MUSIC FROM THE NOVELS OF LOUIS DE
BERNIÈRES
Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Concerto in C RV 425 *†
Johann Nepomuk HUMMEL (1778-1837)
Andante con variazioni from Concerto for Mandolin in G major
*†
Mauro GIULIANI (1781-1829)
Grand duo concertant *†
Benedetto PERSICHINI (c1880/90 - ?)
Polcha variata †
Raffaele CALACE (1863-1934)
Amor si culla (Love is a Fool) †
Angy PALUMBO
Petite Bolero *†
Julio SAGRERAS (b. 1933)
El Colibri (The Hummingbird) *
Heitor VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959)
Choros No. 1 *
Prélude No. 1 *
Antonio LAURO (1917 - 1986)
Four Venezuelan Waltzes *
Agustin BARRIOS (1885-1944)
Choro de Saudade (A Lament) *
Las Abejas (The Bees) *
Miguel LLOBET ((1878-1938)
El Noi de las Mare (The Mother's On) *
El Testament d'Amelia *
El Mestre *
Anon
Mis Dolencias (My Sorrows -folk tune) *†
Celedonio ROMERO (b. 1918)
Soleares (from Suite Andaluza) *
Joaquin TURINA (1882-1949)
Soleares (from Homenaje a Tárrega) *
Craig Ogden * (guitar) Alison
Stephens† (mandolin)
Rec St. Hilda's College, Oxford, 15-17 July 1999
CHANDOS CHAN 9780
[71:55]
Crotchet
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recommendations
It is hardly surprising that Louis de Bernières was both a guitar
and mandolin player, albeit for love. He started off with the guitar progressing
from ragtime to Bach, to Spanish music. His love of the mandolin grew whilst
working on Captain Corelli's Mandolin.
This selection presents music from the late 16th to the late
20th centuries - from Vivaldi to Antonio Lauro excitingly and
sensitively played by Ogden and Stephens. Craig Ogden (guitar) brings a colourful
flourish to the Spanish pieces with which he especially empathises.
Interestingly, Alison Stephens' father was a mandolinist too and, like Captain
Corelli, played his way through World War II!
The Vivaldi Concerto in C sits well on both instruments, and has
considerable classical beauty. The Andante of Hummel is gentle
and soft; each instrument beautifully complementing the other. The
Villa-Lobos pieces are very evocative seemingly depicting sultry Brazilian
nights with their languorous chords and sensual melodies. Antonio
Lauro's Four Venezuelan Waltzes are short but not especially memorable
it must be said. Miguel Llobet's three short pieces on this album
are more interesting: 'A Mother's Son'speaks adoringly; 'Amelia's Testament'
is equally tender - so too is 'The Master'. Turina's 'Soleares' evokes
warm evening sunshine and peasants dancing and drinking until the early hours.
There are four premier recordings: Benedetto Persichini's vibrant
and distinctive Polcha variata'; Raffaela Calace's 'Love is a Fool'
suggestive of an argument between a dominant man and his pleading lover -
a little gem that is wistful, coy and whimsical; Angy Palumbo's 'Petite
Bolero' with its exciting vibrant rhythms; and the Anon piece, 'Mis Dolencias'
(My Sorrows) sounding just the opposite - joyful - perhaps the sorrows have
past?
The music associated with Louis de Bernières' novels is colourful
and quite varied - exciting, moody, sensual and evocative. But it seems to
create a sense of yearning for something elusive. If you've enjoyed the novels
then this compilation will be a heightened pleasure; if not, just sit back
and enjoy being soothed.
Grace Barber
