Domenico Scarlatti and the Honky Tonk Piano - Revisited

Back in May, I was talking about 'mishaps' in the recording studio, one of which occured when Hill/Wiltschinsky were recording Domenico Scarlatti's sonata K141.
To read the original post, click here.

This recording took place in Rotherham, which sadly, is currently struggling under a few feet of floodwater.
On the day in question Hill/Wiltschinsky spent an entire day recording this piece. At the time, editing a piece as intricate as this was virtually impossible, so the sonata was recorded in one take. Nowadays with the advent of digital recording the editing process is much easier.

When the duo realised that they had the take they were looking for, Robin leapt up and played some honky tonk piano, to relieve the tension.
Only to find that the sound engineer had recorded Robin's piano playing over the Scarlatti.

What you can hear today is the version they recorded immediately after this incident.
So, I hope you enjoy Hill/Wiltschinsky performing 'Scarlatti's Sonata K141'.

Concerto Primavera - Robin Hill

Robin has been locked away in the music room all day practicing hard on the guitar. Whilst he was doing that, I was searching through one of the many piles of paper around the house and came across this:




(You can click on the image to enlarge, but it's a bit of a fiddle I'm afraid, I will try to resolve the problem!)

It is the review for the premiere of 'Concerto Primavera', and as you can see, it went down rather well.
Since then, it has been re-written for guitar and orchestra, and is equally as exciting.
Robin worked very hard that evening, in the first half Hill/Wiltschinsky performed some of their own pieces, and then, Carulli, Sor, Mendelssohn and Petite, before Vivaldi's G Major Concerto with the orchestra.
After a well deserved interval, Robin went back on stage with Simone Rebello and the orchestra for the grand finale.
It was very exciting for me to be in the audience and hear the concerto come to life after months of composing and rehearsal, I think I know every note of 'Concerto Primavera' as well as Robin does.
Maybe I was meant to find it today, Spring, after all, has arrived.

Potholes, Starbucks and Robin Hill Recordings

Let me show you how my warped mind works. I read a headline in the paper, 'Councils filling 1 million potholes a year.' Well, we know from our musical experience that there are '4000 holes in Blackburn Lancashire', which made me think the others are evenly distributed across the country.
From that my mind wondered to Sir Paul McCartney and his new signing with the coffee shop chain Starbucks.
In fact, as Starbucks recently announced, they are launching a new label called 'Hear Music' as a joint venture with Los Angeles based Concord Music Group.
What a coup for them all.
To sign McCartney must have been their dream come true, especially with an album due out in early summer. (As yet untitled.)
If they are looking to expand even further, then look no further.
All we need is the orchestra and recording studio and we're ready!
There are so many fantastic concerti waiting to be recorded for both solo and duo guitar, composed by such eminent composers as Rodrigo, Vivaldi and Castelnuovo-Tedesco.

Robin has performed many of these, either as a soloist, or with the Hill/Wiltschinsky Guitar Duo.
If Starbucks are feeling particularly adventurous, then why not try some new compositions, some of which have been premiered, and some as yet unheard.
Oh, and while they are at it, I take my coffee strong with just a little milk...

Joyce Hatto May Result in a Brighter Future

I, like most people involved in the world of classical music, continue to follow the Joyce Hatto saga.
Today in 'The Daily Telegraph' there was a small piece about her husband William Barrington-Coupe and how he has previously been convicted, and jailed, for tax evasion.
This was way back in 1966 and whilst I don't feel we should let 'old' crimes cloud our judgement, inevitably it forms opinions.
Barrington-Coupe has now withdrawn the sale of the CDs, but has said, 'It has nothing to do with any recognition of guilt ...'
Whatever the outcome of this particular case there are bound to be repercussions. Record companies are already looking into the claims that their works were pirated.
As I said before, we know all about that.
Two tracks, that have been widely distributed, composed and performed by Hill/Wiltschinsky but credited to another artist, are still available.
The company has acknowledged their mistake but not actually done anything about it.
Artists themselves are often way down the list in the pecking order which is preposterous.
Maybe this whole affair will give the industry the shake up it needs.
They would after all be nothing without the performers.