The Chants d'Auvergne of Joseph Canteloube are often described as settings of folk songs of the Auvergne region, but that doesn't quite convey their flavor. The songs all contain sumptuous orchestral parts that introduce the melody and occupy a substantial part of the piece; they might be described as orchestral-vocal fantasies on folk songs. They're not really folkloric works, and they don't much resemble Vaughan Williams' treatments of folk music or anything else out there. There are 31 Chants d'Auvergne in all, in ...
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The Chants d'Auvergne of Joseph Canteloube are often described as settings of folk songs of the Auvergne region, but that doesn't quite convey their flavor. The songs all contain sumptuous orchestral parts that introduce the melody and occupy a substantial part of the piece; they might be described as orchestral-vocal fantasies on folk songs. They're not really folkloric works, and they don't much resemble Vaughan Williams' treatments of folk music or anything else out there. There are 31 Chants d'Auvergne in all, in the regional Occitan language, issued in five volumes over some years, and most recordings offer only a selection; a classic recording by Arleen Augér contains 11. Thus this one by soprano Carolyn Sampson is welcome. There are a few complete cycles, but this one, with 25 songs from all five volumes, is relatively generous. (She might have gone ahead and done all 31; the added cost of a second CD is minimal these days.) One gets a feeling for Canteloube's different takes on...
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