Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959):
- Uirapurú (The Enchanted Bird) W133
- Bachianas brasileiras No. 1, W246: II. Prelude "Modinha"
- {Stadium Symphony Orchestra of New York - Leopold Stokowski}

Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959):
- Bachianas brasileiras No. 2, W247: IV. Toccata "The Little Train of the Caipira"
Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983):
- Estancia - Ballet Suite
- Panambi - Ballet Suite
- {London Symphony Orchestra - Eugene Goossens}

Carlos Chávez (1899-1978):
- Symphony No. 4 "Sinfonia Romantica"
- {Stadium Symphony Orchestra of New York - Carlos Chávez}

Originally released on Everest Records, the label that produced some realistically vivid recordings during the early days of stereo which unfortunately are now hard to find in CD format, these classic and exemplary pieces of South American orchestral works, now remastered in High Resolution audio are available for the first time together on the same disc.

As an introduction to the music of the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959), you can't really do better than his little masterwork which is the Toccata from his Bachiana Brasileira No. 2. It was inspired by a ride that Villa-Lobos took in 1931 on just such a train that was transporting berry-pickers and farm laborers between villages. Sir Eugene Goossens wrote: "The little train puffs and chugs along and proceeds to its distant destination which it reaches safely in a process of gradual deceleration and much exhaust steam." The ingenious use of native percussion instruments to create the steam sounds and the infectious use of traditional Brazilian melodies and rhythms create a sound world full of life and brilliant colors. This performance is so dynamic that you can almost envision that little steam train just struggling along on it's journey, releasing puffy clouds of steam as it comes to a full stop.

If you've never heard music by Argentinian composer Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983), then don't miss your chance and get this wonderful recording of two of his most impactful works. He has often been considered the most important South American composer of the 20th century, very much admired by Aaron Copland, and actually sounds quite a bit like Copland. Imagine Copland's style (big sky country, cowboys, folk tunes, big open fields, cattle drives, etc...), and add to all that rhythms and folk melodies from Argentina and you'll get a clear picture of what his music sounds like. The score for his ballet Estancia in particular goes from beautiful, nocturnal, evocative melodies to frantic, driving rhythms all painting a clear picture of life on a cattle ranch in Argentina. If the infectious, pulsating dance rhythms of its final Malambo movement don't get you moving, then you should get yourself checked out.