Record Review: 'Tchaka Mizik' by C-Force on Flute, Euphonium and Piano (2010)

Julio Racine (b. 1945)

C Force (Christine Gangelhoff, flute; Christian Justillien, euphonium; Christy Lee, piano).  Tchaka Mizik; C-Force 36719; 2010.  Liner notes (1p).

Bizet, Georges.  Les pecheurs des perles.  Au fons du temple saint.  3:19

Delibes, Léo.  Lakmé.  Sous le dôme épais.  4:40

Jaegerhuber, Werner Anton.  Chansons folkloriques d'Haïti.  Invocation à Dambala.  1:55.  Gros loa moin.  1:30.

Justillien, Christian.  Tila.  5:28.

Lamothe, Ludovic.  Nibo, carnival méringue.  1:34.

Racine, Julio.  Tangents au Yanvalou.  4:48.

Saint-Georges.  Sonata, flute and piano.  9:53

Verdi, Giuseppe.  La traviata.  Libiamo. 2:50

Research from the Bahamas has recently been welcomed in the valuable work of Christine Gangelhoff, who is joined here with two colleagues.  But for the three quite familiar opera extracts, all works are by composers from the Caribbean, offering a stylistic variety.  The work by Saint-Georges was originally three delightful movements for flute and harp, which have been heard previously set with my addition of a cello (strengthening the weak bass line) in performances by the Trio Pro Viva at Virginia State University and in Minneapolis, and by the Bond Street Band in England.  Lamothe's Nibo was a musical protest against the 20-year American occupation of Haiti that ended in 1939.  Jaegerhuber's contribution to the Haitian musical scene negated his German heritage and earned him a place among his Haitian  countrymen.  The work by the agile euphoniumist, and perhaps that by Racine, were is the only ones not arranged, seemingly written specifically for C Force.  "Good music" radio stations, who so frequently air opera extracts as if singers never  existed (!) will probably jump at the hors-de-série offerings, but priority attention should be given the Caribbean works.  The ensemble's concerts should stimulate the region's composers for the trio as well as for the individual players.

Dominique-René de Lerma

http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com

[Ludovic Lamothe (1882-1953), Julio Racine (b. 1945) and Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799) are featured at AfriClassical.com]