Joly Braga Santos: Complete Chamber Music, Volume One

Joly Braga Santos (1924–88) was one of the most important composers in twentieth- century Portugal. In his early works his fondness for modal harmony, absorbed from the Portuguese masters of the Renaissance, and his busy counterpoint combine to make him sound surprisingly close to such particularly English composers as Vaughan Williams and Moeran. Although his harmonic language became more astringent with time, it retained a burly sense of humour and a powerful charge of energy.

Quarteto Lopes-Graça Luís Pacheco Cunha, violin Maria José Laginha, violin Isabel Pimentel, viola Catherine Strynckx, cello