Robin has now joined Cunard's Queen Victoria and is currently in Naples.
Fortunately he didn't arrive there yesterday, as the police seem to have been rather busy, '100 Arrested in Naples'.
He is also, once again, a man on a mission.
If you remember, back in the summer, there was an ongoing saga connected to a mandolin.
It started with, 'Sorrento a Mandolin and a Music Box', where Robin spotted a beautiful mandolin but came home with a music box.
By June we had, 'The Mystery of the Mandolin', in which the entire family temporarily became detectives worthy of the best overt operation in recent times.
Swiftly followed by, 'Captain Corelli Causes Chaos', where I had a crash course in the life and works of Hummel, Guiliani and Mozart.
Then finally, 'Guitarists and Their B****y Nails', when Robin proved his purchase a worthy investment as it kept him amused for days whilst resting his battle worn nails.
Well, although the mandolin was found in Sorrento, it was originally made in Naples.
So today Robin is attempting to find the home/studio of the maker, Nicola Spoto.
We have the address, you may have read a tweet yesterday in which I mentioned shining a torch inside the mandolin, to make a record of it...
He allowed himself an hour or so to achieve this goal, as his first concert is tomorrow.
No matter how interested he is in the history of the mandolin, he's more interested in giving a well rehearsed concert on Wednesday.
Well, it was an eventful hour.
The taxi took Robin straight to the right road which was in a fascinating and vibrant area of Naples.
However, most frustratingly, Robin found every house except the one he was looking for.
No matter how many he times he went up and down the narrow street, lined with the most impressive houses, number 34 was never found.
Number 33 and number 35 were discovered, but not number 34.
The mystery of the mandolin is set to continue.
But if the BBC need a reporter, from the scene of the city police station, he's right outside.
Showing posts with label Hummel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hummel. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Captain Corelli Causes Chaos
Louis de Bernieres has a lot to answer for.
Only recently Robin finished reading 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin', which is a fantastic book, and we also watched the film again, just before Robin went away.
This has partially caused the current mandolin mania...
Late last night I had an email from Robin, with what appeared to be, a simple request.
Could I find a particular book, (directions were issued to locate it within his vast library in the music room), and then look up how many concerti Hummel had composed for guitar and mandolin.
Also, whilst I was at it, did Giuliani compose anything for mandolin.
I found the book, 'The Guitar and Mandolin' by P.J.Bone, with great ease. It was exactly where Robin had said it would be.
I do like a man who knows his way around his own library.
I rather naively thought that I would be able to look up in the index, and find the answers to his questions.
I was wrong.
There were whole chapters on both Hummel, and on Giuliani.
My heart sank.
It was late, I had been working all day at the computer, and I was ready to switch off.
However, after browsing for only a few minutes, I became hooked.
What a fascinating period of time.
To think that Hummel actually lived with Mozart for two years, and whilst there, he did in fact compose many songs and arias with mandolin accompaniment.
At the age of 21 he also compose a concerto for orchestra and mandolin, in which the orchestra take the introductory theme for the first 45 bars. (This 45 bars rest is beautifully depicted in the film, 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin', which if you haven't seen, then you should go and get, now.)
He also composed 'Grand Sonata' for mandolin and piano, which was sometimes played on guitar.
Mauro Giuliani on the other hand, didn't appear to write for mandolin, although he was undoubtedly frequently exposed to the instrument. As Giuliani was such a prolific writer I wouldn't be at all surprised if there is a 'lost' manuscript hidden in someones attic, specifically for the mandolin.
Giuliani was a particularly common name amongst musicians, and this caused some confusion on a number of occasions.
In fact, many thought that Mauro Giuliani had died, when it was reported that the guitarist M.Giuliani was dead. It was actually one Michele Giuliani that had met his demise, and the world was to have the pleasure of Mauro for a few more years.
But another Giuliani, Giovanni Francesco, did actually compose four quartets for mandolin, viola, cello and lute.
Whilst this is only a short, and potted history of the era, of which I have only briefly researched, (late last night if you remember), it must have been an incredible time to be alive.
Hummel living with Mozart, friends with Giuliani, Diabelli and Sor.
These names are so familiar to me, and it's very exciting to think of them all sitting around together, 'talking music'.
Thank goodness there was no television at the time. Can you imagine if all these wonderful musicians had been distracted by some awful reality T.V. show...
The world would be a poorer place.
Only recently Robin finished reading 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin', which is a fantastic book, and we also watched the film again, just before Robin went away.
This has partially caused the current mandolin mania...
Late last night I had an email from Robin, with what appeared to be, a simple request.
Could I find a particular book, (directions were issued to locate it within his vast library in the music room), and then look up how many concerti Hummel had composed for guitar and mandolin.
Also, whilst I was at it, did Giuliani compose anything for mandolin.
I found the book, 'The Guitar and Mandolin' by P.J.Bone, with great ease. It was exactly where Robin had said it would be.
I do like a man who knows his way around his own library.
I rather naively thought that I would be able to look up in the index, and find the answers to his questions.
I was wrong.
There were whole chapters on both Hummel, and on Giuliani.
My heart sank.
It was late, I had been working all day at the computer, and I was ready to switch off.
However, after browsing for only a few minutes, I became hooked.
What a fascinating period of time.
To think that Hummel actually lived with Mozart for two years, and whilst there, he did in fact compose many songs and arias with mandolin accompaniment.
At the age of 21 he also compose a concerto for orchestra and mandolin, in which the orchestra take the introductory theme for the first 45 bars. (This 45 bars rest is beautifully depicted in the film, 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin', which if you haven't seen, then you should go and get, now.)
He also composed 'Grand Sonata' for mandolin and piano, which was sometimes played on guitar.
Mauro Giuliani on the other hand, didn't appear to write for mandolin, although he was undoubtedly frequently exposed to the instrument. As Giuliani was such a prolific writer I wouldn't be at all surprised if there is a 'lost' manuscript hidden in someones attic, specifically for the mandolin.
Giuliani was a particularly common name amongst musicians, and this caused some confusion on a number of occasions.
In fact, many thought that Mauro Giuliani had died, when it was reported that the guitarist M.Giuliani was dead. It was actually one Michele Giuliani that had met his demise, and the world was to have the pleasure of Mauro for a few more years.
But another Giuliani, Giovanni Francesco, did actually compose four quartets for mandolin, viola, cello and lute.
Whilst this is only a short, and potted history of the era, of which I have only briefly researched, (late last night if you remember), it must have been an incredible time to be alive.
Hummel living with Mozart, friends with Giuliani, Diabelli and Sor.
These names are so familiar to me, and it's very exciting to think of them all sitting around together, 'talking music'.
Thank goodness there was no television at the time. Can you imagine if all these wonderful musicians had been distracted by some awful reality T.V. show...
The world would be a poorer place.
Friday, December 07, 2007
"The Divine Giuliani" - Beethoven
Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829) was born near Bari and was an Italian guitar virtuoso and composer.
He studied the cello and counterpoint, but the six-string guitar became his principle instrument early in life.
Earlier the five string guitar, known as a 'French guitar' was popular, but the instrument lagged behind the more popular lute and mandora. Once the sixth string was added, bottom E, the 'modern' guitar could at last reach the rank that the mandora had held in the musical world.
There were many fine guitarists in Italy at the beginning of the 19th century (Agliati, Carulli, Gragnani, Nava, etc), but many moved north in order to make a living.
Public interest at the time lay with opera and the guitar was seen as an accompaniment instrument. Giuliani did in fact write many works for voice and guitar throughout his life.
At this stage Italy didn't reward the talented individuals who chose to play the guitar as a solo chamber instrument.
Also, the sound level of a classical guitar circa 1800 was diminutive compared to other contemporary instruments, therefore making it difficult to be heard in the typical Italian theatre.
There was also widespread political instability at the time causing many conservatories to close, and along with a lack of competent publishing houses, there were enough reasons for Giuliani, and many others, to leave.
He settled in Vienna in 1806 and quickly became famous as the greatest living guitarist and a notable composer.
In 1808 Giuliani gave the premiere of his guitar concerto, with full orchestra, to great public acclaim.
From then on he led the classical guitar movement in Vienna, teaching, performing and composing a huge number of works for the guitar.
Giuliani moved in elite circles, in 1813 he played the cello in the premiere of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony, in the company of Hummel, Mayseder and Spohr.
Giuliani had two talented children, Michel, who became a 'professeur de chant' at the Paris Conservatoire, and Emilia, who was also a famous guitar virtuoso and composer.
'Esercizio' by Giuliani, track 20 on 'Virtuoso', is, as it says, an exercise, or study. But like all the best studies it has huge musical value and isn't purely concerned with the mechanical aspects of playing the guitar.
He studied the cello and counterpoint, but the six-string guitar became his principle instrument early in life.
Earlier the five string guitar, known as a 'French guitar' was popular, but the instrument lagged behind the more popular lute and mandora. Once the sixth string was added, bottom E, the 'modern' guitar could at last reach the rank that the mandora had held in the musical world.
There were many fine guitarists in Italy at the beginning of the 19th century (Agliati, Carulli, Gragnani, Nava, etc), but many moved north in order to make a living.
Public interest at the time lay with opera and the guitar was seen as an accompaniment instrument. Giuliani did in fact write many works for voice and guitar throughout his life.
At this stage Italy didn't reward the talented individuals who chose to play the guitar as a solo chamber instrument.
Also, the sound level of a classical guitar circa 1800 was diminutive compared to other contemporary instruments, therefore making it difficult to be heard in the typical Italian theatre.
There was also widespread political instability at the time causing many conservatories to close, and along with a lack of competent publishing houses, there were enough reasons for Giuliani, and many others, to leave.
He settled in Vienna in 1806 and quickly became famous as the greatest living guitarist and a notable composer.
In 1808 Giuliani gave the premiere of his guitar concerto, with full orchestra, to great public acclaim.
From then on he led the classical guitar movement in Vienna, teaching, performing and composing a huge number of works for the guitar.
Giuliani moved in elite circles, in 1813 he played the cello in the premiere of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony, in the company of Hummel, Mayseder and Spohr.
Giuliani had two talented children, Michel, who became a 'professeur de chant' at the Paris Conservatoire, and Emilia, who was also a famous guitar virtuoso and composer.
'Esercizio' by Giuliani, track 20 on 'Virtuoso', is, as it says, an exercise, or study. But like all the best studies it has huge musical value and isn't purely concerned with the mechanical aspects of playing the guitar.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
