Composers long dead rub shoulders with those still living in this
well thought-out compilation of works for mandolin and
guitar. The title of the disc is misleading - firstly the works
are for mandolin and guitar, indeed the guitar, due to its greater
freedom (number of strings, ability to play multiple, crossed
strings etc) often plays more than the mandolin. Secondly,
"Romantic Mandolin Moments" scarcely does justice to what is in
fact a disc which amounts to something of a tour de force of the
repertoire rather than a pop song compilation that such a title
might suggest.
The combination of guitar and mandolin is cruelly exposing, but
the guitarist and mandolinist in question, Boris-Bjorn Bagger and
Detlef Tewes are superbly up to the demands of the music. They
both have an ingratiating tone, beautifully caught by the Hannsler
engineers, but that's only the start of it. If you've ever played
an instrument like the mandolin you'll be well aware of the perils
that await the performer whose left and right hands and
imperfectly coordinated. Unlike string instruments, even slight
mismatches can lead to the emergence of ugly sounds from the
instrument. None are to be heard here. Tewes plays with genuine
flair for the instrument. His right hand, moreover, displays a
flawless, even tremolo, not the tightest, perhaps, that I have
ever heard, but still beautifully clear and a joy to listen to.
The same tremolo, but over two strings, remains remarkably even,
as can be heard in Marucelli's Capriccio Zingaresco (Gypsy Caprice
- doesn't everything sound a little less romantic in English?), a
great encore piece, by the way, that Tewes plays with gumption and
virtuosity.
Seventy-four minutes
of music for this combination of
instruments might seem almost too much of a good thing, but not
when it's as good as this. The repertoire, as I suggested earlier,
is impeccably laid out on the disc, starting off with Piazzolla's
Histoire du Tango (Story of the Tango), a work in three movements with more music than
belies its title - Piazzolla paints huge canvasses with large brush
strokes and the result is evocative and mesmerizing, each movement
describing a totally different scene: Bordel, Cafe and Night-Club.
Cafe 1930 is melancholy, tender and affecting, Night-Club
1960 is full of a Latino fire and flair, with colour and vibrancy
abounding both harmonically and rhythmically.
Paganini has his nine minutes in the Adagio cantabile and Rondo
from his Sonata No. IV, charming pieces that show the flip side of
the great violinist (he also played the guitar). The Neapolitan Carlo Munier (1859-1911) has
the most playing time on the disc, warranting a full twenty
minutes. I'm indebted to the notes when I tell you that he was
"the uncrowned king" of plucked strings, publishing a large number
of works. Here we have the first movement of his Concerto op. 163
and his Ariata variata, graceful, well-crafted and at the same
time technically demanding (imaginative too: check out the fourth
variation, with its melody plus self-accompaniment on two lower
strings - worthy of a Paganini!). Don't miss the last movement of
the Ariata variata - great fun!
I mentioned earlier Marucelli's ebullient Capriccio Zingarese.
Equally fun to listen to is his Valtzer Fantastico. Again it is
technically demanding, but also nostalgic and a gentle sweetness
(sometimes bordering on the saccharine, I'll warn you) runs
through the music.
Three "modern" pieces, by Preema, Kangro and Sumera are included
here and show off the possibilities on the mandolin and guitar. By
way of encore, we have My Way (yes, that My Way), with a soft
"pop" accompaniment. Why not the Godfather Theme then? Perhaps the
next disc?
I'd recommend this recording to anyone vaguely interested in great
playing on the mandolin and/or guitar.
