Over the last few days we have had an increase in visits from the USA and also I've noticed a few requests in local US radio stations for 'Corta Jaca' by Radames Gnattali, performed by Hill/Wiltschinsky on their 'Danza' CD recorded by ASV.
There is a story attached to this particular recording.
Robin had heard a recording of the the Assad Brothers playing this piece and desperately wanted Hill/Wiltschinsky to perform and record it.
Unfortunately the music wasn't published.
After a great deal of detective work Robin got a contact number for Gnattali (in Rio) himself and gave him a call.
They spoke for some time but it was a very frustrating call as he spoke no English and Robin doesn't speak Portuguese.
Nothing was therefore resolved. Sadly Gnattali died some time later, no connection to the 'phone call I assure you.
So after a great amount of work Robin painstakingly took down the music from a recording. This wasn't easy as it is a difficult piece to play.
However, he did it, and Hill/Wiltschinsky went on to record 'Corta Jaca' and 'Schottisch' on Danza and performed them many times, with excellent reviews.
The pieces are taken from 'Suite Retratos' which means 'Portraits'.
Corta Jaca is a fantastic piece composed in a samba style, which is typically Brazilian, with a beautifully meandering rhythmic theme.
The middle section features sparkling virtuoso counterpoint between the two guitars, before the slow lyrical section with chromatic harmonies that heralds the return of the main theme.
Beautiful.
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