HANDEL: Keyboard Suite No7 in Gm HWV 432: MERTZ: Nanien Trauerlieder - No1 Am Grabe Der Geliebten; Bardenklange Op13 – Unruhe : GANGI : Suite Spagnola: BURKHART: Toccata for 2 guitars : TELEMANN: Partita Polonaise: DOMENICONI: Fantasie d’Oriente e d’Occidente Op50a.
Amadeus Guitar Duo
Naxos: 8573439.
This duo are really good players as this recording proves. The actual quality of the recording is clear and nicely produced too. The title gives away what repertoire they are playing here, as we start right back in the 17th Century with one of Handel’s many keyboard suites .Here the four movements, Overture, Allegro Sarabande and the final Passacaille are wonderfully played and are full of all those difficult elements that Baroque works have, and yet they make it sound all so easy. A nice start! Then we jump to Johann Kaspar Mertz that wonderful composer from the 19th Century who produced such marvellous music for solo and 2 guitars. Here the Nanien Trauerlieder No1 , Am Grabe Der Geliebten ( At the Grave of the Beloved) , the first of a set of three pieces that Mertz wrote for this suite, is suitably emotional , and sad, and again beautifully played. Unruhe by Mertz is much faster and as the title says very restless, and another good performance!
The Mario Gangi Suite Spagnola is in three movements and as the title says, very Spanish in sound and style. The three movements Andalusa Fandango and Sevillana are lots of fun and full of exciting sounds. Franz Burkhart’s Toccata takes us pretty much into the present and with it come the unusual harmonies and slightly unexpected sounds that this composer’s music often has. Both guitars are playing constantly at the opening going through various keys s they do. Then a slower section intervenes, still full of strange moments musically speaking and yet totally unique too as it sounds like no other composer. The opening section returns in a slightly varied manner until closing on the opening motto theme.
Then we return to the Baroque for a small suite from Telemann, the Partita Polonaise in three movements commencing with an Overture that is stately at the opening before picking up speed a bit further on, eventually returning to the opening style for a few bars, the faster section returning for a short while leading finally to a coda based on the opening. The second movement Combattans is a melodic and pleasant little piece that then leads to the final Rigaudon, which is quite accented and very dance – like and a fine close to this suite, and one I had not come across before.
The final piece is by contemporary Italian composer/performer Carlo Domeniconi . Fantasie d’Oriente e d’Occidente Op50a is by far the most modern in style, being largely atonal throughout its 11+ minutes.
So in summation, this is a very well produced recording, full of perfect playing , with a very clear and close sound and with a very varied repertoire on it. So, if the duo, or the pieces they are playing appeal to you, you will not be disappointed!
Chris Dumigan
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