The adventure started over ten years ago. With one recording a year; we are now; in 2009; up to the 12th volume of the Basque music collection; begun by Marguerite Dütschler-Huber; the founder of Claves Records; which the new management is very keen to pursue.

This last opus is dedicated to the composer; pianist and teacher Beltrán Pagola (1878-1950); who was; notably; professor at the San Sebastián Conservatory of two other musicians whom this collection has already honoured: José María Usandizaga (CD 50-9814) and Francisco Escudero (CD 50-2110/11).

Pagola left an indelible mark on the Basque institution; where he spent almost half a century. He gave it a Symphony Orchestra and wrote a Traité pratique d’harmonie (Practical Harmony Treatise); which is still a reference today. In this album; the National Basque Orchestra; conducted by Rubén Gimeno; proposes a range of works spanning about thirty years of creative activity. From the 1918 Allegro Appassionato orchestrated by Escudero (who took over his composition class in 1848) to the surprising 1947 iDonosti!; caprice humoristique; we discover music that is both true to its period and irresistibly attached to the Basque tradition.