raphaella_smits_booklet.pdf

PROGRAM NOTES



Jan Evenepoel about J.S. BACH

Johann Sebastian Bach possessed a multitude of musical talents - he was a violinist, a harpsichordist, an organist, a conductor and a composer. Many of his successors consider him the greatest composer of all time, the primus inter pares.

Bach put into his music the most profound thoughts and feelings with a melodic and harmonic richness supported by a brilliant architecture. Much more than his predecessors Bach mastered the art of creating a virtual polyphony using broken chords and double stopping and by going from one register to another, entirely without an accompanying bass.

Bach leaves no one unmoved. There is no question that this deeply felt music

reflects the feelings of bereavement with which he had been confronted so often in his life. Perhaps this also explains the recurrence of death as a motif in Bach‘s works.



Raphaella Smits about J.S. BACH ‘on guitar’

The idea of performing Johann Sebastian Bach on the guitar is not as incongruous as would appear at first sight. There are many examples which show how Bach himself designed a single piece to be performed in different arrangements - because, after all, the music is more important than the instrument. A good transcription or a good arrangement will not question

the instrument performing it. It is obvious that - starting with a flute, lute or violin score - I have used the complete range of my eight-string guitar. The richness of an instrument must serve the music totally without modifying what should be at its heart.



Raphaella Smits about J.K. MERTZ

In 1986 Jim D'Addario introduced me to Mario Maccaferri. This legendary figure then played me several pieces by Mertz, who was completely unknown to me. It was a revelation, a wealth of material à la Schubert and, even more, à la Liszt. Mertz is the supreme romantic with his inevitable vibrato, rubato and his demand for a personal artistic investment.



Raphaella Smits about F. SOR

Fernando Sor brought his Spanish culture to France where he spend most of his life, adding a French flavor to his compositions.

Sor, like Mozart, earned a good living from playing concerts, teaching and composing but, also like Mozart, he spent rather more than he earned and he too was finally given a poor man's funeral in July 1839.

Label: Soundset Recordings
Item Number: NSR-1000314
Format: DVD
Year Recorded: 2014

"There are other currently available recordings of the works by Sor, but none that takes clear precedence over these by Raphaella Smits. Then sum total of her attention to detail, sensitivity, controlled use of rubato, expressive vibrato, purity of tone and crystal-clear delivery is one which is matched by very few performances that are of the utmost refinement, character and authority, and which are superbly recorded."

J.D., Gramophone.

"I'm not familiar with Raphaella Smits, but she's better than nearly every woman in the guitar field. Her playing is very romantic and sonorous, and she likes to take her time with things. She feels her way through the pieces with a silky, smooth tone that I find preferable to other's hard bite. While a few of her peers have the virtuosic edge, Smits could show them a thing or two about lyricism and sentiment."

Ellis, American Record Guide.