Variations on Folk Songs
Flute Music by Beethoven, F.Doppler, Kuhlau, Walckiers
Anna Besson (flute), Olga Pashchenko (fortepiano) (Alpha)
(scroll down for English review)
Anna Besson最為人熟悉的是和Jean Rondeau等人合組「算把啦」古樂組合，這張碟她是主角，卻是涉獵浪漫時期的長笛音樂，共同主題是用民歌作變奏曲。此碟既可當成貝多芬年的出品，2021年則是奧地利長笛作曲家Franz Doppler的二百冥壽。
我相信大家會像我一樣，覺得貝多芬會是此碟最易聽的部份，可惜聽過才知不是，我會推介全碟「不是」貝多芬的部份。貝多芬的作品105及107，是16首民歌變奏曲，Besson選了其中六首。我覺得貝多芬既用不到長笛的特質，變奏曲也寫得標奇立異，為特殊而特殊。不過這些寫於1819年的變奏曲，正是貝多芬動筆（1817年）及完成（1823年）《迪亞貝利變奏曲》之間，而這種標奇立異也與《迪亞貝利變奏曲》頗像，並且集中於鋼琴部份。
頭三軌及尾三軌都是Franz Doppler的作品，開碟的是《匈牙利田園幻想曲》，結尾的是《華拉齊亞民歌選》，一和貝多芬剛才的庸作相比，這些就真的適合長笛，非但喜歡長笛的朋友會喜歡，未喜歡的也會感受到這種樂器的表達力。而且在作曲技巧方面，Doppler將原旋律及自己的發揮水乳交融，就以《匈牙利田園幻想曲》為例，第一樂章就像即興演奏，第二樂章把旋律舖出，第三樂章就是炫技的作結。
此碟的演奏我也推介，因為Besson不是用現代長笛，而是用一支1850年製、一支仿製1830年製的長笛錄音。這些樂器在現代音樂廳可能會音量不足，但聽唱片就可以聽到它們比現代長笛有更細緻多變的音色。此外，Besson在第一軌的「倣即興」演奏，她的揉音令我以為是聽尺八……
Anna Besson is best known for being a member of Nevermind, whose star appeal comes from Jean Rondeau. This is her album of romantic flute music, all with sets of variations on folk tunes. It serves not just the Beethoven anniversary but also the Franz Doppler anniversary as well. Doppler is a Austrian flutist and flute composer who was born in 1821.
I suppose unsuspecting listeners, me included, take the Beethoven pieces as the entry point. But after listening I’ll recommend all the tracks except Beethoven. His opp. 105 and 107 are 16 sets of variations on folk tunes, Besson chose six out of them. To me Beethoven failed to take advantage of the flute and the variations are too much for their own sake. Still, it is essential to note that these 1819 works were written when Beethoven was gestating the Diabelli Variations between 1817 and 1823.
The opening and closing tracks are by Doppler, Hungarian Pastoral Fantasy and Wallachian Airs. Now that’s flute music. The conceptions is also fascinating, the folk tunes flow in and out of Doppler’s extrapolations. The three-movement Fantasy has a quasi-improvisatory 1st movement, the folk tune arrives at the 2nd movement and the 3rd wraps it up jubilantly.
Kudos to the playing as well. Besson used an 1850 flute and a copy of an 1830. They simply sounded so different than the too-homogeneous modern flute. They might be too soft in a modern concert hall but this recording showcased them well. The opening track is a surprise to me, Besson’s vibrato is so tasteful and I thought I was listening to the Japanese shakuhachi…