Lucio Milena and his Orchestra  - SUN AND SHADOW  -The Music of Spain

Spain would seem to be a land uniquely adaptable to the title of this collection. Perhaps no other country in the world is so completely characterised by sun and shadow, by blacks and whites and a startling lack of intermediate colours and emotions. The blazing sun creates sombre shadows, and the music, art and literature of Spain smoulders with these contrasts as does, indeed, its history. There are few examples in Spanish culture of the merely pleasant and agreeable, there are many of splendid intensity, whether wildly exhilarating or profoundly solemn.

This can be seen in the land itself, a place of burningly arid plains and lushly fantastic gardens, of stark, towering mountains and enchanting coastal regions. It is in the history of the Conquistadores and the Inquisition and the pomp of Spanish courts, in the works of Goya and Velasquez and the adopted El Greco, in the music of Falla and the composers of zarzuelas, in Cervantes and Lorca. And it is especially evident in the music Lucio Milena presents in this collection, passionate and sensual, deriving from folk music and tingling with the elusive and magical atmosphere of Spain.

Spanish rhythms, with their acknowledgment of Moorish influences, have long been popular the world over; from Spain come some of the finest quick marches, the most sinuous tangos, the most melting ballads. When the music is merry, it "is among the merriest, with dashing rhythms that sweep lighthearted melodies along. When it is passionate, there is a kind of no-nonsense intensity that harks back to the full-throated songs of Spanish gypsies and flamenco singers, and the faint sounds of guitars in the night. And when it is pictorial, as much Spanish music is, the colourings of the music counterfeit the colours of the scene.

The Mediterranean flavour of Spanish music comes naturally to conductor-arranger Lucio Milena, for he was born in Italy and became one of that country's outstanding recording artists. Moving on to S America, he settled in Uruguay, with its deep Spanish culture, and familiarised himself with, only the native music, but its formative element., Argentina, he further studied Latin rhythms, and became one of the most gifted and popular musician in the whole of South America. In this musical treat of Spain, lyrical and moody at the same time has drawn upon his extensive study of Spani's, ifluences and adapted them to some of Spain's popular and beloved melodies.

Many of these selections El relicario, La paloma, La violetera, Valencia are familiar through acquaintance. Others are perhaps less well known some of these, too, contain themes that are instantly recognisable, although perhaps not easy to name. Together they constitute a splendidly enjoyable programme, sketching a musical portrait that captures the essence of that remarkable land, echoing in sound the sun and shadow of romantic Spain.