BLACKFORD: CLARISSA'S TANGO-VIOLIN & STRING ORCHESTRA [LP]

In Buenos Aires, Tango is described as the forbidden dance and in this performance the violin and piano capture not only the sound but also the essence of Tango creating an evocative dance between the instruments. The violin has the lead melodic material and the piano has some really exciting riffs and plays the supportive role guiding their interplay. Clarissa's Tango starts with a short, cadenza-like introduction on the solo violin, the tango is cast in rondo form, with the central C section moving from the home key of D minor to D major. It's an ebullient duet that makes virtuoso demands on the solo violin, from extreme high tessitura passages and multi-stops to fast passage work as the violin elaborates on the main tango melody. [Richard Blackford]