)
24. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – Canto de Berce (01:02)
25. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – Cuantas Savedes Amar. S. XIII (00:54)
26. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – Cantar de Arrieros I (01:10)
27. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – Cantar de Arrieros II (01:15)
28. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – Barcala (01:24)
29. Miguel Bernal & Hector Guerrero – Romance de la Luna Luna (07:50)

Personnel:
Miguel Bernal, tenor
Blanca Gómez, soprano
Héctor Guerrero, piano