Jongen's music does not represent rough-going. The
three movement Quintet is for flute, harp, violin, viola and
cello. It shares its sound-world with Ravel's Introduction and Allegro
with soloistic roles for harp and flute. The music is unfailingly
well turned and melodies tumble out with gracious and meticulously balanced
abandon. The outer movements are elysian. The elegiac the central movement
is very affecting. Indeed the dewy impressionistic spell and fey playfulness
carry over into the Deux Pièces. The Elysian idyll
continues with the lovely serenading and filigree of the Danse Lente.
Baxians will love this music too and shades of the Nonet, Elegiac
Trio, Harp Quintet and First String Quartet are easily
heard. The Sonata-Duo is the work of a restive spirit
with its language slimmed down from the delights of the 1920s - economical
but always tuneful. The Adagio is from Jongen’s early
years and its preoccupations are with Mozartian models notably K364.
Cyprès provide the usual robust documentation.
The disc cover uses a 1921 oil painting: André Hallet's Berthe
au bord de la Dyle.
The disc is lovingly recorded by Cyprès and
the performances seem polished and pliant. This is music of distilled
quintessential light and warmth.
Rob Barnett
Ensemble Arpæ