Everlasting Impressions

Record
review printed by permission of Alan Ashton (January, 2000)

No matter how hard I try there are no words adequate to describe EVERLASTING IMPRESSIONS [MPI CD 107/08], a double CD recorded by Hector Olivera back in July of last year on the Roland Music Atelier AT-90R. The musical concept, outlined in sleeve note by his lovely wife Lieve, is that of musical bike ride around the world. That Hector opts for this unusual mode of transport in preference to it being undertaken in a Richard Branson hot air balloon, ensures that the artist does actually encircle the globe! We are asked to imagine the bicycle to be the one used in the film E.T … hence the opening and closing tracks. In between there are 16 other ports of call commencing with Brazil and the film theme from Black Orpheus or to give it’s correct title MANHA DE CARNAVAL. Anthony Quinn makes a somewhat spirited appearance in ZORBA and boy, with a little help from Hector, can that old man still dance! A quick trip North of the Border to re-live the thrilling end title music to BRAVEHEART, gives way to the exciting tango CHAD PARIS by
Argentinean composer Astor Piazzola. Next the hauntingly beautiful DANNY BOY with the melody line on the pedals no less, thus leaving the hands free to pluck the most gorgeous of all harps. Give Hector the challenge of re-creating the Freddy Mercury show stopper BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, and you
realize this is what he does best. This track is absolutely mind blowing in execution, and if you are not already asking yourself “how does he do it” then this is the time! Next stop is Paris where we find Hector sitting at one of the many boulevard cafes, no doubt drinking an over-priced Coca Cola, and where a discrete FX track sets the scene for L’AMOUR DES POETES or to give this famous Trenet composition it’s more common name AT LAST, AT LAST. I’ll lay a bet that Hector actually recorded the FX when he was making one of his many visits to that City, it’s too perfect to be otherwise. Theatre organ fans will know where Hector drew inspiration for the final track on CD #1. Many years ago the late organist Buddy Cole made a most unusual recording in conjunction with the Monty Kelly Orchestra. Included was BRAZIL and if this not Buddy and Monty re-visited then I’m nuts. You might have been forgiven for thinking that you’d never hear the famous
Wurlitzer/Morton organ again, then think on, because despite the enthusiastic chorus and a whole battery of Latin American instruments that Hector has lengthened the original with, this is Hector giving the finest of tributes to an organist he reveres. The opener to CD 2 is the stirring FINLANDIA tone poem written in 1899 by Sibelius. This noblest expression of love of Country in all music and literature, contrasts with track 2, namely the opening bars of CLAIR DE LUNE, leading into IF I HAD YOU with the artist doubling between piano and organ, surrounded by an orchestra. The late night romantic mood continues with a trip to the good old U S of A with YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO YOUNG and memories of of blue eyes himself. Italy is represented by MUSETTA’S WALTZ SONG from La Boheme written in 1896, being only one of several Operas written by
Puccinni and remembered for their melody and dramatic effect. Next comes Spain, with recognition of Australian composer John Williams and his famous Rodrigo’s 2nd movement from the CONCIERTO DE ARANJUEZ. I do so enjoy listening to Gypsy music and for the exciting HORA STACCATO with a veritable battery of fiddlers, Hector applies his brakes for an all too brief visit to Rumanian before peddling furiously on to the coast of Brittany for the next track. I have never heard it recorded or played by any organist before, and again I have a feeling that the artist drew inspiration from a Japanese synthesizer wizard by the name of Tomita, when he envisaged the ENGULFED CATHEDRAL by Debussy, a composer who introduced new qualities of melody and harmony based on the whole tone scale. This too is a mind blowing excursion of ancient and modern sounds which collectively paint a musical picture of majestic building losing the battle against the elements. It also ties in with the unique idea behind the graphic art work on the inner and outer CD sleeves. The finale to this latest recording by the World’s greatest organist, is
Elgar’s POMP & CIRCUMSTANCE. If I was remain seated at the computer for the next 24 hours I would find it hard to stop
eulogizing about this CD, and recall when I reviewed his Great Film Scores CD (June/July edition) writing that “you have the organ recording to end all organ recordings … that is until his next one.” Well this IS his next one … nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say NO more!!!

About the music…

It has always been my dream to see the world while riding …a bicycle. Needless to say, such adventure takes a long time, so why not explore the world while “flying” on a bike? The first number is from the timeless movie
“E.T.” which captures the world of childlike imagination in a spectacular symphony of sounds.
Manha de Carnaval takes me to Brazil with its enthralling Bossa Nova sounds. From Brazil I fly to ancient Greece, where I enjoy watching the unforgettable Anthony Quinn portraying
“Zorba” dancing on the beach. In a blink of an eye. I am in historical Scotland where my hero
`William Wallace “Braveheart” is conquering the quest for his country’s
freedom with his famous Wallace Sword. Crossing the oceans, I land in Argentina.
playing Astor Piazzolla’s Tango, “Chau Paris“. Am I
dreaming:..do I hear the pipes calling Danny Boy, playing it “my way” with
the melody played on the pedals while the hands perform the beautiful harp
sounds …until the London Symphony Orchestra winks me away to pay tribe, to the great Freddy Mercury and his
Bohemian Rhapsody. Although the orchestra leaves a grand impression of this spectacular composition, I clearly hear the twinkling of a Music Box while I am transported to France. The ambience of the accordions in
L’amour des Počtes will stay with me for a long time …Still relishing the French flavor, I wake up to the ravishing heartbeat of
Brazil, an inspiring piece complete with a Latin percussion solo and organ drawbars sound.

Loving the world from my bicycle, I hear the sounds of the hymn “Be Still My Soul”, which inspires me to play the beautiful movement of
Finlandia. The mood remains, and in my imagination I am the soloist playing the piano for the delightful composition
“If I had You“. Still on the romantic trail, I pay tribute to Frank Sinatra’s unforgettable
“You Make Me Feel So Young“.  Naturally, romance takes me to Italy, where I visit La Scala and perform
Musetta’s Waltz. I continue my “Tour of Romance” to Spain where Joaquin Rodrigo’s 2nd Movement from the
“Concierto de Aranjuez” is simply a heartwarming experience. The view of the world from my bicycle is coming to an end …but not without listening to the upbeat
Hora Staccato in Romania. On my return, my bicycle makes a detour through picturesque Brittany, home of the
“Engulfed Cathedral“. I arrive just in time to see the cathedral
emerge from the sea, which happens only once a year.

My imagination plays along with the legend, portraying the mysterious rising of the cathedral, accompanied by the beautiful and sometimes haunting Gregorian chant. With traditional
“Pomp and Circumstance“, I arrive back to earth, where I hear Sir Edward Elgar proudly exclaim: “…Man, I got a tune that is going to knock them out of their socks…”
It nearly knocked me off my bicycle, yet the picture I experienced from my humble seat will remain an Everlasting Impression…

(Notes by Lieve J.)