Release Date: 11 January 2004
Label: Naxos - Nxc / Naxos Classics
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 747313204021
Genres: Classical
Composer/Series: BRITISH GUITAR MUSIC
Description
British Guitar MusicWalton Maxwell Davies Rawsthorne Berkeley Rodney BennettJulian Bream was the inspiration for many of the worksby British composers for the guitar. Building on thework of the great guitarist Andres Segovia, Breamcommissioned music from a number of composers withinternational reputations, thus creating a whole newrepertoire of guitar music, which had until then belongedlargely to the sound world of Spain and Latin America.At the same time Julian Bream played an important r??lein the revival of interest in the Elizabethan lute, with hisrecitals of solo lute music, accompaniments for singerssuch as Peter Pears and Robert Tear, concerts with theharpsichordist George Malcolm and the establishment ofhis own consort, bringing early music to a new audience.The present recording begins with WilliamWalton's only piece for solo guitar, his five Bagatelles.Dedicated to Malcolm Arnold, these miniatures havewon firm favour among guitarists. They were firstperformed by Julian Bream in 1972. When Bream hadfirst asked him to write a piece for solo guitar, Waltonhad expressed some uncertainty in taking on such a task.As he later remarked, \never having thought of writingfor the solo guitar I asked Julian for a fingerboard chart,which would explain what the guitar could do. Imanaged to write some rather pretty pieces for himexcept that the first six notes of the first piece all need tobe played on the open strings. So when he begins toplay, the audience will probably think he's tuning thebloody thing up!Walton need not have worried: with its fanfare-likeopening, the first Bagatelle seizes the attention at once.The first section is full of charm and wit fused with jazzyharmonies. This leads to a more melancholic midsection,where a beautiful reflective melody is setagainst lush accompanying chords. A return to theopening material is heard before a conclusion intriumphant style. The second Bagatelle is slightlyreminiscent of Satie, with its hypnotic accompanimentset underneath a cool, breezy melody. The third of theset, entitled Alla Cubana, uses the syncopated rhythmsoften found in Latin-American music. The serene fourthBagatelle leads to a virtuoso tour-de-force fifth, anexciting climax to the set.One of the leading British composers of today, PeterMaxwell Davies has written compositions that cover awide variety of forms and musical styles, includingworks for the guitar. Farewell to Stromness was, in fact,originally a piano solo from a set of cabaret-style piecescalled The Yellow Cake Revue. It is a simple, hauntinglament, such as a Scottish piper or fiddler might haveplayed. The present arrangement is by Timothy Walker.Alan Rawsthorne abandoned studies of dentistryand of architecture to enter the Royal ManchesterCollege of Music in 1925, at the age of nineteen,studying the piano with Frank Merrick and later, abroad,with Egon Petri. His Elegy for guitar was his lastcomposition, left unfinished at his death in 1971 andcompleted by Julian Bream.
Tracklisting
Dariia Lytvishko
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; Marin Alsop
Alice Di Piazza; Basel Sinfonietta; NDR Bigband; Titus Engel
Anna Alas i Jove; Miquel Villalba
David Childs; Black Dyke Band; Nicholas Childs
Yang/Schwabe/Dt So/Wit
Wolf Harden
Wolf Harden
