REGONDI: Air varie no.1, op.21 ;Concertina Etude in A minor (arr. D Starobin) ;Concertina Etude in B flat major (arr. D Starobin) ; Concertina Etude in D major (arr. D Starobin) ;Concertina Etude in G major (arr. D Starobin) ;Etudes (10)- no.2 in A minor ; no.10 in A major; Fete villageoise (Rondo Caprice), op.20; Introduction and Caprice, op.23 ;Nocturne 'Reverie', op.19.
David Starobin
Bridge Records: BRIDGE 9585
In honour of the 200th birth year of Giulio Regondi, Victorian composer, guitarist, and concertinist, Starobin's Regondi programme combines previously unissued recordings, alongside remastered performances from Starobin's back catalogue. In addition to Regondi's most well-known works he includes four transcriptions from the composer’s concertina etudes a rare instrument for composers/performers of the guitar!
Of course Regondi was a wonderful writer of guitar music, and the music published of his works is only the known works, because there is a general feeling that not all of it has been discovered and so any well – played account of his pieces is a recording to look forward to. The first thing to say is how original it sounds and indeed looks, when you see the manuscripts, and its a fair comment to say that it is supremely difficult in every possible way to get your fingers around, and its Romantic style is in itself a comparative rarity for well – written guitar music. Take as one example Fete Villageoise (Rondo Caprice) Op20, a lovely warm piece with many very original touches that really do separate him from his contemporaries. It of course goes without saying that David Starobin’s performances are all exemplary in every way, as is the quality of the actual recording and the sound you hear.
The 4 concertina pieces , a very small amount of what Regondi actually wrote for this instrument are fascinating and of course quite different in sound, but nevertheless are great to have in these fine versions all arranged by Starobin.
The two Etudes from the full set of ten are again, very challenging for the players as they really are studies in every sense of the word, but still fabulous pieces to listen to.
So in essence this is a ‘must – buy’ album of wonderful and beautifully original music that if you like the Romantic era, but don’t know this composer, then just go for it, you won’t be disappointed!
Chris Dumigan
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