Some Press _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
> Deep and vast resonance of 'Sarva Mangalam'(7th Symphony), always reminds me of a story about temple bells of which a Buddhist monk once remarked. We can always see three bells in the quite temple yard such as large, small and fish-shaped wooden one. The monk said that he tolls every early morning large bell to wake up all the animals.
He tolls small one to wake up all the birds and so does fish-shaped to wake up all kind of fishes in the mountain brooks. I think 'Sarva Mangalam, 5th symphony by Vasco Martins' also draws sounds each every six directions in the universe to give rise to a spirit of love to all the living creatures as those temple bells do. I, who is ignorant of Sanskrit mantra or Buddhism can not understand how great a wisdom it is ... but the only thing I can do right now is to guess it should be really the most beautiful idea ever exist.
Hansoo Yang / Contemporary Fine Arts
> «A brisa por cima das ondas»: l'écriture de Vasco Martins est, en apparence, d'une grande simplicité; l'harmonie émane le plus souvent d'un jeu de lignes très dépouillé, délié, et parvient pourtant à ne pas verser dans le cliché, la banalité ou le mauvais goût. Autant que sincère, cette musique s'avère très éloquente, et parvient, avec une surprenante économie de moyens,à une très persuasive évocation de la mer. Le style de direction de Fantapié, qui apprécie visiblement ce compositeur qui fut un temps son élève, fait ici merveille, avec la pureté et le souffle sans lesquels l'œuvre pourrait sembler presque élémentaire. Dans ces conditions, elle frappe par sa justesse. C'est vraiment la vision d'un rêveur inspiré, d'un contemplatif. On est bien au-delà d'un simple tableau folklorisant flottant dans un vêtement classique. Vraiment une belle réussite.
Thanh-Tâm Lê / France Classique
> He has lived in isolation in the Cape Verde Islands for the past twenty years, composing as his own free spirit and the natural world there inspire him
Maestro Nurman Arman / Sinfonia Toronto
> Os processos de escrita são já tão complexos em Vasco Martins que só podem ser um sinal de avanço sociocultural cabo-verdiano, num sentido universalista da sua Música.
Para além disso, este é um disco sereno, com três composições de encantamento natural. Enfim: uma obra prima da Música de Cabo Verde .
Jorge Lima Barreto / Jornal de Letras
> Vasco Martins put together an excellent meeting of world music and synthesizers on one of his three 1992 releases, Ritual Periférico, . This CD captures a range of moods, styles, colors , and rhythmic vitality in a sublime and beautiful sound he calls " south-bound-music" . If you like your electronic music flavored with true-to-the-roots global zest, Ritual Periférico is highly recommended.
Titus Levi / Keyboard
> Some day I'd like to visit the Cape Verde Islands , which is an island chain off the west coast of Africa. The reason? If the locale can inspire the music the likes of which is created by Vasco Martins, then it must be quite a place, indeed. Sublime Delight is the aptly named title of Martins' CD. And each cut on the CD is a "Delight" of its own -- in name as well in quality!
Fred Puhan / Music for a New Age
> "Benlibem" is a
magnificient album of New Instrumental Music, brimming with emotional melodies
of a great strength, warm synthesizer accompaniments that emphasize the ethereal
aspects of the music, as well as impressive acoustic guitar solos or piano in
several passages.
Virginia Tamayo /Amazing Sounds
>"Apeiron'
is an ambitious recording, and one that is successfully realised by its
composer. Majestic and evocative, the album is handsomely rendered by Martins'
vision and abilities. This, consequential proves
Vasco Martins to be a masterful artist of considerable originality. You are unlikely to hear
many album's in this genre that are as consistent, mature, and totally
immersive.
Ben Kettlewell / Alternate music press
> That he was able to integrate electronic music and other non-classical elements (percussion, ethnic instruments) into this work is further proof that he is an artist of uncommon vision and incredible versatility, not to mention the artistry of his performance which is rich with nuance and emotional resonance. Sarva Mangalam is mature music, borne of a deep-seated conviction by the musician to do justice to the mantra¹s very essence. In that, he has succeeded not just admirably, but with astonishing profundity and elegance. Amazing, simply amazing.
Bill Binkelman
/ WIND and WIRE
http://www.windandwire.com
Danças de Câncer
> Softness and passion, with integrity!
Canary Burton /Alternate Music Press
> Vasco Martins n’a jamais renoncé à se comporter en avant-gardiste, sur une dés terres les plus pauvres du monde, terre qui ne peut lui garantir ni public, ni interprétes, ni débouchés.
Néanmoins il a composé, comme on lance une boueille à la mer, une suite symphonique intitulée «Danças de Câncer», dont la légèreté d’orchestration, les subtilités harmoniques et les contrepoints rythmiques n’ont rien à envier aux impressionistes français, versant exotique. Comme du Ravel ou du Chabrier, ces danses sont légeres d’apparence, très difficiles à exécuter.
Si l’on ressent une émotion et une admiration particuliéres à écouter du Vasco Martins, c’est que ce musicien, qui et aussi poète, crée, au sens propre, dans le désert. Vasco Martins sait faire sonner un grand orchestre symphonique. Une découverte, en somme.
Anne Rey / Le Monde
> The style of this album is within Classical Music, although with certain, very innovative, and very personal elements of the artist. There are some passages of majestic orchestral music, other passages near to New Instrumental Music and still others with touches of World Music, the melody being always the protagonist. The music is played by the symphonic orchestra Futurs-Musiques (about 60 musicians), conducted by Denis Gautheyrie. A general trait of the album is the fact that the music happens to be very intense, vital, as if reflecting strong emotions. In a few words, an impressive work that will like the aficionados to Classical and New Instrumental Music.
V.Guiol /Amazing Sounds
> Danças de Câncer, une oeuvre forte
et originale…
Michel
Thion / Le Monde de la Musique
> Uno dei maggiori interpreti contemporanei
della musica di queste isole è
Rory Cappelli / I Iaggi di Repubblica
> Il est, sur ces
terres arides, fouettées par le vent du large, un compositeur qui signe de
grandes symphonies lyriques (…)
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