PERPETUAL CHANGE — Sara Davis Buechner CD Reviews

A Review of Two Sara Davis Buechner CDs, Rudolf Friml Piano Works and

Joaquin Turina Mujeres Espanolas (Women Of Spain)

Back in February and March, this column featured a two-part series on the classical pianist Sara Davis Buechner. Last year, she gave a concert at New York City’s Merkin Concert Hall on November 11th, 2009, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her professional debut.

After getting to know her a bit more by way of our interview for that article, I really wanted to hear her music. Now, I’m not going to even pretend to understand a lot about classical music. After all, I’m a rock bassist who can’t read music. But I’ve always appreciated great musicianship in any genre, and have especially always been deeply impressed with classical musicians.

So, for something completely different, I’d like to offer brief reviews of two of Sara Davis Buechner’s recordings, ”Rudolf Friml Piano Works (2003), and Joaquin Turina, Mujeres Espanolas (Women Of Spain) (1990, remastered 2004).

Of Piano Works, Buechner had this to say: “To date, this has been my most successful recording. It was a labor of love, involving years of tracking down rare scores and culminating with a friendship with Mrs. Friml…this is elegant and intimate music, full of sentiment and charm, by one of the greatest masters of American operetta.”

For those unfamiliar with Rudolf Friml, he was born in Prague at the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire on December 7th, 1879, and died in 1972. As a youth, he studied piano and composition under Antonin Dvorak. After moving to the U.S. in 1906, he became well known as a composer of the then popular theatrical form known as operetta. He also had several Broadway successes, contributed to the Ziegfeld Follies, and had equal success with film scores such as Rose Marie (originally in 1936, and again in 1954), The Fire Fly (1937), and The Vagabond King (1956).

Most of us have heard Friml’s music probably without knowing it. Although Friml was sometimes criticized for not being a “serious” composer, his music has endured, especially in movies and TV scores. A good example is The Donkey Serenade, which was used in the 1987 Woody Allen movie Radio Days. Another Friml piece, Indian Love Call, was used in Mars Attacks. There are numerous other examples that include everything from major film releases to episodes of The Simpsons.

Beuchner’s Rudolf Friml Piano Works contains 22 tracks that range in length from Concert Waltz at 5.57 to Staccato Etude, op. 37 at 1.15. To discuss every track would take too much space, so I just want to mention tracks that stand out to me.

The disc opens with Chanson (The Donkey Serenade), which instantly is one of those ‘I-know-I’ve-heard-this-before’ moments.

While it would be impossible to single out Buechner’s best performance, I found Humoresque, op. 45 to be incredibly relaxing, with highly technical dynamics. She gives this the lightest of touches when needed.

Buechner’s prowess as a superb player are, I feel, most evident in her use of dynamics. Besides Humoresque, other good examples are Bohemian Dance (Polka), op. 29), Concert Waltz, op. 12, and the aptly named Staccato Etude, op. 37.

Her ability to evoke mental images through her playing are best found in Egyptian dance, which sounds like old school film music; Katinka; and Night In Spain, which certainly does have a Spanish feel.

Perhaps the most relaxing moment on Piano Works is found in Buechner’s interpretation of Chant sans Paroles, op. 49.

The other recording by Sara Davis Buechner that came to my attention is her performance of Joaquin Turina’s Mujeres Espanolas (Women Of Spain).

Turina (born Dec. 9th, 1882, died Jan. 14, 1949) was a Spanish composer born in the city of Seville. His works included operas, chamber music, piano works, songs, and music for guitar. He was greatly influenced by what was known as traditional Andalusian music. Andalusian refers to an autonomous region in Spain, whose capital city is Seville.

Buechner said of this particular project: ” Sensuous and evocative Spanish music, colorful and virtuosic. Joaquin Turina’s daughter told me she enjoyed this recording greatly.”

The music on this album might not be as accessible to the casual listener as the Friml Piano Works album, but it’s nonetheless brilliantly played. The music is divided into five piano suites, which are used to trace the composer’s creative evolution.

I’d like to just briefly mention a few stand out tracks, as they appear in the individual suites.

La Madrilena clasica (from Mujerres Espanoles, op. 17 Suite, from 1917) is very flowing, yet dynamic, composed early in Turina’s career. It seems to have a mix of classical and modern elements.

La alegra Sevillana (Mujeres Espanoles, op. 37 Suite, from 1932), yet again very dynamic. For a solo piano piece, it comes across as symphonic in scope.

From Danza (or dance) Adnaluzas, op. 8 Suite (1912), there are three dance pieces: Petenera, which is very flowing; Tango, a sparse arrangement but definitely of Spanish influence; and Zapateado, very fluid and evocative of dance with a lot of movement.

Other pieces, from the last suite, Suite de Danzas del Siglo XIX (1933), are all very much influenced by Spanish dances. Entrada, Bolero, and Fandango. The names alone tell the story.

While it might be a stretch to review classical music in a column known more for it’s eclectic mix of everything from rock to rap, Sara Davis Buechner is a member of the community who has achieved international recognition in a genré that’s more competitive and conservative, and not always as lucrative, a some might think. I truly hope that some day I get to attend one of her concerts. It would be a pleasure.

ALSO THIS MONTH…

Roger Anthony Yolanda Mapes will be performing at Spirit of the Bear, a Bearapalooza event, at Roy’s Hideway, Collins, GA, on October 1-3.

Mapes is also beginning work on a new project called The Yolanda Gospel Hour. “…based on my love for old timey country gospel music, but with new thought lyrics”, he said. “I will be doing the show and CD as Yolanda in full drag.” Hey, I’m looking forward to this… (for more information, check out his website.

Lipstick Conspiracy has announced that former member Shawna is now back in the band, making them a five piece again. More information on this development later.

Robert Urban has posted some older videos on both Facebook and YouTube. One of these, on YouTube, is Robert Urban and Mercury Mad doing Mercury’s tune Miles Away In The Dark. This was at the Fresh Fruits Festival in 2006. Quite well done, along with links to other of Robert’s live performances.

Coco Peru, normally associated with our companion column Transvocalizers, will be performing October 2nd, at Gay Days Anaheim, at the VIP GOLD cocktail party, 5:30-7 p.m. Must have VIP pass in advance. And on October 9th, she will be at the Castro Theatre, for the OUT LOUD Comedy and Arts Festival-The Drag Queens of Comedy.

Category: Music