NOTE • Click on the button and you can buy the disc or read the booklet details • You can also access each track which you may then sample or down load. • Further Information.

Two composers who enriched the repertoire of the classic guitar, Joaquín Rodrigo and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, wrote concertos for two guitars. Both are fine works but generally the form has been neglected. A new disc containing no less than three double guitar concertos, all of which receive their premier recording here, and two of which are from no less eminent composers as Carlo Domeniconi and Roland Dyens, is bound to stir some interest among lovers of contemporary guitar music.

The remaining name included here is Jaime M. Zenamon, who is also gaining recognition and it is his "Carisma" that opens the disc. The work is in three movements, played without a break. After the brief introduction by the two guitars there is a dynamic entry by the orchestra and immediately one is aware of the striking similarity of the string writing to that of the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. This is even to the point of being the Concerto for two GUITARS Villa-Lobos never wrote. No-matter, Zenamon is not the first to be influenced by composers of previous generations and in the final analysis the work stands up well on its own merits.

"Oyun" by Carlo Domeniconi starts with brooding basses from the orchestra. The orchestra is joined by some plaintive playing from the guitars. This "Prologo" gives way to the lighter dance-like second movement. The atmosphere of the opening is revisited in the "Lento" section, but this time, more developed before the spiky rhythms of the fourth movement bring this interesting work to a rather abrupt end.

Roland Dyens’ "Concertomaggio" has three movements each named after a composer. The two outer movements, (after Ravel and Piazzolla respectively) rely heavily on their rhythmic qualities but it is the central movement ("à Fernando Sor") I found to be most rewarding. Based on that composer’s "Study in B minor, there is also the recurring theme from Haydn’s "Emperor" Quartet and did I also detect the slightest utterance of Lennon and McCartney’s "Fool on the Hill"? All of these are masterfully employed.

The two guitarists, Dale Kavanagh and Thomas Kirchoff, who are the Amadeus Guitar Duo, make more than worthwhile accounts of these demanding works. Their ensemble during the more exposed moments, when the orchestra is silent, is full of rapport. When the orchestra has the tune and the guitars take the underlying counterpoint their playing still remains strong and supportive. Jiri Malat keeps a firm grip on the proceedings and the orchestral playing is excellent throughout.

Andy Daly

CD Price: £ 12.99 post free world wide
- Download Price:
£ 8.00
Buy CD:
Download all tracks:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FREE SOUND SAMPLES
(minimum 30 secs)

1 - J. M. ZENAMON
Carisma op. 91

2 - C. DOMENICONI
'Oyun' Prologue
3 -
'Oyun' Molto energico
4 -
'Oyun' Lento
5 -
'Oyun' Con fuoco

6 - R. DYENS
'Concertomaggio'
a Maurice Ravel
7 -
'Concertomaggio'
a Fernando Sor
8 -
'Concertomaggio'
a Astor Piazzolla



You require QuickTime to listed to samples.

Get a free QuickTime download here

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION • You can sample only 30 seconds (or 15% if that is longer) of a given track. Select from the View tracks list. Each sample will normally start from the beginning but you can drag the slider to any position before pressing play. • PLEASE NOTE: If you are behind a firewall and the sound is prematurely terminated you may need to register Ludwig as a trusted source with your firewall software. •You will need Quicktime to hear sound samples. Get a free Quicktime download here • If you cannot see the "Sample All Tracks" button you need to download Flash from here.

Return to Index